The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-16
LOSS OF LIFE PROBABLE
SERIOUS BREAK IN THE LEVEE SYS-
TEN OF ARKANSAS.
LOwIands Overlooked by the Waters
of the Mississippi, Much Live stock
Drowned, and Possibly People.
MEMPHIS, Tenn,

MEMPHIS Tenn, March l5-The river
has broken all records. the gauge tonight
registering 36.4 feet. The rise continues at
Cairo, New Orleans and all intermediate
points. News of the first serious break in
the levee system reached this city to-day.
1t occurred Saturday near Nodena, Ark.
fifty miles above Memphis. The river is
raging through the crevasse at a terrific
rate, having the tremendous fall of fifteen
feet TO give it force and send it to deal
death and destruction in the low lands of
Mississippi county, Arkansas. There will
be no attempt to stop the break, as the
ST. Francis levee board has no boats or
workmen on the scene and the people are
busted about saving their lives and stock.
The break is the more terrible because loss
of life will surely occur from it, Indeed.
the most sanguine of those who know of
the conditions there do not dare TO hope
that all the people in the low lands escaped
from the flood when ii came upon them
Saturday night The levee which gave way
is in front of Mississippi county, and it is
thought the water will almost. if not en-
tirely cover the county. The steamer City
of Osceola passed down short time after
the break occurred, and rescued a number
of the unfortunate people.
For miles and miles TO the west of
Memphis not home is habitable. On the
overlooked land where the current is not
strong il is not difncult Tor the people 10
escape with most of their house hold truck
on skiffs, dugouts or raIts. and the surface
of the water in every direction Is dotted
with these little crafts.
At Marion. Ark, all day yesterday and
to-day the available steamers fit Tor such
duty nave been employed rescuing the flood
victims and some OF the sights that have
been met are truly pathetic. Down on the
levee are stored great stacks of goods of
all kinds, the household property of fugi-
tive negroes or poor white folks; and there
are great numbers of horses and cattle that
have been saved. while still greater num-
bers have been lost st, before FORE relief could
B. Bryan got TO Marion there was n great
rush on the part of the people, white and
black. to get aboard with their property.
with their stock for hours, waiting for this
moment. There is not in the city standing
room for dozen people that is not under
water except on the railroad track
Up and down the river very few signs
of life are manifested on any of the plan
tationS, and there has been no means
for saving the stock it is certain that nearly
all has persisted Nearly all the refugees
that are brought to this city totally
without means. Many of them slept on the
levee last night. while others found tenn
porary accommodations at the homes of
friends in the city.
A hundred citizens of Memphis got to-
gether this morning and devised means to
triot A relief fund of $1,000 was immedi-
ateIy subscribed by citizens present
1t is reported tonight that five persons
in the flood to-day. At West Memphis, this
afternoon, Jake Carter, colored. and child
were swept away by the torrent and both
persisted. All of the islands in the vicinity
OF Memphis entirely submerged and
many people have been rescued and
brought TO this city.