The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-04-24
THE YELLOW S

Colored Refugees T~hronging tho City o.
uef-A Turgid Sea Where the Day Before
were Fields and G~ardens-The situation
at New Orleans Not Alarming, but De
eidedly Perplexing. :
VICKsBURG, Miss, April l6.-The
presence of at least L,5OO refugees from
the food in the city, as estimated, and
the strong probability that there would
be more moved, the city authorities
and the commercial bodies to-day held
a meeting to decide on a course
of action. The meeting was at.
tended by representatives of the
city council, tie board of trade and
the cotton exchange, which chose
Mayor Trow5ridge chairman and or
ganized for the systematic relief of the
needy, appointing committees, and by
sending a request through Gov. Nc
Laurie to Washington for tents to
shelter 1000 persons.
The city council was unanimously
requested to appropriate $500 for the
immediate use of the committee, and
private benefactions have been al
ready Forthcoming and will be so
licited locally. The organization has
reorganized the colored relief com
mittee previously formed, and will CO.
operate Herewith. A dispatch from
Washington, received by Chairman
Crayton, of the colored organization,
states that provisions have been or
dered shipped here from Memphis.
The steamer Florence is expected to-
night from Davis island with another
batch of refugees.
Wrestling With the Flood Wave, But the
Bank are Holding.
NEW ORLEANS, April 16.-The river is
beating its W record right along, and
is high enough to brighten the stoutest
hearted, but there has not been a single
surrender, nor is there a single break
in the levee line in Louisiana. Bayou
LaFourche is still the weakest point,
while on the river proper the Tensas
and Fifth levee districts are regarded
the danger spots. Those sections are
now wrestling with the flood wave,
but the banks are holding, st. Joseph,
Ia AShoooI hdo SAPCI4ShSSN AAo VI
half a foot in two days. 1t can stand
two feet, but that figure may be ex-
ceeded by night, and then it may be
difficult to hold out. The levees below,
all the way to New Orleans, and half
way down to the gulf, are being raised
and strengthened daily, and will be in
better shape when the crisis comes
While the train of President SPELL
mar of the Pontchartrain boari was
answering a call for help from Hanlon
City, a few miles above New Orleans,
his coach was struck by lightning and
the platform damaged, but no other
damage resulted, even the levee turn
ing out all right.
Not Alarming, But Decidedly PerpIexing.
New ORLEANS, April 15.-The closest
attention is being paid to the river
gauge and its fluctuations are noted by
interested parties. Tonight it ranges
from 49, to 1879, according to the con
dition of the wind. While there is no
u~neasiness felt locally by reason of the
present high water, yet much incon-
V%enience commercially is being eXpe-
rienced on the river front, merchan-
disc of all descriptions calling for pro-
lection against damage by water.
The local ferries are also in straits to
maintain regular service and the stu
alton altogether may be pronounced
not alarming, but decidedly p~erplexing.
The authorities are doing everything
in their power to relieve the present
emergency strain, but it is thoroughly
comprehended that there is little to be
done except to wait for further devel-
opments and be ready to cope with any
trouble that may possibly arise.
A Matter of First Importance.
VICKsBURG, Miss, April 1.-THE
board of trade and cotton exchange
has adopted resolutions urging the
secretary of war to call a meeting of
the river commission and to take other
steps toward having the money
carried by the sundry civil bill
for the purpose, applied toward
stopping the flow of water
through the This the bodies
named regard as of paramount i'm
portance, and the cooperation of all
levee boards and commercial bodies is
invited.
Copieso of the resolutions were ordered
sent Gen. Catchings and the Missis-
sippi senators.
A Yellow Sea Where Yesterday Were
Fields and Gardens.
OMAHA, Neb., April 16.-When the
sun went down last night his last light
fell on a vast waste of water. whose
yellow waves, tossed high by a strong
breeze from the north all day, rolled
over what, last week, were fields and
gardens and dooryards. All day
the torrents poured from the Mis-
souri, across the North Omaha gar
dens into Florence and Cutoff lakes.
The former has lost its identity, and
A. I.A&a. e00r TaSf nJnhf II yUnS