davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
Special River Bulletin.

Washington, April 1.-the following
reports have been received today AT I'm,
department of agriculture from weather
bureaus of the following districts:
ST. l.onis-Expcct a slow fall in river
no rise for a day or two. Stage after
mai time depending on storm condition
On Saturday Wise lcvee. opposite Alton
proke and number of farms flooded
Portions of East st. Louis lowlands
Hooded and water ut the foot of bottom
icvec. Water also backed into West
Venice. Ill. Little damage done and
no danger with the water in sight.
Cairo-River practically stationary ut
49, feet. although it shows Il slight rise
since Saturday morning.
Memphis-River stationary at this
place. In the northern portion of the
the lnzoo delta the situation is a little
more hopeful and the White River valley
New Orleans-River has passed the
highest known water by one-tenth of a
foot: Water running over banks in low
er Plaquemine parish, but no damage
except to vegetable farms. Local levees
continue intact, being strengthened.
Hard work and the utmost vigilance has
thus far served to keep water within
banks below Vicksburg.
Nicksburg-River situation unchanged.
Light showers have fallen in the water
sheds of the Ohio. Tennessee. Cumber-
land, Arkansas. Red. lower Missouri and
central Mississippi rivers. The Ohio from
Cincinnati to Cairo has risen slightly.
The Mississippi has fallen from St. Paul
to Keokuk, except at Davenport, and
has risen from st. Louis to the mouth.
except that it continues stationary at
Memphis. The gauge reading at Vicks-
burg, 50.5 feet is Ia feet above the high
est water in the 1890 food. The river
ut New Orleans is ut Is feet. which is
one-tenth of a foot above that of any
previous food
tSisned WILLIS l.. MOORE.
Chief of Wpothnr Hurnou
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15

Levce board. On their way down Blue
Point and Wyanoke relief stations were
inspected Col. Sanger expressed himself
as being well pleased with the manner in
which the work is being handled at those
points, and will recommend centinu-
ance of those stations. He will also rec
ommend the establishment of another
station at Peters Landing. twelve miles
below Blue Point The Hardin left at
$3.50 for the st. Francis river, going as
far as Madison and will return to Mem
phis Wednesday. While here the entire
party visited Camp Black. in company
with Chairman Butts of the local relief
committee, commenting favorably on the
manner in which the effects of the refu-
gees are being cared for. The govern
ment steamer Mississippi with the river
commission on board returned from their
trip to New Orleans, have just landed.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
AT HELEN 4.
River Stiil RecedinG-Duration of
the Flood Uncertain.

the Flood Uncertain.
Helena. Ark, April 1.-THE river has
declined 3 10 tenths. The wca Their con-
times favorable and no other breaks are
now possible
The threatened destruction of the mag
hccnt Long lake levcc, which was fear
ed would be washed out by the current
pouring through the Williamson crevass
has happily been avcrtcd so far and
Maj. Purvis has a large force of hands
at that point today.
Another lot of refugees have arrived
from other towns and below. having
been driven from their homes hy the
Inconvenience attending the getting of
provisions for themselves and stock.
Many of the whites from Modoc. in fact
the majority of them, have rented lands
in the upands and will make nj least
one crop in territory unvisitcd by the
waters
\ fear now entertained by the large
planters is that the gaps in the levce
may not he closed in time To avert the
drowning out of crops by the June rise.
The Williamson crevaSSc is now more
than 1900 feet wide and the Hubbard
and Westovcr breaks more than Il thous-
and each. Owing to the washing of the
soil near these breaks. new foundations
will haye to be- selected for the run
around which will he built to close them.
The duration of the flood is uncertain.
II il should 90 down quickly there would
h. time enough to make these repairs in
the levees, get fences up, rebuild cabins
and make other repairs necessary before
crops can be planted. Then there is the
Generalization of labor which cuts an
important figure in crop calculations.
At o:30 this evening the steamer John
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
Southwestern Roads Meeting.

st. Louis, April 1l.-Executiye commit
tee of southwestern roads had meeting
today in the rooms Of the Southwestern
Traffic association TO decide on line of
action with reference to the recent de-
cision of the supreme court of the United
States declaring the traffic agreements
illegal. The trend of the discussion was
that the association might continue TO
serve the roads represented in it by ex-
ercising the functions of an information
bureau on the plan laid down by the
Western Freight Bureau.
No definite action was taken, but it
is highly probable that a solution of the
problem will be arrived at next Tues
day. when the executive committee of
the association will take the matter up
and dispose of it.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
An EXPERTS VIEW.
Maj. Dnbney Says n Full-Sized Leyee
Can Not ne Restored by June.


