The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-14

as Davis Bend, is part OF Warren coun-
", Mss, containing about 1900 acres
O.. land, of which al arge part is inculti-
walton. Ii g entirely outside OF any L.
wee system. but the planters there for
years have maintained one OF their own
with great success.
on THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI
Reports of the Levees' Condition and the
Taking on of Refugees.
yicksburg. Miss, April 13.-Today the
gauge was 1.S5, a rise OF four-tenths in
twenty-four hours. the highest water
ever known. Information received today
was most discouraging. The fine plan
tations OF Colonel B. G. Kiger and the
Brown plantations OF Brunswick. were
all under water. Boats were wanted
everywhere TO rescue people and save
livestock. All hope Of saving the levee
had been abandoned
The levee from Delta up 10 Duck
port, distance of eight miles. caused
much anxiety. 1t will hold 20 81 feet on
the gauge here, which will be reached in
the next forty-eight hours. The Sun
flower and Deer Creek sections are go
ing under deeper and deeper.
REFUGEES BROUGHT OUT.
The steamer Lake Palmyra arrived to-
day with two barges, the boat and bar
ges loaded with refugees and their stock
from Sunfiower river. The people COM
ing out were mostly the families of
planters, only few negroes being on
board. The boat returned TO that sec
ton today, loaded with supplies. Her
passengers reported a very bad state of
affairs there, but nothing like what had
been apprehended. there being no loss OF
life. The people had looked after them
selves in true overflow style. getting on
RATS in some instances and into the gins
in others There was great loss OF cat
tie, however.
Old planters say the present overflow IS
the wtrst they have ever known and
there is much depression on account of
tn. fear that it VIII be impossible 10
make a crop in this section. The Queen
and Crescent route has been temporarily
unable to transfer trains al this point.
Passengers, mails and baggage have
been ferriei over, as usual.
FROM DAVIS ISLAND.
ST. Joseph, La, April l3.-The steamer
S.. Joseph has arrived here. having
been detained at Ursinal plantation on
Davis Island, taking Oh women and child
rem and mules, cattle and other domes
tic animals. 1t was not apparent 10 the
people on the boat that the planters were
moving out. II was ascertained, how
ever, tina: they feared the levees would
not stand much longer, though every ef-
fort mad been made TO hold them. The
water had overtopped them in several
places, creating something of a panic.
causing an exodus 10 take place. Davis
Island is not within the limits of any
levee district, but the planters built and
had for years maintained a private levee
protecting the island from overflow.
ALARMED BUT STILL SAFE.
New Orleans, April 13.-Yesterday was
full Of alarms, but the night came with
out single break in the Louisiana line.
The liver was rising steadily and the
weak spots in the levee We're developing
with greater apidity. The Pecan Grove
levee in St. Bernard had been found full
OF Crawfish holes and it was seen that
while il might hold this season, it would
have to be rebuilt. A number of levees
across the river had been found defec-
tive, cut az army OF men and mass OF
material were holding them. Up the
stream on the New Orleans side Of the
river danger spots had developed, but
prompt work was telling there. The
planters along Bayou la Fourche were
camping on the banks and marshaling
their forces for protection. and weak
levee line had been held against what
seemed certain ruin.
NEW POINTS ABOUT LEVEES.
The great lesson has been 70 build the
leves higher and stronger and trust less
TO the last moment and the result viii
be the organization Of new levee boards
and greater activity in the future. Stin
a greater lesson has been that even the
strongest levee is insufficient unless the
bases of the banks are properly drained.
bitches are now dug wherever the water
stands in the roads or comes through the
levees, but the drainage system VIII be
general and vastly improved before the
next high water.
The people behind the levees ars
learning the lessons with full intent 20
profic by them. but are working hard 10
prevent the newsly acquired knowledge
proving TOO costly before it can be put
into use. Il will be several days before
the highest water reaches here. and By
The end OF TIE week the crisis should be
passed, but adverse winds on the gulf
may back the water up and delay the
prayed for relief. The river washed ov-
er a number OF the New Orleans levees
Yesterday. but there was neither great
danger nor damage.
HASN'T HURT HIS ROAD
Dallas. Tex. April 13.-Assistan. Cen
eral Manager John Z. Evermsn, OF tie
Texas and Pacific, has made the follow
ing statement relative % the damage
done 10 their levees n louisiana:
There has not been a crsvasse on the
west side OF the Mississippi. and the
way affected by the food. We are SSH
running trains through % New Orleans
on schedule tiTne.snd have bean doing -
all along. Reports 5f damage 70 our
property are erroneous The food has
COS the road sous money IN repairing
and ru!i;ing levees. but Ne have suffer
e. NJ damage General Manager Thorne
has bene On the LOUISIANA division for
nearly month giving attention ID the
work ana has hsd the hearty co-oDsrs-
tsoa az the Ievee boards We sfiil hope
Tia: the Ievees VII hold. II tae estimate
cs TIE engineers that they can stand 1Fo
- ~. ~ A-arar I. c.rere.. us sna.L