The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-30
DELTA DISTRICTS DOOMED.
Crevasse at Lake Lee VIII Inundatc
the Richest Farms In Miss
fss{ppi.

GREENVILI.E. Miss. March 9.-A
crevasSe occurred last night at Lake Lee,
seven miles south OF 6reenville, on the
Mississippi side. through which an i'm
mense volume of water is pouring into the
Black and Steele bayou country.
Al p. m. the break Is 600 feet wide and
widening. All hope OF closing the crevasse
has been abandoned.
An the country west of Deer creek and
the most prosperous part of the delta will
be overfiowed south Of the YaEoo river.
The levee along the Greenvilie front Is
stin holding, and superhuman effort is
being made TO keep 1t intact. The weather
conditions are unfavorable. the rain now
coming down in torrents
Fighting the Flood.
HELENA, Ark. March 29-Toiay has
been the most critical day in the history
of the city. The river has been steadily
rising and stands tonight at sos feet. All
night long the wind blew and the waves
beae on the levee and weary hands piled
sacks of dirt where breaches we're snow
ing. II was gallant fight and 1t left ev-
erybody exhausted.
This morning the mayor issued a procla-
nation reciting the desperate conditions
surrounding the city and requesting that
stores be closed and all able-bodted men
be sent to the front. The proclamation
met with a hearty response. and in few
minutes several hundred fresh men with
spades in their hands were taking the
places of the tired men who had laoorod
all night. Tonight the wind has ahated
somewhat, but watching and working stili
goes on
The government rescue boat Titan ar
rived at 10 o'clock this morning with nine
ty-seven refugees from knowiton, Capt
Nealy reports another break about 800
yards above Wood Cottage Landing. which
fr mil hal 8 knOyltnn
occurred Saturday evening ard was over
800 feet wide when the Titan passed down
10 Knowiton. This break puts al the coun-
try from knowlton 10 Jasconia under wa
ter, and as that section Is moro thickly
settled than the Modoc avenue front the
loss and suffering VIII be great.
The levee AT knowiton Is also IN danger
and Capt Nealy adheres to his opinion
that II viii go to pieces from there 10 Las
coma. and also that the Lasco7ia circle
ievecs will crumble 20 pieces.
The Task Considered Hopeless.
QUINCY, Ill. March 2a.-The situation
in the levee district is the same as IL was
yesterday large force of men Is work
ing heroicalIy 20 strengthen the weak
places in the levees and thereby save their
homes and crops. but Ii is now believed
the task Is a hopeless one, as old river
men say that the river Will go beyond the
mark OF nine years ago. Reports from
north OF here are very discouraging. and
the rainstorm which prevailed Sunday
increased the fears OF the owners OF land
In the leyee districts.
Situation Becomes More Serious.
ALTON. ILL.,. March 2e.-Flood conditions
become graver every hour. Men were put
10 work this morning overhauling all the
levees protecting higher bottom lands. The
railroad companies are putting their
tracks In the best possible condition 10
withstand the foods. for less than twelve
feet. more water Will bring the stage OF
1862 when the tracks OF all railroads were
submerged between Alton and ST. Louis
Thousands of dollars have already been
swept away IN crop products and Il Is rain
ing again. so that che prairies even back
from the river look like lakes. and the
preparation OF lands for spring crops is
again deferred.
Minnesota Rivers Rising.
ST PAUL. March 2a.-The rivers Of Min
nesota are rising very rapidly. following
a dav OF heavy thawing. The Mississippi
At this point has passed the ten-foot mark
and is SILL rising. Water Is flowing IN from
the Minnesota in a torrent The water a
now running through the bohemian fats
and me residents Of that locality are NOV
ing out The Easements Of many concerns
on the west side are fun Of water. Much
higher water in the MiSslssippi Is report
e3 AT LATHE Falls. St Cloud and Grand
Hands. There IS still about 4 foot OF