Memphis. Tenn, April 11.-Maj Dab
ney, chief engineer of the Upper Yazoc
levee board, has arrived in the city from
the scene of the Flower Lake crevusse
and had Il consultation with Capt. Fitch
and the members of the leyec board who
are in the city.
Maj. Dabncy said that on Thursday
he had measured the crevasse by en-
Glneering instruments and found that il
was 1870 feet wide. Since then he
thinks that the width has Increased to
no less than 1850 feet.
The upper end of the levcc. the one
that has been doing the most of the cut
lllG' mas been repaired. but Maj. Dabney
says that he is not certain that it will
hold at this point Ma. Dabney was
asked for an estimate of the volume of
water that is passing through the
crcvasse into the delta. and after making
some rough calculations he placed the
amount at 1S0,OOO,O00 cubic feet per
hour.
WHAT will be the chance for closing
the opening before the time for the June
risei" '"''~
1T will be impossible for a lcvce of
tull size and height to be built around
the opening before that time With the
circular line that we will have to follow
around the hole. it will take some $4,000
yards OF dirt to make standard lcyce
there, and that will cost between $40, 900
ana S'O,O0o. 1t could not be finished in
time Tor the June rise. but in the event
that the present flood in the river goes
down in time we will probably make Il
small levec along the line. to be followed
later by Il larger one that will be sniff
cient to keep a moderate rise in the
river from melting of SHOWS in the Rocky
mountains
with the river falling all along the
'front.' OF this district, Maj. Dabney does
not expect any further trouble
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15

Washington, April 1.-THE house will
continue its program of three days ad-
lournmcnt this week. Jerry Simpson of
Kansas. will embarrass the majority rs
TO approve the journal. but will have
little aid from the democrats if the spirit
of the resolution adopted 10y the demo
cratic caucus yesterday prevails. As the
policy Of the house leaders Mt present Is
lhnction, however, his opportunities to
larass the republicans will he slight. 1t
may he that owing TO the urgency of the
ease the leaders may deem it advisable
when the house meets ON Wednesday to
take up the armor plate question in some
form. In this event. such legislation ms
IL deemed proper can be- had under n
special order from the committee on rules.
hut nothing has rs yet been decided.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
VICKSBURG AND VICINITY.
The River Swelling and the Strain
on Levees Growing.

Nicksburg, Miss April lit would
be rash for any one to attempt setting
a limit to the flood now piling up ut Nicks-
burg. for the waters are confined by the
apparently impregpable walls of the
Louisiana levees. and the rise is certainly
accelerating. Yesterday morping the
gauge read J0.2 feet. scant; by evening
it was 900 feet.
The levees are in superb condition.
Engineer Thompson, who inspected the
line from Lake Providence down yester-
day. us well as a portion below the city,
says that in but two places is the line
lower than two feet above the river. that
both of these have large forces at work
on them and that plenty of dry material
is accessible at all points along the line.
except half mile, where the levee is
very strong. Place a thoroughly organ
lied force behind such a line of defense
and it will be seen that, barring acct
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
QUITE CRITICAL.
The Vicinity of Lake Providence Is
Beginning to Nurmur.

