Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-30
lie VEE SITUATION.
1T Is ALARMING ON THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI.
WATER ENTERING NEW ORLEANS
no Damage to Property In That
City, However, IL Anticipated
Vast Areas of Country Threatened
With Flood.


MEMPHIS, TENN. March 29.-The
leyee broke this afternoon back Of Perth
shire. Miss. The situation below here is
reported as alarming.
LARGE BREAK NEAR GREENVILLE.
MEMPHIS, TENN, March "a large
break has occurred in the levee at Way
side. Miss, nine miles below Greenvile.
The break is reported to be n bad one
and in a section of levee high. and re-
garded as measurably safe.
OFFICIAL REPORT.
WASHINGTON, ID, c., March 29.-Gen-
eral Wilson. chief of army engineers, re-
received telegram from Colonel Giles
pie, president of the Mississippi River
Commission, dated Vicksburg, yesterday
as follows:
Gauges along river from Memphis to
Vicksburg, give food readings varying
liz TO feet above any previously re-
corded readings. Feeling everywhere one
OF great uneasiness, and all State Levee
boards are battling against rising floods,
regardless OF cost AS yet no widely
spread damages have been reported,
though several breaks in levees above
Greenville on both banks have occurred.
Levees seriously strained at all points.
Commission will give all possible aid by
applying money balances to protection
Of works Water rising slowly below
Helena"
LARGE AREA THREATENED.
JACKSON, MISS. March "a special
from Greenville, Miss, says: A crevasse
occurred last night at Lake Lee, seven
mil 90
sippi side. through which an immense
volume of water is pouring into the Black
and the Steele Bayou country.
The opening is 800 feet wide, and unless
it can be stopped. which is highly i'm
probable. all OF the country west of Deer
creek. and the most fertile and prospe
rous in the delta. will be overhowed
from Aryola south to the mouth Of the
YaZoo river.
WORSE THAN EVER BEFORE.
NEW ORLEANS. LA, March "a
special from Helena. Ark, to the Daily
States says: The situation here is worse
than ever before. The river has risen
- inches during the last twenty-four
hours, and stiff gale has been blow
ing almost without moments cessation
since o'clock last night. Mayor Fritz
zen issued a proclamation this morning
reciting the dangerous condition Of
things and calling upon all able-bodied
men and boys TO secure spades and put
themselves under the COMMANDMENT
chief Of the levees.
The proclamation met with n hearty
and prompt response and at this mo-
ment 500 or 600 men are working on the
levees, while many others are on the
hill. filling a long line of wagons with
dirt to be conveyed to the weakest points
The levees are in good condition, con-
sidering the long siege. but the heavy
wind, and the knowledge that the river
is to rise for several days longer have
nerved every man for the most des-
perate fight ever seen in this country.
WATER INVADES NEW ORLEANS.
NEW ORLEANS. LA, March 29.-The
river has finally reached the top Of the
levees in this city, and this morning be
gan running over into Vaudeville street,
directly in front Of the celebrated French
market building. Ii is not believed that
any damage will be done to property.
An urgent call came from Algiers, on
the right bank of the river this morn
ing. for help to strengthen the levees,
which were seriously weakened by the
high water and the heavy winds of last
night. The river has risen seyen-tenths
of a foot in the past twenty-four hours,
the 16-foot mark-which is the danger
line.
SITUATION AT CAIRO.
CAIRO, March 29-The river has fallen
one-tenth of a foot i'm the last twenty
four hours, but the severe rains this after
noon will Offset this fail and by to-mor-
row the food from the north is expected
to reach here. and the river will 90 higher
than ever. The government boat Min
netonka reached here last night from
Golddust. on her trip she rescued Us
persons and over 200 head OF cattle.
RIVER AT A STANDSTILL.
NEW MADRID March 29.-The river
IS at a standstiIl to-day. The strong
wind blows the water against the levees
with considerable force. but IL Is believed
they will be able to withstand the waves.
The rain is failing heavily this morning,
with indications OF continuing through
out the day.
THE RIVER FALLING.
PADUCAH, KY, March 29.-The river
is falling slowly, but steadily at this
place at the rate of about half an inch
per hour. Reports received this morn
ing from Danvile Tenn, state that two
warehouses with $50 barrels Of coal-oil
were washed away by the food.
RIVER RISING STEADILY.
ST. LOUIS, MO-, March 29.-The river
IS rising steadily a. this point. and is
now within four feet Of the dangerlne.
Reports received from upper-river points
state that an immense flood Is on its
way down, and may be expected here
within the next forty-eight hours. 1t is
raining at this point this afternoon. and
reports received at the local Weather
Bureau state that the rain is general
throughout Missouri, Arkansas, and Ten
nessee.
Reports from Alton. Ill. at noon state
that the river Is about stationary, but
that n rise is threatened
WATER THREATENING VICKSBURG.
NEW ORLEANS. LA, March pa
special 10 the Daily States from Vicks-
burg says: At p. NJ. the break south
of Swift Water, near Waynes's Station
was zoo feet wide, at a varying depth
of 6 TO s feet. The levee officials are
not hopeful OF closing the break, or
stopping il from widening. The water
from the break will go through Lake Lee
into Deer creek, Lakes Lafayette and
Washington Steers Bayou, and thence
into Vicksburg. A large portion Of lower
Washington county and Sharkey lssa-
quena. and Sunhower counties will be in
undated. The Riverside Division OF the
Yazoo and Mississippi Valley railroad
has been abandoned, on account Of this
break.
from Memphis, reports the leyees at Luna
Brooks Mill in ChlcOt county Ark,
as IN a more dangerous condition.
LOUISIANA JOCKEY CLUB.