Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-30
SEVEN COUNTIES IN DANGER
Break in the Main Levee at Ferthshire,
Miss, Nay Bring Disaster,
LAB0RERS ARE SENT TO THE SCENE
Work of Watching the Lcvecs Con-
tinucs without interruption
Helena, Ark, Fears n Great
Catastrophe.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 29.-The river
situation in the vicinity of Greenville, Miss.
is alarming. The reported break at Wayside,
mine miles south Of that city, is fully con-
nrmed and the latest reports are to the eff
feet that water is pouring through a crevasse
500 yards in width with tremendous force.
But the most startling news reached Mem
phis at 6 o'clock this evening. A telegram
from Perthshire, forty-nine miles north of
Greenvillc, and Immediately at the head OF
tho fertile Yazoo delta, states that a break
has occurred in the maiu levee there. Just
how serious this break is the telegram does
not state, but several trains loaded with
laborers and sacks of sand have been hur-
riedly dispatched to the scene. II the break
at Perthshire assumes anything like the pro-
portions of the crevasse at Wayside the de-
struction will be enormous. The waters will
sweep over the rich farm lands Of Bolivar,
Washington, Sharkey, 1ssaquena, Warren,
Yazoo and Sunfiower counties, in Mississippi,
and the loss TO stock and property will be APP
pallinS.
Ten thousand men line the itvees 'le;ween
Memphis and Nicksburg, watching and work
ing with a desperation most pitiable. The
warning sent out by the weather bureau from
Washington last night Is having its effect.
Many Of the inhabitants Of the delta have
corraled their animals on high strips Of land
and moved their families out Of dangers
reach.
The situation at Memphis is about the same
as yesterday. The river continues to fall
slowly, the gauge tonight registering &c.
feet.
A dispatch from Gunnison, Miss, says that
a break in the levee is momentarily expected
at Sunnyside, but it was thought this catas-
| tropho could be avcrted If $50 men and ma
terlal could be had at once. Accordingly 100
white men were dispatched on a special
train from this city to the scene. The ne
groes at Camp Congo were offered 81 per day
and all expenses to lend a helping hand, but
with ono exception the offer was refused.
There Is much indignation among the citi-
zens at this action OF thu negro refugees.
The Commercial Appeals Greenville, Miss,
special says: The solid line of Mississippi
levees has been broken at last. At / O'Clock
last night the levee at Deerfeld, eleven miles
below Greenville, succumbed t. the pressure
OF the waters of the mighty Mississippi. The
levee was a large one and 100 yards of the
vast embankment gave way in a trice, and
the torrent of waters rushed upon the
county. Soon the section between the river
and the Mississippi Valley railroad was a
sea of water. Hogs and cattle were drowned,
while the people, mostly colored, rus.,,d to
the levee above and below the break and
hudGled together until they were rescued.
No loss of human lie has been reported.
HARD WORK AT HELENA.
HELENA, Ark, March 29.-Today has
been the most critical day in the history
CT the city. The river has been steadily ris-
ing and stands tonight at 5O.6 feet. All night
long the wind blew and the waves beat Oh
tho levee and weary hands piled sacks Of
dirt where breaches were showing. 1t was
a gallant fight, and it left everybody ex-
hausted. THIS morning the mayor issued a
proclamation reciting the desperate condi-
lions surrounding the city and requesting
that stores be closed and all able bodied men
be sent to the front. The proclamation met
with a hearty response, and in a few minutes
several hundred fresh men with spades III
their hands we're taking the places of the
tired men who had labored all the night.
Tonight the wind has abated somewhat,
but the work Of watching and working still
goes on. The government boat Titan arrived
this morning with ninety-seven refugees
from Knowltcn. Captain Molly of the Titan
reports another break about 300 yards above
Knowlton. 1t occurred Saturday evening
and was over 500 feet wide when the Titan
passed down to Knowlton. This break puts
all the country from Knowlton to Laconia
under water and as that section is moro
tnickly settled than the Modoc district, the
loss will be greater. The levee at Knowlton
is also in danger and Captain Molly adheres
to his opinion that it will go to pieces from
there to LacoLia and also that the Laconia
circle levees will crumble to pieces.