Evening star., 1897-04-03
LATE NEWS BY WIRE
Fleets of Skiffs in the Streets of
Greenville, Miss.
RAILWAY TRAFFIC SHUT OFF
Communication by Telegraph Still
Maintained.
PROSPECTS ARE GLOOMY

JACKSON. Miss. April 3-The represen-
tative of tho Associated Press at Green
willie, Miss. telegraphs at II: 10 am. as fol-
lows:
Going east along Washington avenue
this morning. and looking northward. a
wide sheet of water may be seen covering
the entire north half of the city. Without
the protection levee. which keeps out the
rising water from the business part Of the
town, great damage would he done to the
provisions and feed supplies. and much suf-
fering ensue in consequence. All necessary
shopping. marketing. visiting of doctors
and the like in the overflowed sections of
Greenyille is done by skiffs. and every
street ald alley contains whole fleets of
these, built in every conceivable shape and
size darting in and out around the corners
of houses
Much more water is due here yet. and
no one can say how much higher it will
rise in the houses here in town.
All three of the crevasSes above here are
pouring their torrents into the basin which
lies between the river and the eastern
hills. and the whole country will unques-
tionably he filled
Communication by telegraph is still main
tanned with the outside world AS fast as
pole is thrown down force of men
hurry to the point and rebuild the line.
Railroad traffic Is entirely cut or. and all
roads running into here are tied up. Mail
is transferred at Elizabeth, twelve miles
east of here, on the Junction Valley and
Southern roads. A skiff mail line has been
established between here and that point.
There are now about $1,000 persons in
this city. Four or five thousand of these
are in the flooded section, and naturally
suffering among the poorer classes Is be
ginning to be felt. This statement, made
here. causes Indignation. hut i have my
self been witness TO many instances of
suffering. and in a few days the good
people Of the outer world Will have their
generosity taxed.
More water is coming down on us. The
drainage of twenty-seven states pour into
this valley and there is no outlet for the
pent-up flood until the Mississippi river
falls low enough at Vicksburg to let il
drain of.
Peril Mt Lulu.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April "a special TO
the Commercial Appeal from Lulu, Miss.
says:
Just at present the situation here and
at adjoining towns is extremely critical.
The river is higher than known for years
and there is every prospect of a further
rise. and with the levees becoming soft
ard mushy. slipping dreadfully and water
running over them, it is indeed a time of
peril and danger
Slludlt+l as We are with INe MlSSlSSlpp
river within six miles to the west the sur
face of which Is more than fifteen feet
above the streets. and with lake ten miles
long. this city is literally surrounded by
angry waters. The whole town would be
swept from its founda ations in case of 6
break in the levee at this point.
All the levees near here are becoming
weaker each hour, and one will be sur
prised TO hear of disastrous break at any
moment Every available man and boy
who is able TO swing a pick. handle a
shovel or tie sack is working night and
day, and trying to ward off the impending
flood. News comes in every hour of some
fresh slough or sink in the levees-
apprehension at RosedaIe.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April "A special Il
the Commercial Appeal from Rosedale
Miss, under yesterdays date, says:
Relief boats have been busy today res
cuing the unfortunates and tell many hair
breadth escapes from death and drown
irg.
The situation has become so grave tha
an appeal has been made for aid and
relief committee has bean organized TIL,
planters are providing for their tenants
so there IS not a great deal of suffering
on the large plantations yet, but those whC
worked on smaller farms have been lef
to shift for themselves. OF the 700 inhab
itants there are not more than fifty whit
people LETT in the town. and they are near
y all comprised of men.
Aett t.x- be. Al lot