w
Lake Providence, La. April 11.-ThC
situation in the lower end o. this parish
is getting quite critical Lcvce Commits
si0ncr Stein tclegraphcd here that the
river is booming at Henderson landing
having risen 10th of foot in the last
few days. After the crevasses in the
Mississippi the river fell only two-tcnths
there. Yesterday afternoon, Capt. Chas
Wilmington and several of our citizens
went over on the little steamer Carroll
to Ben Iamond landing. Miss. right
across the river from here. They report
cd that up to Wednesday the water from
the crcvasse had not invaded the fine
plantations ar0un Ben Lamond In the
last two days, however, everything is sub
merged but about fifteen acres aro1nd
Mr.. Collins store The planters had
sent all their stock to the hills around
forty head that were standing on the
dry spot around the store. Today every
thing must be under water.
This afternoon the CorrOll went up to
Mayorvilc. Miss. ten miles above here.
and the officers report that one-third of
the town is under water and that the
people are building platforms, plank
walks, etc. in that part that is not sub
merged. As the water is rising ut the
rate of | II inches a day it will he but
few days before every part of the town
will be submerged. Spwlth. fifteen miles
above here on the Mississippi side. is en-
tirely under water. The river here rose
about an inch in the last twcnty-foul'
hours aud stands 49, on the gauge.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
AT NEW ORLEANS.
Water Washes Over Levees in Spots.
Citizens still Confident.


New Orleans, La, April 1.-THE river
gauge fuctuates between IL feet and
1872 This brings the record up to one
tenth of foot higher than that given
by official data compiled. The river is
certainly booming and in spots the
water washes over the aprons" of the
levees, making extensive deposits OF
mud. The authorities, however, deny
any additional apprehensions and are re,
sourceful in combating any inroads
made by the river, rapidly applying ten.
porary barriers of sacks filled with earth
and such other devices as appear most
expedient.
In the adjoining parishes of st. Der.
nard and Plaquemine the lcvees suffer
most from wave washes but the officials
charged with the duty of maintaining
the entertainments in good shape are
stralning every nerve to keep out the
water. The present dry weather is Il
Godsend and the rain-soaked levccs are
drying quickly. In spite OF the rising
river the situation can be described rs
satisfactory.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
CONGRESSIONAL FORECAST.
THE PROGRAM OF THE SENATE IS
NOT VERY CLEARLY
DEFINED.
THE ANGL0-AAER|CAN PEACE treaty
senator Davis VIII EndcayOr 10
Reach II Vote Thereon This
Wcek-Friends Of Bank
ruptcy Bill Anxious.

Washington. April 1.-THE outlook foI
the week III the senate is so much be-
fogeld by the situation with reference
10 committee reorganization that il is i'm
possible 10 forecast the proceedings with
any degree of accuracy. There is n pos.
bility that this question may consume a
,rcat deal Of attention. and if it is NOT
satisfactorily disposed of, it may be used
10 prevent efforts to secure action on i'm
bortant measures.
As dependent on the matter of rcor-
ganization there are -four important qucs-
ti0ns before the senate. These are the
Morgan Cuban resolution, the bankruptcy
hill. the Anglo-Amercan arbitration
treaty and the appropriation bills.
Senator Davis. chairman of the com
mttec on foreign relations. said today
that h. was hopeful of securing consider
alton for the treaty some time during the
week, the only circumstances likely TO
prevent being the continued absence of
senators.
Senator Davis refuses to make any
predictions rs to the rcsu, Of the final
vote or when the vote will be reached.
Senator Allison said when he presented
the report on the sundry civil appr0pria-
ton bill to the senate that he would call
il up this week. Senator Pettigrcw. who
will have charge of the Indian bill. has
also stated that he hopes to take up that
bill. II the democrats do not object ON
account of the incomplete condition Of
the committees both bills will probably
he acted on during the week.
Senator German is expected TO make Il
general attack upon the appropriations
during the prndcncy of these measures
Both Senators Hour md Nelson are very
anxious 10 press the bankruptcy hill to II
vote, but il will give way before any of
the other measures mentioned.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15

Lockhart. Tex. April ll.-(SpccialD-
District court is in session this week.
A. Il. Chew was appointed ms foreman
of the grand jury. There have been
eleven true bills returned rs follows:
Three for murder four for assault to
murder, one for burglary, one for biga-
my. one for rape. one for theft.
On Wednesday. at high noon. Mr.. a.
w. Jordan and Miss Florence Blunt Of
this city were married mt the Prcsby-
terrain church by Rev. Purcell of Aus
tin. Quite n crowd were in attendance.
The young couple left on the evening
train for northern points
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15

MURDER MYSTERY CLEARED.
Two Innocent Men Were Suffering
for AnOther's Crime.

