The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-17
RIG BREAK IN A LEvEE.
LITTER POURING THROUGH
RREdCH 100 FEET VIDE.

,.,ec Near Delta. La. Gave way last
ys,t. although II wal Thought 60 Have
neon Made securc-Grcat Damage Threat
-.,.d-pescue or q Residents OF Davis Island
v,cKspuRo, Miss, April 16.-Thc Queen and
c.o.,eut road train despatchers office at 10
.rio,k tonight reported the Biggs leveo in
MADISON parish broke at 10 o'clock, ana t"at the
,.ook was 100 feet wide twenty minutes later.
Tho break Is 'our and one-half miles south Of
Delta, La, ana one'hah mic ABOVE inc upper
nd of Reeds lovee.
The news was sont to Delta ut once, the oper-
tor there being reused out of his bed and the
norning sent along the line of railroad westward.
rhs leyce is a worry large one and has been en-
aging tho especial attention OF the levee
.,,horitics FOR weeks, or ever sinoo the
mississippi crevasses occurred. Several hum
lrrd convicts have been employed upon
!, in addition to other laborers, and 90
a,cntly lad 1t been strengthened that only to.
Sov the belief was confidently expressed by
men living behind 1t that II would be held.
The disaster will DO a great ono. Tho
crcyasse In the Riggs.Bedford levee will
nlay havoc with many fertile Louisiana
PARISHES including Madison, Tensas, and Con-
rordiu, of which the Mississippi River Is tho
EASTERN boundary. and q tier Of parishes imme
nIt Vili W WV 'NoN "ah'N ~ 'ANNav
N he devasted when the torrent from the Biggs-
BEDFORD Creek reaches the Macon and Tcnsas
rivers.
These streams run from north to south. west
AZ the parishes named, and bound Franklin and
Catahoula parishes on tho east. Macon Ravor
occupies relatively the same position in
louisiana as the Yazoo does in tho
Mississippi delta, and tho effects Of
the Bisgs. Bedford crevasse are likely to prove
equally, II not more. disastrous than tho Sun
flower break in the Mississippi levee.
Madison parish alone has an area OF 600
square miles. and the valuation Of real and per-
sonal estate is placed in the millions. Cotton
and Indian corn are tho staple product.
The surface of the country Is level and covered
with forests of ash. cypress. gum. and other
valuable timbers. Delta is the capital of Madi.
,on parish. and rs the Biggs break is but two
miles south the town is likely to be inundated
by back water before the immense volume from
the Mississippi reaches the Macon and Texas
rivers.
The Natchez mail steamer st. Joseph arrived
this morning with about $50 persons from Davis
Island. Over 200 were rescued from the flooded
island in skiffs. The officers report that the
United States steamer Florence is doing good
work there. The st. Joseph did not bring up
much stock. The greater part Of yesterday and
last night was devoted to rescuing helpless col
ored people.
telegram was received this morning from
Mr.. J. P. Parker urging that a boat be sent to
his place at Sparta, just above Duckport, in
Madison parish, to take his stock and people of.
The steamer Ruth went up at noon. Some of
the bestinformed people in this section now de-
ppair OF holding the Louisiana line more than
forty-eight hours longer. as they say that many
points cannot stand ffty-three feet, which now
seems certain.
Chairman Creighton OF the Colored Relief
Committee was called up at 5 o'clock this MORN
ing to administer to the immediate need of per
sons who came in during the night, and since
that time the headquarters Of the committee
has been crowded with distressed and half
starved people, begging for bread.
An estimate shows that the committee has re-
lieved the hunger OF ABOUT . 1000 people since it
began its work yesterday. Capt. c. II. Clark of
the Ordnance Department. who has visited the
territory from Vicksburg to the mouth OF Red
River, arrived on the mail steamer st. Joseph
to-day and says that the suffering and destitu-
ton at Davis Island is intense and in his opinion
there is great possibility of loss OF life.
The island is TWENTY-FIVE miles long and many
parts OF It are not accessible except by small
yawls or skiffs. and he fears that when the great
mood passes away many people viii be missing.
sippi, which left ST. Louis on March "a. with the
River Commission aboard for the semi-annual
inspection of the levees, returned to this city
this morning. The levees were inspected to
New Orleans. whence the Commissioner re-
turned to their respective hones by rail.
Capt. J. A. Eckerson OF the United States Corps
Of Engineers carefully inspected nearly every
crevasse. and has already begun work upon an
exhaustive report to be submitted to the Govern
ment soon. Some interesting facts bearing upon
the causes which led, up to the formation Of
crevasses are promised.
The opinion of river men and planters Ia that
the Government must adopt a new way to get
nd of the surplus water of the Mississippi. and
a series of outlets is suggested. Heretofore
Government engineers have refused to entertain
anything that in any way modified the levee
system.