Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-04-08
THE HIGH WATER.
II Is Spreading Over Land That
Had Not Been Overlooked.
SITUATION APPALLING At FARGO.
Sidewalks Are Anoat and being Used ~
Rafts by Psoe'e 60 Get TO Dry Land
An Bfdgcs Rendered
Unsafe.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. April 7.--The fea-
turc VI the flood condition in the Mis-
sissippi delta now is the gradual spread
Of water over an area that hitherto
was never overfowed. The upper
crevasse in Tunica county is 1000 feet
wide, and so great is the outpour that
water from below the break Is being
drawn up TO and hurled out over the
fertile valley through the crevassc
The supreme question is the duration
of the flood. If the lower levees along
Louisiana and southeast Arkansas
should hold, which Il is believed they
will not do, the emptying of the delta
and 81. francis basin will be slow. IL
they break and the river continues TO
fall at Cairo, the upper St. Francis
basin and the delta will be clear of
water by May 5. II this should prove
true, there will be no difficulty in
growing cotton. At New Orleans the
levees are declared 20 be in as good
condition as could possibly be expect
ed, but the authorities are exercising
answering vigilance in the oversight
of the earth embankments.
At Cahoma, Miss, for a while yester-
day the water rose two feet an hour
until all the low country was filled. II
Is now over all but the very highest
places. Many families have been
forced TO leave their homes and move
into box cars furnished by the railroad
company. No fatalities have occurred
yet, but the work of rescuing will be
more dangerous as the water rises.
The railroad company will sustain loss
in bridges and track that are washing
literally of to the woods. Three
bridges within a mile of here have sue
cumbed 10 the flood. One Is gone and
two rendered useless. Word was re-
ceived last night that the people be-
tween this place and Friar's Point
have lost everything they possessed,
save their land, they being in a main
current from the crevasse 1T Flower
lake.
SITUATION APPALLING AT FARGO.
FARGO, n. d., April THE situation
is appalling. While the Red river rose
only three inches last night the Big
Call west of this city took big spurt,
and went up IL inches, flooding the en-
tire west side of town and driving hum
dreds OF people from their homes IL
is a populous resident district and the
effect of the flood Is most forcibly felt.
All that part of the city south Of Front
street is inundated. Six blocks of
Eighth street paving went out yes
terday morning, and the flood from
the west side of town is so
high that paving on West Front
street is going out rapidly. Sidewalks
are all afloat, and are being used as
RATS upon which families are moving
to dry land. All along Front street
the water is within few inches of the
floors Of principal business houses. and
a rise of another foot would practically
put the entire city ahoat. The North
ern Pacific people were afraid TO use
the bridge yesterday and passenger
trains were brought across from Moor
head over the Great Northern bridge.
Passengers were transferred and n
special went west in the afternoon.
All bridges are condemned except the
Great Northern which is a steel bridge
put in last spring. The waterworlSs
~ the reserve station were compelled
10 shut down, and pumps were started
up and are doing all in their power
TO supply the city. There is much suf-
fering among poor families, who have
been practically destitute all winter,
and this last blow Is most serious
The relief committee, operated jointly
by the city council and county com
missioners, established headquarters
morning and will take care
Of the poor. Sections of this city that
no one ever dreamed could be reached
by the flood are now under water and
Broadway, with a short distance on
either side, is the only dry spot in
town. Henry Struive and two sons
were drowned yesterday near Frank
fort, 5. d. This makes six deaths from
drowning in that vicinity during the
present overflow. There has been
great loss Of stacked .-rain and stock.