The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28
GREENEV[LLES DANGER.
MERCHANTS CLOSE UP 10 ASSIST IN
LEYEE YORK.
The River Fifty Feet ut II elena and Slowly
Rising-A Serious Outlook at Several
Points I'm Missouri.

GREENEvILLE. MISS. March H.
To-day is one Of fevefish anxiety, anu
IL may be said the crisis Is now on Inc
Mayor has issued a proclamation warn
ing ali merchants TO close their places
OF business to-day, and caihhe every
able bodied man 10 the itvee. AZ ei'S
j:our the city IS almost deserted OF nel-
chants, and strong and brave nght -
being made llong the line to hold Inc
great embankment. Special trains are be-
ing sent out en- both roads. and branches
10 bring I'm recruits. Governor McLaurin
and officials Of railroads are lending every
assistance. The condition Is critical
but hopeful.
AN APPALLING SIGHT.
JACKSON, MISS, March IF. e.
Nelson OF this city, who Is largely IN
terested in delta farming operations. ana
Is agent for many thousand acres OF
land III the great valley returned from
Creenyille last night. He says the water
was over the .evees proper yesterday
evening. but was being held in check by
sacks of sand and dirt piled on top, and
the heroic people were stu hopeful or
their ability to hold the fort The town
OF Greenyils WAS thsL several feet be-
low the water level. and one standing on
the streets OF the town could see the
hull OF steamboats, above them. The
sight Of so much water was simply APP
palling.
HELENA, ARK, March T.-The river
Is fifty feet here and slowly rising. Ac-
cording 10 government reports the high
est water is yet TO come. This means
great destruction to property. AT the
mouth OF the st. Francis river nine miles
north Of here the Mississippi is at least
ten miles wide
AT MEMPHIS.
MEMPHIS. TENN. March G.-With no
alarming volume OF water sweeping on
from tho upper rivers and tho river mere
! and at various other points en- the decline
the acute stage OF the food here Is PROP
ably past. There is great uneasiness, how
ever. and not without cause. at Greenville,
Miss, and Helena, Ark
At the former place to-day there was
intense alarm in consequence CT which
a call for volunteers went out from Gov
erncr McLaurin, who went 10 that place,
and the mayor also issuing proclaim
alton calling attention to the grave peril
of the city and urging business men 10
leave their places and report with all
| their able-boded male help for service on
the shaky levees.
THE LEVEE ARMY"
Both calls brought responses, and 4
large sized army Is combating the water S
encroachments. The opinion tonight is
that their efforts will prevail The only
weak place in the Mississippi levee so Tar
as Greenvile is advised is at Austria. and
there is confidence OF ability to hold II up
At several points however, the water is
flush with levee tops and In some places
| flowing over.
On the Arkansas side a small break
Is reported at Baggy Bayou. 1t was
doubtless very small. for no alarm ap'
pears to be felt. At Westover, below
| Helena, there has been serious sloughlns
which may result in collapse. So much
| OF the Modoc levee as remains intact is
| being guarded by determined men who say
! II shall not be cut by lcvee board officials
| or any one else.
There was a heavy sloughing Of the
levee below to-day but heroic efforts have
! thus far contrivcd TO save the leyee II
part.
The Birds Point. Mo. situation Is ser.
| ious Some thirty or mere houses have
been washed from their foundations. and
| IN those that remain there Is from al
inch to five feet o. water.
| GREAT DANGER.
CARRUTHERSVILL MO. March q
| The crevasse south of hero is now three
| eighths Of a mile wide and pouring as
| great a volume OF water into the country
as the Mississippi carries at the ordinary
| stage. Should the water go four inches
| 1t will overflow the levee.
FAILING AT CAIRO.
| CAIRO. March 27.-The river Is falling
| at this point There is n strong breeze
| which causes high waves 10 break against
/ tho levees and occasions some alarm, but
| II Is believed that the embarlments are
| strong enough TO Withstand the swells.
| Reports received from up the Ohio state
| that the river IS falling at the rate OF an
| inch per hour and the danger Is believed
| 10 be over so far as the floods In the
| Ohio river are concerned.
| MERCHANDISE REMOVED.
| NEW ORLEANS. March 1.-THE water
| has steadily risen here until the danger
| line was passed this morning and tho
| water now touches the 16 1-2 foot mark al
| Canal street. All the merchandise has
| been removed aud no danger is appre-
| hended unless the water goes considerably
| higher.