The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-06
1t Is Now 1000 Feet Wide ard Pour
ing an Immense Volume of Water
Into the Delta Region.
SEVERAL COUNTIES RUINED
PLANTERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
RAISE ANY CROPS THIS YEAR
Situation at GreenVilIe, New Orleans.
Helena, NatcheZ. st. Louis and
Throughout the Northwest.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 5-The predic-
tion made in these dispatches Friday that
great disaster to the Mississippi delta would
follow the breaking of the levee at point
on the east side of the river north &C Hell
ena, Ark, has been terribly realized. The
break at Flower lake which occurred yes
terday morning has rapidly grown from
dozen feet in length to a thousand. This
the condition of the crevasse at
o'clock this afternoon when an Associated
Press representative left the levee north of
the break Effort is being made to tie each
end of the levee, but owing 10 the difficulty
in getting material from the railway. five
miles away. the success of the effort is
doubtful This crevasse is at the head of
the delta, and will cause an overflow of the
northern tier of counties in Mississippi.
with the exception of a part of Tunica.
The question that now confronts the
planters is the duration of the flood. If the
water is out of the delta by May ), crop
of cotton can be grown but cotton planted
as late as May 10 has little chance of ma
turing before frost. There is still another
danger. These crevasses must all be closed
before the June rise or there will be a Sec
ond overflow. The delta country produces
annually no less than a half million bales
of cotton.
The river at Memphis is stationary to-
night. Much suffering is reported from the
overfiowea regions. Relief steamers are
making daily trips into Arkansas and Mis-
sissippi, rescuing hundreds of people and
bringing them to Memphis. The local relief
committee is doing everything possible for
the unfortunate refugees. At meeting of
the committee late this afternoon it was
decided to ask other cities for help. The
following appeal was issued:
THE city of Memphis has been providing
for the distressed flood sufferers from the
overllowed districts of Arkansas and Missis-
sippi, with some little outside assistance,
for several weeks. Few Tennesseans are
In need, but the demands on Memphis for
others are very great and are increasing
every day. Indeed. the demands on our
people have grown TO such proportions that
we feel unable to meet them alone. Hereto
fore we have attempted to carry on this
work without soliciting contributions from
other cities. although many cities have gem
erOusly given us voluntary aid. III the KIND
people of other towns and cities feel dis
posed to lend a helping hand in this mat
ter. all donations received by the relief COM
mittee will be highly appreciated and judi
ciously managed. Donations of meat meal
and money are preferable. The Memphis
relief committee is well organized and can
use money to the best advantage, as il is
fully cogniZant of the necessities of the sit
uation. All remittances should be made TO
Ben F. Price treasurer of the citizens re-
lief committee Memphis. Tenn.
A dispatch from Vicksburg, Miss, to-
night says the break in Tunica county is
considered by most persons here TO be the
climax of ruin to the delta. Not county
will escape severe loss. Messages from
Sunfower river report a terrific rise there
and three barges were sent there to-day to
bring out stock. The upper Sunfiower has
not been overflowed in fifteen years. 1t is
well improved, and, besides many large
plantations, is full of small farms, occupied
by a most thrifty class of white farmers
Many of these occupy very low ground, and
will suffer great losses beyond question.
The river is stationary here this evening,
with 1872 on the gauge. The city is rapidly
filling up with negroes from the delta. fee
ing from the flood, and every train adds to
the number. The Fifth Louisiana levee dis
trict is concentrating its efforts just now
on the Bedford Biggs levee, just below this
city. Four hundred convicts were taken
there to-day, and the levee is to be raised
for a distance of $500 feet, being weak
along that stretch. Other Louisiana levees
are reported in good condition.