, 1897-03-22

Memphis, Tenn, March 21.-Tonight
for the first time in many weeks the
Mississippi river is reported falling al
Memphis. the gauge reading 81 fee,
against 81 at I o'clock this morning
Several breaks in the levee are known
to have occurred between Osceola, Ark,
and Memphis. and the fall OF the river
here is attributed to these ~revasses
The break at Sans Souci is rising and
the mad rush of the waters through the
opening can be heard for miles. Three
additional breaks, all near Sans Souci,
are reported today and the suffering o.
the people in eastern Arkansas will sure
ly be greatly intensified.
The condition of the levees south OF
Memphis are about the same as yester-
day. A dispatch from Vicksburg says
that the reported crevass at Modoc.
Ark, near Helena, is confirmed by Off
GERS Of the steamer State OF Kansas,
which passed there last evening. and by
dispatches received at Vicksburg. The
levee at Modoc has been considered in a
hopeless condition for several days.
The water will run into White river
very fast and will find its way back to
the Mississippi in a day or two. Levee
men say the effect will be merely tenn
porary, but today a decline is reported
OF from one to four inches along the
Coahmi county, Mississippi, levee, where
the struggle against the high water has
been most desperate. The Kansas also
reported a break lower down, but these
are probably protection levees. The
officers of the Kansas say that the scenes
along the shores of the big river from
Memphis south everywhere show the
greatest anxiety. Lights are shining
along the levee and guards and inspec-
tors are covering every inch OF the ter
ri;ory.
The river at Vicksburg has risen three
inches since 7 a. M, and tonight regis,
ters asa.
At Greenville the river continues 10
rise rapidly, and a stage OF As feet may
be expected before April LIST II the levees
remain intact.
The break last night at Modoc lower,
ed the water along the front Of Friar's
Point five inches, but will give no relief
to the levees an d property below the
mouth Of the Arkansas river. as the
crevasse will find its way back into the
Father Of Waters through the White
and Arkansas rivers. swelling those
streams far above the danger line.
The river continues to rise at all
points south Of Vicksburg.
The railroad situation at Memphis
s somewhat better tonight.
The Yazoo and Mississippi valley
sent its train to New Orleans tonight,
the tracks between Memphis and Lake
View having been raised above the wa
Ter level. The Illinois Central and the
Kansas City, Memphis and Birming-
ham east are running trains on time.
The Memphis and Charleston and
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis
roads are moving local passenger trains
but the former annot 60 beyond the
Big Hachie river. while the latter road
cannot cross the Tennessee. Railroad
communication with Nashville ie en-
tirely cut off. The Iron Mountain
tracks on the west eide are still above
water and all roads entering the city
from that direction are moving passen-
ger trains over the Iron Mountain
tracks.
Over In Arkansas the town Of Marion
ie in a bad condition. All the houses are
surrounded by water, and the whole
face OF the earth Is submerged excep,
here and there a small Indian mound
that is above water. There are man.
breaks in the levee. or at last many
places whore the water 10 running over
the levee like a mill race. The water X
also pouring w the Kansas City rail-
way at three places in the town OF Mar
ion and possibly at more. At these
places the current is exceedingly rapid
and the waves dash eight and 10 feet
high. No further loss of life is report.
ed today.