The morning news., 1897-03-29
FLOOD TO INCREASE IN FURY.
SPECIAL RIVER BULLETIN ISSUED
BY THE WEATHER BUREAU.


SPECIAL RIVER BULLETIN ISSUED
BY THE WEATHER BUREAU.
The Crest of the Wave stin az Carlo
with n Hight of 51.0 Feet-Grcnt
Danger Yet to Come in the Region
From Helena sOuthward to New
Rise For ut Least 10 Days-Great-
est Strain on the Levees to COme
About April 10.
Washington, March 2S.-The following
special river bulletin has been issued by
the weather bureau:
The crest OF the flood wave is still at
Cairo, which shows a stationary gauge,
reading 51,6 feet for the past four days.
There is great danger yet to come from
the flood in the region from Helena south
ward to New Orleans.
The river will continue to rise for at
least ten days in the region from Helena
southward to Vicksburg and to rise dur
ing longer period from Vlcksburg south
ward.
If no break occurs before the levees will
be subjected to the greatest strain about
April 10, in Southeast Arkansas, Western
Mississippi and in Louisiana. Should the
levees break. the result will be one of the
most disastrous floods ever known.
Weather conditions now Indicate addi-
tional heavy rainfall In the Middle and
Lower Mississippi valleys, which will
materially intensity the flood conditions.
Those living in districts overfiowed in
former years should be on the safe side
and transfer stock and movable property
to places of known safety while there is
yet time. Willis L. Moore,
Chief of Bureau.
st. Louis, Mo-, March 2s.--The forecast
of the government signal service that the
Missouri and Upper Mississippi rivers
would rise to the danger point has been
well verified, and new high water marks
are being made.
That stretch of lowland country on both
sides of the Mississippi river from the
mouth Of the Des Moines TO the hills be-
low Hannibal, Mo, and Quincy, ILL.,, is
under water. AT Quincy the record to
night is 1873 feet, with a rising river. This
is two feet above the danger line
Great suffering has been occasioned
among the farmers and the boatmen
about Palmyra and West Quincy on the
Missouri side.
This sea of overflow has ruined every
land farm from Palmyra north forty
miles to La Grange
| Should the rise reach another foot every
railroad in the valley will have to be
abandoned.
Horizons and Wards Islands, below
| ~ -.
| barely escaped with their lives.
The Indian grave levee north Of Quincy
| that protects 10000 acres Of farm land
/ was still intact tonight, but a little more
water will sweep It away.
| At Louisiana, Mo-, the water Is spread
ing over the lowlands.
At Burlington. Ia, the river is five miles
| WIDE and has destroyed several mills on
| the flats
/ At Alton, ILL.,. the rise has been very
rapid. The Mississippi flood was met by
/ the overflow from the Missouri and I'LL
/ nois rivers, and the current Of the latter
was about at a stand, being held in check
| by back water from the big rivers
| Rescue boats are busy bringing families
and stock to Quincy from the lowlands.
Hannibal, No. March 2S.-The river at
this point continues to rise and has now
reached the danger line. The rise yester-
day and to-day was ten inches, the great
est during the present flood, and all the
| lowlands are submerged. Stock has been
/ driven to the high lands and those living
| in the bottoms have moved to places Of
| safety.
Pine Bluff, Ark, March 2S.-Red Fork, a
little town near here, is completely mum
dated The water is two feet deep in
houses on the highest elevations. The
| government levee, about ten miles. south
OF here, is in imminent danger. and call
| has been made for two hundred hands.
with a rise in the Mississippi or a
heavy rain or wind, the damage
will be incaculable. as the largest and
finest cotton plantations of the Arkansas
| cotton belt are situated in this vicinity.
| The town Of Watson is also submerged.
Peoria, ILL.,, March 28.-The Illinois river,
which has been at a standstili here for
the past four or five days, fell one inch to-
day. The flood has spread over the low
lands along Tazewell county and acres OF
land are under water.
Considerable anxiety has been expressed
for the residents OF the La Marsh drain
age district lying below Pekin. The water
| has backed IN Tor miles ana the occupants
Of the houses have been compelled TO flee
for safety.
The little village of Wesley is threaten.
| ed with destruction, as the water Is slowly
| creeping toward IL. The residence Of Ed
| ward Hughes has been surrounded, and
| James Blair and his family have been
| compelled to move out, as the water Is
over the window slls on the first story
The farm of Thomas Short has been COW
cred, and only the top Of his crib Is visi-
! BILE.
IL Is feared erawfsh will aid the high
water In breaking the dyke In the Pekin
and la Marsh drainage district. The
drainage district authorities made an ex.
animation OF the dyke and discovered that
in several places the crawfsh had honey
oombed the dixie by burrowing Il until II
| IS as porous as a sieve. A gang OF men
was set 10 work digging down into the
center Of the dyke and plugging the holes
| with sticks.
st. Paul. Minn.. March 2s.-The Bonem-
ian Flats on the east side OF the Mlssls-
sippi, are half under water tonight and
the residents nearest the river have been
forced 70 take TO the hills. The remain