The herald., 1897-03-18
CATTLE ARE LEFT 70 DOOM
All Efforts Devoted to Saving
People
THOUSANDS ARE HOMELESS
And Millions of Acres of Farm Land
Submerged
The Chincok w mis- Came Too Late to Save
tie Cattle on the Northern
Stock Ranges
Associated Press Special Wire

AsSOclAtet i-TtSS SptCidi W IRE
MEMPHIS, March 1.-THE weather
bureau today gives cut the startling in
formation that 800 square miles of the
state Of Arkansas is under water and
the Mississippi will continue to rise.
In the district west of Marion, Ark,
hundreds Of people were picked up. The
work Of saving stock has been aban-
coned, and from now on all efforts will
be directed toward savlng human life.
Thousands are homeless.
The river at this point continues 20
rise very slowly. The weather is very
cloudy and threatening, but there has
been no rain in the past twenty-fouV
hours At II o'clock this morning the
steamer Rowena Lee arrived from
Ffiars' Point, Mississippi. She had on
board score or more of refugees pick
ed up at Scanlans Landing. They
were all colored. ard brought with them
their bedding and numerous other per-
sonal effects. The captain fthe vessel
reported that he had not been able 10
hear of loss of life to the inhabitants
of the flooded country south of the city.
The levees so far as he had heard from in
Mississippi were in good condition and
holding the water well.
Up to the present time, so far as re-
dably reported there have been not
more than six deaths as the result of
the rise in the Mississippi river. All
these occurred in Eastern Arkansas, and
all were negroes.
Hundreds of people, mostly negroes,
were landed upon the Memphis levee
this afternoon by the relief steamers
that are daily visiting the flooded dis
tricts adjacent to Memphis. Vague
reports reached this city tonight of the
drowning of several people in Arkansas
today but these cannot be verified. For
the first time in pacny days the river to-
night is stationary, marking 1866. but
a rise at Cairo and reported heavy rains
In Missouri and other states Will only
serve to increase the broad expanse Of
water in this vicinity. There has been
steady downpour of rain in Arkan as
and West Tennessee all day.
Reports from up and down the river
say the levee is all in good shape and
it is hoped will continue to withstand
the pressure. The total number CT lives
lost thus far reported officially to the re-
lief committee is twelve. SiA steamers
and tugs and half a hundred skiffs are
engaged in the rescue work.
STOCK SAVED.
ST. LOUIS, March 1.-THE river at
Cairo is twenty-five miles wide, the
water being close to the fiftyfoot mark
and rising slowly. 1t had passed the
1893 stage of 40.3 feet, the last high-wa
mark here. but lacks nearly three feet
of the high-water mark of 1888. The
Missouri and Kentucky bottoms for a
distance of twenty-five miles are COW
cred by the overflow. AS the rise is
gradual nearly all of the inhabitants
have had ample time to save their stock
and their personal effects.
THE NORTHERN RANGES.
MINNEAPOLIS March 17.-Specials
from Mandan and Dickinson state that
it is generally believed that 75 per cent
of range animals have already sue
cumbed, to the winter, the Chinook yes
terday coming too late to save them
1t Is inrpessibleto travel over the range.
and no exact figures can be had. Bad
Lands ranges, which have been crowded
during the past years, will have but
few cattle this season. 1t is stated that
Pierre Wibaux puts his loss at 81, 900 900,
as the 25O,O00 young Utah cattle he put
on therange last fall are all dead.