for AnOther's Crime.
Texarkana, Tex. April 11.-(Special)
1t seems that the mystery surround
ing the assassination of old man John
Mckay. the recluse merchant of Rose
Hill, last November, has been finally
cleared away and the right man, who
did the murder, positively located. 1t
was in the killing of Henry Terry. alias
henry Woods, negro desperate, at
Camden. Ark, several days ago by an
officer for resisting arrest. that ii dc.
veloped that Terry himself was the rcad
murderer of John Mckay. Upon Ter
rvs person and in his valise were found
letters that belonged to the unfortunat.
Mckay, as also a suit of his clothes, the
Key of his store and his pistol. As soon
as these facts became known here, l..
L. Parks and F. A. Bass were released
from custody of the Bowie county. Tex
as. officials and given an honorable dis
charge.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
Cumberland Falling.

Nashville. Tenn. April 1.-the Cum
beland river continues to fall, but has
not yet fallen below the danger line
forty feet. Tomorrow it will 90 below
the, danger line. The weather is clear
and cool.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15

sustain Secretary Oineys assertion re-
sarding the probable determination Of the
seal under present conditions and it must
be- on this basis that the negotiations will
proceed
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
Rising at Dubuque.

Dubuque. Ia. April 1.-THE NIssis-
Sippi is still rising, the stage now being
1873. The islands in front of the city
are submerged. There is over foot of
water in the Diamond Joe warehouse.
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-04
Her old slave Aidea ner.

Two members from Mississippi were
swappin6stories during the intervals
betweef refreshments when in an acci-
dental way the name of ex-senator
Blanche X. Bruce was mentioned.
"That reminds me, said one, "cf a
story told me long time ago by q bar
keeper at the Ebbitt / was in there one
day when Bruce came in, went into one
Of the side looms, and, having been
served, walked out without saying any
thing to any one,
" You don't draw the color line here,
John, remarked to the barkeeper.
Not on that man, sir, don T. was
the reply. Il have had a pretty good
opinion Of him since little thing that
happened soou after he first came here.
Bruce was in his seat at the capitol
one day, when card was brought to
him. He read it and at once went out
to the waiting room. There he met the
woman who owned him when he was a
slave. With her was her daughter Both
were in tears. She had lost all of her
property during the war and was abso-
lutely penniless. The negro once her
slave was the only man she knew in
Washington. She appealed to him.
Bruce listened to her story. He got his
hat and went outside with her. His car
riage, drawn by handsome pair of
bays, was waiting there. He called the
carriage assisted the mother and daugh-
ter to enter it with as much Difference
as he could possibly have shown them
in the old plantation days, closed the
door and told the coachman to drive to
the treasury. Then he called public
cab and followed. The three entered the
treasury together, and before Bruce
came out he had placed in the hands of
the woman he had once called "missus"
an appointment to a good clerkship in
the treasury department.
THAT" added the Mississippi men,
Der, twas the reason why the barkeeper
didn't draw the color line at Blanche
K. Bruce, and it seems to me the reason
was a mighty good one too. Wash
ington Post.
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-04
He Got There FIrat.

There is small town in one of the
eastern states, not far from Boston,
whose inhabitants take great pride in
excelling every other town in their vi
cinity. They try every new invention,
and if it has any sort of merit it is sure
to be assigned to duty in some part of
the place. Two portly gentlemen, one
sea captain and the other lawyer, both
retired from active life, were the prime
movers in the experiments and adop-
tions, and naturally in the course of
time they failed to agree. Extreme jeal-
ousy then prevailed, and a bitter ami
mostly sprang up between them.
Unfortunately these two gentlemen
lived next door to each other. In fact
SO close were their houses that the side
walls almost adjoineG. One very windy
night the lawyer was reading book in
his study when terrific crash up stairs
startled him. Upon investigating he
found that an unruly chimney had ruth
lessly hurled itself through his roof,
doing considerable damage. That in it
self was matter of great annoyance,
but when he discovered it was the sea
captains chimney that was responsible
his wrath knew no bounds. fastening
down to his library, he pulled out his
lawbooks and hunted up similar cases,
devising and scheming how ne could
secure satisfaction from the detestable
captain. While thus engaged note ar
rived from his enemy that read as fol
lows, "If you don't return those bricks
at once, I will put the matter in the
hands of the law. "-Harper's Round
Table
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-04
THE CRIME OF 1873
And the Amendatory RascaIity of
1875.

