The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-01
RUSHING TORRENTS ARE POURING
IN FROM SEVERAL LARGE
CREvAssEs.
Whites ARE WORKING WITH DESPERATION
To Prevent other Breaks, but Negro
Refugees steadfastly Refuse to
Lend a Helping Hand, Even
mt Fair Compensation.
Many Lives Are EN-
dangered.

Memphis, Tenn, March 20.-The Com
mercial-Appeal's correspondent at Rose
dale, Miss, telegraphs the following to-
night:
At least two links in the chain of Mis-
sisslppi leyees have snapped.
At Wayside, few miles south of
Greenville, a serious break occurred, in
undating many fine farms. The CORES
pondent is reliably Informed that large
forest trees went down before this huge
torrent pouring down on them as grain
before n reaper's blade but no lives were
lost. Anticipating such calamity, peo-
pie had sought place Of safety.
At 4:30 p. m. today another disastrous
break occurred four miles north of Perth
shire, on the Yazoo and Mississippi Val
ley, at the A. X. Ward plantation and
only short distance south of the large
residence occupied by Capt. Berry. The
levee there was twelve feet high and
thought to be safe, but as is usually the
case, II broke where least expected.
The break was sixty feet wide orig
inally, and at 8 p. m. II had widened to
go feet and the water is coming through
II like n cataract, roaring and boiling and
taking trees before it as though they
were grass. Many negro cabins were
carried away and even the residence of
Capt. Berry IL In imminent danger Of
being washed away before the immense
flood that now threatens death and de-
struction to every barrier that disputes
Its supremacy.
| am reliably informed that there is
much apprehension felt for the lives of
the people living east of this break, as
the flood will come on many of them
without warning tonight. The plantation
Of Mr.. Stafford and Capt. Manning and
several others will be under water be-
fore morning. 1t is feared the water
will reach and overflow the Gunnison
river and probably in few days will
reach this place, but not enough to create
any alarm. The water from this crevasse
viii flow down Bogue Phali into Talla-
hachie river and again find its way into
the Mississippi through the Yazoo river,
twelve miles north OF Vicksburg.
The prediction in these dispatches that
the main fight along the line south of
Australia would commence by Sunday
has only been too true. The widest ex-
element prevails throughout the whole
threatened district. Business il suspend
ed for every man IN on the levee and
working us il his life depended on the
issue.
This evening regular panic ensued.
Two miles south the levees sloughed
badly, and being built on quicksand rem
dered the situation more critical. Soon,
however. the whole town was in action
repairing the slough. The scene was one
that few people ever witnessed.
When the negroes were appealed to
to go and help stop the break threatened,
many willingly responded and more were
mustered ut the muzzes of winchesters
and put to work.
This morning, on the delta, II looked as
If efforts ut preventing a break were like
throwing match into powder maya
zine. but by great efforts the town was
saved. Special trains from Memphis and
Cleveland, Miss, will arrive during the
night with several hundred men and n
thousand sacks. Every dwelling and
place Of business In the town presents
scene of the widest disorder. Mer-
chants have their goods elevated on seat
folds and household goods in dwellings are
piled rs high as the ceiling.
kilograms tonight indicate that all the
Eoaguc levees are intact and the river IL
falling slowly there.
IssaQuenna's levees are still holding the
water at bay. but the Wayside crevasse
will overflow Steel bayou and in all prob
ability 1ssequenna county will get its
overflow from this source. Even with
3he two breaks on the banks of the river
The people are undaunted and are hopeful
of holding out against the flood. but the
situation tonight is far from reassuring.
At 1890 the water IL flowing over the