The Irish standard., 1897-04-24
/
Water Forces q Crevasse Through
alasscock's Levee.
POURING THROUGH IN TORRENTS.
Situation at Biggs Hourly Grows More
Critical-E1Orts for Protection
NJ. Are Redoubled ut New ~
rs. Orleans. 10y

CE1t1c0l-kG4Ort0 ZOE EfOtecIAO0
w. Are Redoubled at New ~
~. Orleans. Icy
Natchez, Miss, April 2o.-The first
break on the Concordia parish front oc-
Cured on Sunday morning last, when
the Glasscock levee gave way. This is
located about % miles below Natchez
and is near the lower end of the leyee
system of the parish. It is an old levee
and has received no attention since 1891.
There was large force of men at work
on it Sunday, raising and strengthen
ing it. They were working their way
to the lower end of it, when suddenly
the laborers saw the muddy water be-
gin to bubble up at the lower end, and
in less time than it takes to tell it, the
seething waterto great hole through
it. After the break started it was i'm
possible to stop it, and work on the en-
bankment was at once stopped. The
water rushed through at great rate
and began spreading out in the low
lands adjacent.
Were Prepared for 1t.
The catastrophe was not unexpected,
and its disastrous effects were In
measure discounted. by reason of all
the stock and other perishable prop
erty having been previously removed.
The water from the break will mum
date the lower part of the parish OF
Mooreville, down to Brabston,~ cover
ing number. of fine plantations, but it
+n1 fhof ~
ton would go under anyhow from the
overflow that will take place in Black
river from the Biggs crevasse below
Delta. 1t will entail vast amount of
suffering on the people of the neighbor-
hood and relief will have to be extended
to them. This levee was IL feet in
height, and when the crevasse occurred
the water on the front was between ten
and eleven feet high against it and four
feet on the back, while the fall of the
water running through it is from six to
seven feet. -s,.4,.5e<. -,,s.s
The city is fast filing up with food
sufferers and every effort will be made
to care for them. Stock of all kinds
continues to pour in by the steamboat
load. All the other levees in this city
are in good shape and little apprehen-
sion is felt for them. 4 ..
Situation Grows Worse. :
Memphis, Tenn, April 20.-The stu
alton at Biggs, where the water is run
ming through the crevasse in torrents,
is growing worse. Madison parish is
fast becoming inundated and the water
will extend to other parishes, destroy
ing thousands of acres of newly-planted
crops. Vicksburg, Natchez and other
river points are crowded with refugees
and everything possible is being done
to alleviate the suffering of the poorer
classes. Calls for aid have been sent
out from sections of the overfowed
Mississippi delta, and, while the waters
are slowly receding, the suffering and
l. restitution increases.
T. At New Orleans:
New Orleans, April 20.-The river has
attained the 19-foot stage. There are
now several hundred additional laborers
engaged in strengthening the embank-
ments and all necessary vigilance is
being exercised by the. local authori-
ties. At the Carrollton section Of the
parish levees, the greatest activity pre-
walls. Considerable inconvenience con-
tinues in the handling of merchandise
to both boat and railroad depots, but
all is being done that is possible to re-
duce the emergency strain. The levees
in Plaquemine parish are reported as
standing the pressure excellently on
the right bank of the river. The levees
are patrolled night and day, and fascine
work is being executed all along the
line. The levees are also being raised.
All of the railroads entering the city
are assisting in the work of protection.
1t can be reiterated that while the local
situation is certainly productive of some
apprehension, there is really nothing
critical about the condition.
Damage in Oregon.
Baker City, Ore, April 20.-Powler
river is higher than ever known, and is
doing great damage. Only one bridge
remains in this city ard If the warm
weather continues it will go out. The
Sumpter Valley railroad is flooded for
miles and trains will not be running for
weeks. The northern residence por-
ton of the city is inundated.
61OOQ0 NC" AcuAuAus
Wellington, N. T., April 20.-The Ma
pier district of Hawkes. bay, on the east
coast of the North island, is suffering
from severe floods. Napier itself is al
most inundated. 1t is estimated that
the damage will reach $100, 900. Twelve
persons have been drowned while trying
to effect the rescue of others hemmed
in bv the waters.
Gold Discoveries I'm Alaska.
Port Townsend, Wash, April 90
From news brought here on the steam
er Alki, which arrived from Alaska at
noon Monday, the new gold fields dis
covered on the Londyke river are said
to be much richer than at first sup
posed. Recent discoveries, it is stated,
show as high as $685. to the pan. The
city of Juneau is almost deserted, as
every able-bodied man who can pur-
chase an outfit is leaving for the Lon
dyke country.
Bx-Banker Indicted.
Louisville, KY, April 2o.-A special
to the Times from Paducah,: KY, says:
T.