The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-12
Memphis in the Same Danger as
Ticksburg.
The River in Danger OfLeaVing
Its Channel.
CUTTING A NEW BED
Three Miles From the City and
Making Worthless
The New 100000 Bridge
Across the Mississippi.

Memphis. Tenn, March 12.-The Mis-
sissippi river registers 33.2 feet. The
danger line is SO feet and it is thought
the water above will run the river to S6
or 3615 feet, which will, so experienced
river men say. overflow Arkansas as far
as Crawley's Ridge, 40 miles from Mem
phis.
The most serious feature of the pres
ent rise of the river is the possibility OF
it cutting out a new bed for itself
through Crittenden county, Arkansas
and leaving Memphis high and dry, or
at least leaving her on shallow lake.
Should this happen the $4,000, 900 bridge
which stands at this city will be endan-
gered.
The current through the plantation
near the bridge is strong and rivermen
say that unless the heavy timber along
Four Mile Bayou breaks the current 50
that it cannot eat out a new bed for the
river, the Mississippi will change its
course and run through Four Mile Bay
ou, coming into the main river again
about eight or ten miles below and leSlv-
ing a long, narrow island between Mem
phis and the river
The high waters have already reach
ed a very critical stage.
The ferry steamer, c. B. Bryan, now
makes daily trips to Marion, Ark, which
ordinarily is three miles inland All
along the route to Marion submerged
and semi ubmerged houses can be seen
and some stock have been drowned.
At Helena there has been rise of
7-10ths of a foot since yesterday The
height at this point now is 42-3 feet,
which is Al feet above the danger line.
At Vicksburg the water stands at 3S.4
feet. a rise of five-tenths of a foot,
within the past "a hours. The danger
line at that point is 45 feet.
FORTY MILES WIDE.
Memphis, Tenn, March 12--The
Father of Waters continues at this
point its booming career, surprising
planters, citizens and the older inhabi-
tants alike. In the past II hours a rise
of seven -tenths of a foot is noticed. with
little prospects of a cessation River
steamers, both through and local, are
making landings never before attempt
ed, and in some instances boats touch
at points 40 odd miles inland.
"A private fevee on the Nicely cotton
plantation ten miles above here, has
failed to resist the powerful current All
live stock in that section has been re-.
moved to the hills. At Memphis proper
the big 1 900 acre sand bar is completely
under water, forcing out 100 more
thugs and thieves who made the viii
lows on the bar a night hiding place.
Wolf river just north of this city. is
oVerf1owing it's banks, doing conSidera-
BILE damage to fences and settlers and
settlers cabins. The weather bureau
predicts continued high water, cold waVe
tonight and freezing temperature to-
morrow
Memphis. March 12-Two great side
wheel steamers, capable of carrying loo
passengers each. this afternoon issued
notice of excursions into eastern Arkan-
sas giving a view of OverfloWed country
and submerged plantations This means
a trip of fifty miles due west OF Memphis
through the tree tops and over cabins,
farms and small villages Past high Wa
ter offered no such opportunity