The herald., 1897-03-17
Heartrending Scenes in the
Mississippi Valley
INNUMERABLE DRowNINds
Fifty Negroes Reported to Have Perished
Near Marion
M.mphis Converted Into City Of Rsfuge-The
Rivsr continutss to Rss --United
States Vessels to tn. Rescue
Associated rrcss Special v.lre

| Associated Press Special wirc
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 16.-The
Mississippi river at Memphis tonight
gauges a fraction over thirty-six feet,
a rise OF over one-tenth since morning.
The river continues to rise steadily. Two
lives are known to have been lost dur
ing the day. Two negroes who live near
Marion, Ark. attempted to cross Mound
lake in a dugout when they were caught
by the mighty current, their boat cap
sized and they were swept away.
The change in the situation in the pact
twenty-four hours has been decidedly
for the worse in every respect so far as
the flood and the flood victims are con-
cerned. Localities that were expected
up to the last moment to withstand the
overflow are at last under water People
who thought they were safe from the
angry river find themselves hemmed in
and their danger is the greater because
of the confidence that prevented them
from providing against the flood. From
every direction come reports of unex-
pected and unprecedented disaster.
over at Marion and the adjacent
country, 400 people are reported to be
lined up on the railroad track over which
occasional waves sweep. threatening to
carry off the desperate people and live
hold. Along the other railroads leading
out of this city into Arkansas a similar
condition of affairs exists.
Down on Presidents island, where it
was supposed :ha. ali persons in dam
ger had been carried off last night It is
learned that from fifty~to one hundred
people were this morning standing in the
water and praying for the sight of a
boat that would take them off.
From Island Forty came reports that
the water is everywhere. that human
together wherever shallow water offers
standing places.
There are many other points from
which come appeals for aid. 1t may
easily be understood, therefore, that the
relief committee which has been estab-
lished in this city has its hands full of
work. Captain Fitch in charge of the
United States fleet, has placed every
steam vessel and barge in his command
at the disposal of the committee. Barges
are carried wherever necessary. Nearly
1000 people have been brought to this
city already from the overfiowed coun-
try. Most of the refugees are negroes
who saved nothing but the clothing on
their backs.
Many rumors of wholesale drowning
are current. but these cannot be veri-
fled. A we'll defined report reached here
last night that fifty colored people had
perished near Marion and a colored man
and child are known to have been
drowned at Mound lake. The conditions
are undoubtedly such that there will be
innumerable fatalities before long un-
less the helpless ones are relieved.
Interest in the flood animates every
body in the city. This is evidenced By
the great throng that gathers on the
levee. This afternoon II was almost i'm
possible to reach the Bryan wharf boat
when she pulled in from Marion.
At Helena the river rose very slowly
today, standing tonight 45.S. two inches
below high water mark In the vicinity
Of Helena rain came down in torrents
all last night and today. The steamer
Maud left there late this afternoon with
crew of forty tobacco laborers for
Modoc where the government boat Titan
| Is sacking the levee. The water at Mo-
doc was within about eighteen inches OF
the top of the levee.