And the Amendatory RascaIity OF
1875.
The crime of 1873" was in chapter
l3l. section Is Of the coinage act OF the
United States, which deoreed that:
"The silver coin Of the United States
shall be trade dollar; a half dollar, or
60-cent pieoe a quarter dollar or 60
cent piece; a dime or 10-oent piece; and
the weight Of the trade dollar shall be
420 grains troy. And said
coins shall be legal tender at their nom
inal value for any amount not exceeding
50 in any one payment. This did the
work.
This law was signed by Preidsnt Grant
las he, fourteen. months thereafter, said)
without knowing that the standard sill
YER dollar had been left out. This act
created the mischief from which we are
suffering today.
Having demonetizsu silver in 1873, the
gold-bugs in 1875 decreed:
Section 2. That 80 much of Section
1924 of the Revised Statutes of the Uni
ted States as provides for charge Of one
fifth Of one peroentum for convert ing
standard gold bullion into coin, is hereby
repealed, and hereafter no charge shall
be made for that service.
Drop silver out of the coinage and
coin gold free. That was playi ing into
the hands Of the "gold bugsp' Eh ?
Then what followsY That Section 5177
of the Revised Statutes of the United
States limiting the aggregate amount of
circulating notes of natinal banking as
sociations be and is hereby repealed" "
This law authorized the increase of
national and bank circulation and the
redemption of legal tenders OF the United
States in excess only of $500, 900, 900. -
When the legal tenders we're authorized
there was limit placed to the amount
that should be fioated; the limit was
SS46, 100000. This compromise of the
people Tor their representativss) with the
gold-bugs, was basely violated and forty
six millions of the best money We ever
had, were withdrawn from circulation.
II these enactments were not all in the
interests of the gold-bugs and the nation
al bankers, confess thai l cannot un-
derstand the plain meaning of the Eng
lish language
When there is 40 much ialsshood and
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-04

With reference to the assignment of the
Democrat Publishing Company, the AL
lance Review says, after printing the
news Of the occurrence: I'm this CON
nectlon it may he said that the present
manager, Mr.. Harmony, is a very capa-
BILE business man and that the News
Democrat was nsver more prosperous
than when under his management during
1894. In December of 1894 the bust
ness management Of the News- d EN- ocrst
was transferred to parties from Ham iltoD,
Ohio, under whose control the paper
remained one year During this period it
Is claimed that heavy liabilities were
incurred which eventually resulted in the
assignment of the company"
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-04
IMMENSE LOSS.
MIDDLEBRANCH, PORTLAND Il
DIAMOND CEMENT WORKS
Totally Destroyed by Fire at an Early
Hour Saturday - Inflsmmable
Nature of the Structure Made
the Flames Hard to Fight.

A calamity visited Middlebranoh sat
urday morning in the shape Of the total
destruction of the immense plant Of the
Middlebranch Portland and Diamond
Cement Company, one Of the largest
Industries in Stark county, and one Of
the m jst thrifty and substantial
The plant was in full operation and
the men went to work as usual. At
$3.50 o'clCck blaze was noticed about
one Of the kilns Before anything could
be done to smother it, communication had
been had with inflam mable matGrial
and the whole plant was soon In flames.
The fire department at Middlebranch
is not ponderous organization, but with
the apparatus at hand heroic work was
done. The concern could not be saved,
however, and the whole plant is now In
ashes, the destruction being complete
IN less than an hour.
The plant was the pri e of Middle
branch people and employed seventy five
men at the time Of its destruction. 1t
was valued at about 5000, ,000 and was
one Of the largest in existence, its pro-
duct being everywhere accepted as about
the best in the market The company Is
largely by Cleveland parties
Mr.. Zsb Davis being president. James
Clark is superintendent, and could not
state today the exact condition Of affairs.
The company carried insurance that will
at least partially cover the loss. AS the
from which the companys pro
duct is made is to be found at Middle
branch, it is reasonsb BILE to believe that
the plant will soon be rebuilt. The com
oany and the people of Middlebranch, par
.icularly the men thrown out Of employ
nent, have the sympathy of all citizens
II the county, in their misfortune.