The Flagstaff sun-democrat., 1897-04-15
FLOOD NEWS.
The Water in the Mississippi Delta | Slowly Roceding.
THE MISSOURI RIVERS CURRENT.
It Is Playing Havoc with EmbanSments-- The Situation in Dakota-A Goyern- ment Relief Steamer Ripped
 Open by the Ice.

Open by the Ice.
 MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 12.-The water in the Mississippi delta is slowly reced- ing. Reports received here last night from the overfowed country are most encouraging. AtGreenville, Miss, the river as we'll as the backwater Sur rounding the town was stationary last night Everything is in readiness for the receipt and distribution of pro- visions from the government, and as soon as the army officers arrive tho work will be actively entered into. At Lula, Miss, a decided improvement is noted. There is still some suffering in the back country, but 1t is being alleviated by the planters, and yester- day representative of the government arrived and will assist the destitute at once. The Yazoo & Mississippi Valley railroad has been busy all day with pile drivers replacing washouts. The road will probably have trains running into Lula and Clarksdale on Tuesday. It is now believed the water will dis appear by May 1, and if this proves true fair crop can be made, although fear is entertained by the large plant CTS that the gaps in the levee may not be closed in time to avert the drowning out of crops by the June rise.
 A telegram from Lake Providence, La, says that the situation in the lower end of that parish is getting quite criti- cal. Levee Commissioner Stein tele- graphed yesterday that the river is booming at Henderson Landing, having risen seven-tenths in the last few days. At Mayersville, Miss, ten miles above here, a third of the town is under water, and as the water is rising at the rate of 11l inches a day, it will be but few days before every part of the town will be submerged. Shipwith,. Is miles above, on the Mississippi side, is entirely under water. The river there rose an inch in 24 hours.
 THE MISSOURI RIVERS CURRENT.
 OMAHA, Neb., April 12.-The North western road is now engaged in a con- flict with the current of the Missouri. Where the Fremont, Elkhorn & Mis- souri Valley branch of the system crosses the river at Blair the bridge is on big bend in the course of the stream. The neck is narrow and low. Since the floods came this spring the river has shown decided tendency to change it's course at this point and make a cut of. If it does the bridge will be left over a lake, three miles from the channel of the stream. Yes terday the angry current washed away a strip of land 10 feet wide at the threatened point, carrying down some of the Elkhorn tracks and some cars. The Elkhorn people have force of men at work making every effort to save the bridge. A special from Pierre, s. D., says the Missouri river has risen two feet in 24 hours, and more water is expected. Vermillion says the Mis- souri river is stationary, but that the Vermillion has risen two feet Yank- ton reports both the James and Mis- souri stationary. The high wind yes terday played havoc with railroad em- bankments in the flooded district. The waves have washed away miles of grade that had been spared hitherto. Many miles of railroad will have to be reconstructed entirely.
 THE SITUATION IN DAKOTA.
 GRAND FORKS, N. D., April 12.-The government steamer Ogemawa, which started down the river on a relief ex- petition, lies right side up, sunk in about l2 feet of water, about r. miles below here. Her side was ripped open by the rapid moving ice. Many of the farmers who were seen are living in the second stories of their houses, but with one exception had plenty of food and fuel Most of the destitution and dis tress occurs at point some miles be- yond the farthest reached by the steamer. The Red river has fallen down about three inches. This may. be due to the steamers which wenss down the river in the afternoon open ing some of the gorges, but it is the general opinion that the biSh water mark has been reached. A special from Pembina states that the water is rising there, and the people are making preparations for the big gest flood in their history. The banks of the river are comparatively low, and terrible soaking is expected.
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