Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
BREAK IN THE LEVEE.
An Immense Volume of Water Is
Pouring Into Mississippi
BayOuS.

Jackson, Miss March ga special
from Greenville, Miss, says: ga ere
vase occurred last night at Lake Lee,
seven miles south of Greenville, on the
Mississippi side. through which an i'm
mense volume of water is pouring into
the Black and the Steele bayou coun-
try. The opening is 500 feet wide, and
unless it can be stopped, which is highly
improbable, al of that country west OF
Deer creek. the most fertile and pros
porous in the delta, will be overlooked
from Arcola south to the mouth of the
Yazoo river. This break has relieved the
pressure somewhat on the Greenville
front and the gauge at this hour shows
the river TO have been at q standstill
since 4 D. m. yesterday.
St. Paul, Mimi. March 29.-The water
in the Mississippi rose .O2 of foot III
the t,Yenty-four hours ending this morn
ing, when the gauge recorded 1O.l feet
At the same hour La Crosse recorded SIS
feet, fall of .O1. The heavy snow has
been going off so gradually that fears of
a heavy flood have about subsidized, except
in one or two localities, where SOrge6 or
other local conditions brought about flood
conditions. The gradual melting of the
snow is causing much moisture to sink
into the ground, promising well Tor the
crop season.
Alton. Ill, March 29.-Tbe water in
the Mississippi has not yet risen to such
q height as to cause alarm here. The
gauge this morning is 1910 feet above
low-water mark Opposite Alton the
water has spread out over some heids,
but this is almost Of yearly occurrence.
The water is stationary, but rise is
expected, and with about five more feet
rise the danger line will have been
reached.
Memphis. Tenn. March 29-The over
flow reports are not encouraging today
to those fighting the water From 10
cal standpoint all is serene but reports
are flying thick and fast as to breaks
below Helena The levee at Wayside
Miss, gave way shortly after midnight
last night. This was confirmed this
morning by Il second telegram.
Quincy, H.. March 29.-There has been
no damage to Quincy itself from the
floods, but the families on the islands and
in the Missouri bottoms have been driven
out. The water is now stationary and
the levees north of the city will be saved
if no further rise occurs. Quincy itself
could stand ten feet more without in
jury.
Fort Worth, Tex. March 2o-Yester-
day ard last night three inches Of rain
fell here. The Trinity river rose ten
feet in one hour, destroying two of .he
WaterWOrkS dams. 4 number Of small
houses in the bottoms were washed
away. Reports received here show the
rain to have been heavy throughout the
Panhandle.
Washington. d. c.. March 29-Col
Gillespie, president of the Mississippi
river commission, has telegraphed Gen.
Wilson, chief of engineers, from Vicks-
burg under date of yesterday: Gauges
along the river from Memphis to Vicks-
burg gave flood readings varying from
~ to 3 feet above any previously re-
corded readings. Feeling everywhere is
one Of uneasiness and all state levee
boards are battling against rising floods
regardless Of cost. AS yet no widely
spread damages have been reported,
though several breaks in levees above
Greenville on both banks have occurred.
Levees seriously strained at all points.
Commission Will give all possible aid by
applying money balances to protection Of
banks. Water rising slowly below
Helena"