The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-19
TERR0RSTRIKES MANY TOWNS
THE CONDITION OF LOUIsTANA's
LEVEEs MOST TICKLIsH.

NedncsuRH-lhe LeVcc mt CONpcm
Secping Badly and the superhu-
mnn Efforts Being Made to save IL
Almost Sure 10 Prove Futile.
Memphis, Tenn, April 1s No more
breaks are reported In the Louisiana levee
district tonight although the embank-
ments at Hancock and Ferriday. in the
northern part of Concorda parish, are
said to be very weak and a break may
occur at any hour.
The crevasse st Biggg is now a seething
torrent and the waters are spreading rap
idly throughout Madison parish.
At Cowpen, the levee Is seeping badly.
and although a superhuman effort Is be-
ing made to hold It. many experienced
rivermen are of the opinion that break
will occur sooner or later
The town of vidalia is in very critical
condition and many Of the inhabitants
are packing their most valuable effects
and fleeing TO Natchez. The waters from
the Biggs crevasse are expected to inun-
date the town by Wednesday.
At Natchez. refugees continue 70 arrive
in large numbers, while live stock of every
description Is coming into the city in
droves. Thousands Of men line the lower
ievees tonight. watching every weak
spot.
In the Mississippi delta the situation con-
tinues TO slowly improve. This has been
a beautiful day throughout the overfiGwed
section and the waters are recedlng The
work Of relief is being Systematically car
1ied on.
The river at Memphis is still falling,
recession of one-tenth of a foot In the
past twenty-four hours being reported by
the weather bureau tonight.
Vicksburg. Miss. April 1s.-To-night at
o'clock the river was Sis feet, fall OF
three-tenths In the past twenty-four
hours and total OF six-tenths since the
crevasse at Bigg's levee at 10 o'clock FRI
day night
The situation in Madison parish, Lousi-
ana. is growing hourly worse. The water
going through the Biggs break in tho
levee Is fast covering the lowlands and
is flooding Bay Vidal and the greater part
OF the land In the southern portion Of the
parish, The water has reached Talluah,
some eighteen miles west Of Delta. The
water had risen seven feet in the bayou
at Tallulah and was rising a foot an hour
at noon to-day. Delta Is about depopu-
lated. only enough persons remaining to
look after the houses, many OF which
have two or three feet of water in them.
The back water is fast covering the lands
north OF the delta.
Planters In Ential ana the northern part
of Madison are placing their stock within
reach OF boats on the river front, or at
stations on the line OF the Vicksburg and
Shreveport railroad so they can be moved
in the event of another break In the upper
portion Of the parish, which Is now Sc
verely threatened. Mlllken's Bend and
DucRDOrt leVpes are both cavlng.
Reports from Madison parish state that
the water began rising In Brushby bayou
at Tallulah at o'clock this mornig, and
up to O'Clock this afternoon Il had risen
eight feet. About three miles below Tai
lulah the water Is getting over the levees
ana Is overfiowing everything two miles
below.
Richland, La, was heard from to-day.
and reports the water going all over every
thing, overlooking the Kings and Keps
place, also the villages Of Trinidad and
Ashwood. eight miles below Richland.
Lieut. Crowley Of the United states
army reached here from Washington to-
day, having been detaiedto purchase and
distribute relief He has gone actively at
work and Will purchase meal and meat.
and moiasses for distribution through the
gentlemen named by the governor.
John McColton, one of the leading plant
ers OF Issaquena county, Is In the city ana
makes the following statement: Il have
Just returned from lssaquena county. The
present indications are that the overflow
will break all former records as to dura-
tion and destruction Of property IN the line
OF plantation improvements and loss OF
cattle, leaving little prospects Of planting
a crop In 1871
New Orleans La, April 1s.--Contrary TO
expectations the river at this point did
not touch the twenty-foot mark to-day.
rTsi..a af. ha afa
at 1873.
The excitement concerning the condi-
tion OF the levee at Carrollton has been
more or less at fever heat to-day, but on
Che authority OF the best Informed enei-
noers, the levee directors, It Is stated that
no extraordinary cause for uneasiness ex-
lists.
A representative Of the Associated Press
to-day inspected the levee over which
there has been so much debate, and IL
seemed TO be In excellent shape.
This afternoon meeting Of the New
Orleans levee board was held at CARROLL
ton and the board met delegation OF
prominent and wealthy citizens rhe
meeting was entirely harmonious. the
board willingly consenting TO have an
Advisory committee Of citizens cooper
ate with them. Ample financial backing
was guaranteed the board, and as con-
sequence, after the conference adjourned.
300 additional laborers were put to work.
and this force viii be doubled tomorrow.
At Plaquemine La, the river has risen
in tho past twenty-four hours two-tenths
OF a foot The Hickey ievee, situated on
the west bank below the mouth OF Red
river. which has been reported In bad con-
dltion. Is being strengthened.
Kansas city, April is.--The food OF the
Missouri river at this point Is steadily
increasing. the rise In twenty-four hours
ending tonight having been nearly six
inches. At dark the stage of river was
22.5 feet. or a foot and a half above the
danger line.
Though q large area OF bottom lands Is
under water. no serious damage has been
done 40 far A few poor families, number
ing probably nfty persons, have been
washed from their homes and are In need
OF food but their wants viii probably bo
met tomorrow by the local authorities.
These families are living In tents or un-
der board sheds that have been hastily
thrown together.
st. Joseph ana Lcavenw0rth report a
stendy rise IN the river. AZ Leavenworth,
L.. a