New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21
carryinr h, III water up o his waist several miles,
fnalarial fever " ''S Tms WHO was cvihs WIN
GREAT DESTRUCTION FEARED.


! VOLUME OF FLOOD WATERS POURING
INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
O"icago, March 20-Three days Of unusually
weather, accompanied by heavy rains ex-
.e"uihg over an exceptionally wide area of coun-
'y' have played havoc with things generally
ui' ''ushout the Ohio, Missouri and Mississippi
iNVer valleys and the worst is yet to come.
Judging from the telegraphic reports.
Inc outlook is so gloomy for the residents Of
'"o threatened districts that the Weather Bu-
''u mas issued warnings telling them to flee
from the Hoods that are coming.
1t is considered an absolute certainty that the
MOODS In the lower Mississippi Valley during
the next ten days will exceed In destructive
ness those Of any in the past
Many lives have been lost already through the
breaking or levees. and a vast amount of prop
erty has been DESTROYED by the inundatons Of
the lowands.
Whlle the Mississippi River has thus far
broken its bounds only in the lower valley the
indications point to danger in the upper valley
we'll The Ohio River is also on ,n- ram
page, and trouble is feared at Cincinnati and
other important points along It's
From ali over the Northwest come reports Of
disaster to the railroads and the river towns
Bridges and culverts have been washed OUT
streams that scarcely navigable have be-
come raging floods too great to be confined
by their banks Rivers have swollen until their
waters are sweeping through the streets of
dozen or more towns; trains are delayed hours
behind their schedules. and in several places tee-
graphic communication has been temporarily
cut off; families have been driven from their
homes suddenly that they had no time to
save their belongings from the Hood; farms are
hidden from sight in the bottom lands and the
fires of many factories have been put out by the
rising waters.
The Missouri River, fed by hundreds Of swollen
tributaries. is rising with a rapidity that is
alarming. At Kansas City II has risen foot
day for three days. and when the accumulated
waters reach there great deal Of damage is sure
to follow All railroad traffic has been sus-
pended at Yankton s. D.. on account Of the high
water and the washed -out bridges and cuverts.
Many Wisconsin towns are in the drest dis
tress because of the foods. Milwaukee, La
Crosse, Rchland Centre Boscobel. Baraboo, Osh-
kosh and Fond du Lac are the worst sufferers,
some Of them being partly under water
The situation is serious at Sioux City. Iowa.
nearly every suburb being inundated. Every
bridge from Lemars to Sioux City has been car
ried away by the food that is rushing down the
Big Sioux. The water IS five feet deep in the
streets of Hawarden, and the Northwestern Rail-
road has lost every bridge between that town
and Huron. The Milwaukee bridge at Sioux City
over the Floyd River is expected TO go with the
flood. and all trains have been abandoned
Lives have been lost In great numbers. the
principal Losses occurring in the lower Mlsss-
sipp region. The drowning of negroes-men;
women and children-has been officially reported
at Memphis until the list now numbers over MY.
Dr. J. y TraVes and Oliver Klkberg lost their
lives while trying to cross the Boone RIVER at
Eagle Grove. Iowa, yesterday.
The most alarming reports come from the
South along the Mississippi River. Breaks have
been made in the evees at several points some or
which have been repaired In time 10 PIevent an!
great damage. Work Is being carried or at the
weak spots In strengthening the levees, but under
the greatest difficulties account OF the soteneo
earth. The serious breaks are south or Mempnls,
according to the most trustworthy inioihauoh
to be obtained the points being remote from
telegraph lines.
al telegraphic communication with New-Or-
leans was cut off yesterday. The floods were
assumed to be responsible for the stoppage
Nemrhis is being crowded with food refugees
ard a relief committee has a hercule9n task
on It's hands in taking care OF them. TcleSrams
from points sxty-fve miles south OF that city
have been received aski lg for steamers to res,
cue ueople left by the last trip of boats. and
two steamers nave started out on their mis-
sion of mercy.
The Government is aiding the city in its rescue
work dispatch from Washington authorized
the Government engineers to lend men and
service to further the protection or HE ana
property. ,,
Ficod conditions reported from Paducah
Ky the country for five miles around that city
being under water. and every river and stream
swollen out of its banks The rain has Deen
falling steadily for fOrty-eight hours. and the
reports from that region last night showed no
cessation in the dOWnpOIr
The same kind Of story comes from Pitts
h1rg concerning the rainfall. and the head
waters Of both the Monongahela and Allegheny
rivers were rising steadily IT is almost certain
that the Ohio River will make trouble again Tor
the people Of Cincinnati and the river cities
The big thaw began last Tuesday morning
all over the Mississippi Valley. For three DAYS
the temperature has been an average Of SIX de-
erees above the normal stage and all the ac,
cumulated snow and ice Of the Western ana
Northern States has been rapidly softening INTO
water Rain has been falling almost continu-
ously in the Central Mississippi Valley ana m
termittenty in the other regions east OF the
Big River. -
The area OF the rainstorm yesterday was uh,
usually wide extending from the MISSISSIPPI
east to the coast and south as far as f'orlua'