The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-21
RIVERS HALT IN THEIR RISE.
THE FACT DUE TO THE BREAKS IN
THE LEVEES.

The Levees In the Vicinity of Nat
chez StilI Holding But Back water
Flooding the Plantations In Com
cOrdiR, Tensns and Madison Par
ishes-The Red and Tensas Rivers
Now Almost Running over Their
BRnkS-The River Stiu Falling at
Memphis.
Memphis April 20.-The river at Vlcks-
burg, Helena, Natchez and all along from
ST. Joseph, La, TO Bayou Sara, Louisiana,
Is reported either stationary or falling
tonight. This condition is the result Of
the vast amount of water passing through
the crevasse at Bigg's and Reeds levees,
above Natchez, and at Hancock's, below.
The levees in the immediate vicinity
of Natehez continue to hold under the
great strain. but their holding is now of
little interest to the planters in Concor-
dia, Tensas and Madison parishes, as the
water backed up from the breaks above
and below will soon flood the rich lands
of these parishes, and the result will he
almost as disastrous as if other breaks
had occurred.
The Red and Tensas rivers are now
swelling and almost running over their
banks, and by tomorrow they will begin
spreading over a section of thirty miles
to the interior. Work continues on these
levees, however, without abatement, and
everything possible is being done to hold
the remainder of the levee system intact.
At Memphis the river continues to fall.
Reports from Greenville, Rosedale and
Cairo state that an encouraging decline is
noted
Washington, April 2O-secretary Alger
was to-day handed the following telegram
by it's recipient:
Pembna, ~ D., April 19.-To Hon. II.
c. Hansbrough, Washington: The storm
of yesterday in connection with the food.
has left over 200 people destitute along
Red river in this county. Aid is needed at
once. Can anything be done. Local COM
mittee is unable to render sufficient aid.
"Judson Lamoure."
This news came as a surprise to the war
department officials. The officer who had
been sent to the Red river country had
returned, reporting that there was no
call for government aid.
As the department has no agent in that
section it will communicate directly with
the mayor of Pembina and probably au-
thorize him to extend aid to the destitute.
officer at Vicksburg that he is obliged TO
pay $3.50 per day for a relief boat, Gen
Wilson, chief of engineers, has directed
Maj. Stickney, the engineer In charge at
st. Louis, to put in commission at once
two of the steamers belonging TO his de-
partment, the Golden Gate and the Alert,
and send them to Vicksburg for the use
of Lieut.. Crowley. One is wanted for the
distribution of relief on the Mississippi
between Vicksburg and Greenville, and
the other along the Yazoo and Sunhower
rivers and their tributaries.
Vicksburg, Miss, April 2O-Thanks to
the prompt measures taken by Maj. Will
lard, United States engineer in Dispatch
ing the steamer Vidette, with skiffs, to
the country back of Coons Landing, 1t Is
believed that al persons In danger will
be relieved in time. The Florence, on re-
turing from there this morning, reported
no cases of drowning in the back country
Large skiffs were take by the Vidette and
these can be put over the levees and used
to help the people in the interior. No more
breaks are reported. The work of relief
Is proceeding here under difficulties, the
applicants being so numerous that 1t is a
task TO systematize the matter
Adyices from Davis Island where great
many negroes are remaining, say that
planters will be unable to supply rations
for more than two weeks hence, and the
prospect of making crop there Is very
uncertain. The Queen and Crescent Off
clals tonight report that Tallulah La,
the capital of Madison parish Is flooded by
the Biggs crevasse, though not deeply.
Natchez. Miss, April 2O.-A tale OF woe
comes from Bayou Vldel, in the lower por-
ton Of Madison parish. The water from
the Biggs crevasse caught the people there
unprepared and unaware OF their danger
Word was sent out from that locality re-
questing that boats be dispatched at once,
as the people were drowning. How many
were actually dead is unknown, but
Thomas Blackman, his wife and infant
are known to have been drowned. 1t Is
believed that others have perlshed. Boats
have been sent to the locality.
HENRY sEAG A PRISONER.