The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-20
IN A FEVER OF EXCITEMENT
Residents Of New Orleans in Deadly
Fear of the Flood.
MANY MASS MEETINGS BEING HELD
And Preparations Made to Cut the Levee
Opposite in Order to save the City.
Situation No Better in Louisiana.
The Prospect for Crops Gloomy.

NEW ORLEANS. LA, April 19.-The
city has caught the fever of excitement,
and though the authorities insist that the
line is well protected and no danger ex-
lists, the citizens held several mass-meet-
ings and urged action. pledging all the
money needed.
This has induced the board TO build the
temporary leYees two feet higher, after
having already provided for a temporary
rise of two feet. a large force Of men
are already at work. night and day, on
the upper levees and by tonight this
extra caution will be completed. Work
Will then be begun on the commercial
section, and two feet OF sand bags added
there by Tuesday night.
The Carrollton ieyee. about which most
OF the agitation is IN progress, stands At
the head Of the finest residence avenue IN
the city, and as a spectator stands at the
top he looks upon the roofs OF mansions
while almost wetting hts feet in the
mighty river seeming eager TO break It's
bonds. One glance at the picture IS sum-
Client 10 account for the anxiety which
has led to much bitter attack upon the
really good work the levee board has
accomplished.
CUT THE yLEVEE.
At one OF the meetings one OF the citi-
zens suggested the cutting or a levee on
the opposite bank OF the river in order
TO save the city. Some Of the people from
over the river, were present and quietly
replied that any such attempt would
mean the pcrforation OF the Cutting Com
mittee.
"A sroundlcss fear that New Orleans
would attempt such measures has been
abroad in adjoining sections for several
days. and at the monster Bonnet Care
embankment the rumor has caused the
camping OF an armed company OF volun-
teers on the levee each night.
Last night three negroes In skiff were
caught stealing along In the shadow OF
the levee and flLsilade was prompt. The
boat swiftly darted toward the opposite
bank, but not before one Of the oarsmen
WAS wounded.
Although a number Of weak places con-
tinue TO develop the line below Baton
Rouge continues firm. and there is no ces-
sation of work. Yesterdays fine wealth
or and the absence OF the delayed Hood
kept the gauge stationary below 10 feet
The prediction Of - feet will probably
DO verified.
VICKSBURG. MISS. April l9.-The sit
uatiOn is not bettered on the Louisiana
side. The water from the Bigss crevasse
IS overfowing large portions OF the upper
Madison parish.
Telegrems from Ashwood ut midnight
asked that relief boats be sent TO Bayou
Vidal, that life as i'm danger
The United States steamer Florence
went down at A. NJ. Steamer Ruth ar
rived here last night. loaded with stock
and refugees from the Mississippi side
above lssaquenna county. Steamers Lake
Palmyra and Water Maiden. with barges
in tow. left Davis Island and arrived this
morning from the upper Yazoo and report
the lands on the north or upper side un-
der water as high as Belzoni
Daily mail service has been established
by skift from Vicksburg to all points on
the Vicksburg. Shreveport and Pacific
railroad. During last night and this
morning over 800 destitute people arrived
by relief boat. AT 4. NJ. the gauge show
ed fifty-one feet. a fall Of three-tenths In
twenty-four hours. At II A. NJ il was
5lS
4 GLOOMY OUTLOOK.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. April l9-The
War Department officials are regarding
the outlook I'm the Lower Mississippi Val
ley with the greatest anxiety. fearing that
the levee system there will prove unable
to withstand ;he terrible strain Captain
Martin. OF the Generals S
Department. has just returned TO Wash
ington and Is preparing his report to he
Secretary OF War. lIo was sent out to
inspect the conditions In that section Of
the country lying along the Mississippi
river from Nicis burg 10 Greenville and
his report gives some startling figures as
TO the extent Of the devastation worked
by the waters.
lie says that there was under water
last Wednesday n strip ~ land on the
east bank OF the river with Vicksburs as
it's apex. with Il base of twenty miles
and sixty miles wide. containing 1.0JO
square miles. This IL all cotton country. II
IS generally owned i'm large plantations.
the owners Of which divide it into small
parcels and allow negroes 10 work II on
shares.
In 1890 there was produced in this strip
l12Os0 bales Of cotton. The population is
estimated at from 10000 to 10000, about
one-sixth OF the people being whites.
Captain Martin says that not more than
20 per cent. OF the land is above water
made I'D for the most of little tracts slong
Deer creek, Sunfower river. and railroad
ernbankments Most OF the negroes nave
stuck by their cabins, having anywhere
from one to two weeks supplies by trem'
However. when the officer left they We're
beginning to swarm into the towns. nc
estimates that about f0NO persons III
This district are IN need OF aid from seme
quarter.
The people themselves are doing al III
their power. and Captain Martin cltei IN
stances OF great lberality on the part Oh
the whites. As long as there Is promise
OF a good cotton crop to be maze .he
nlantation owners may gsnerSiy Dc &c
lied upon TO feed their negro workers
hut with the disappearance OF that chance
VIII come inability on their part 10 re-
spond to further demands, because OF the
loss OF their credit with the factors ana
bankers. -. .no
Captaln Martin thought that the
chances OF making crop TINS year,
though generally regarded as gloomy at
Vicksburg. really were not so oaa' anu
had certainly been very much ihpIoN.u
bv the breaking az the ievee at D'ss .
Delta. -, "a rho fra,
NAl ~ ~ ~ Scncord,a parish front. oc-
,,-red on sunday morning last when 'ne
ciss.cock levee gave way. Inis 49, sIo,n ~
,dlHa',"s Shout twenty-eight miles beioW
Natchez. and is near the lower ehd ol 'he
levee system OF the parish, ,o,toa and
az d,sasfrc,,s efrects were In measure
ius a., u,,sd u,,,,ad hv reason OF all the stock and
other nerishabIe property having been
previously rem owed: The water rom
th,s bresk will lnundate the lower part ot
NE ,tss Dsrish from Mooreyille down to
prabsfon- covering number Of fine
plantations. - ,o I'll. -,,.o-