The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-24
RELIEF OF THE SUFFERERS.
The Work Of Handling Donations SyS-
tematizSd in Memphis.
MEACRE REPORTS FROM TRIBUTARIES
or the Mi-sissippi-Nothing Known OF
the Fate of Many in the Low Lands oil
Arkansas-LittIe Improvement
Fresh Breaks in Ievees.


chants Exchange OF this city to-day sub
scribed $500 for the relief OF the flood
sufferers. This money and future dona-
tlons will he handed over to the Mem
phis Relief Committee. Statements from
Mayor W. l.. Clapp and Chief Of Police
u. r. Mose,cy, OF Memphis, were received
by the exchange. The Mayor says that
nearly all tho refugees come from Ar
kansas. The Chief says that Memphis
has two funds to draw upon-Dalances
left from the yellow fever fund, and the
cash donated for the Johnstown Pa)
food sufferers, neither of them being ex-
hausted.
AT HELENA.
The following telegram from the Mayor
Of Helena, Ark, WIS also read.
Helena, Ark, March %.
fThe danger point has been reached
and passed. We are i'm such shape now
that We can build our leyoe up as fast
as tho river can rise. Now matter how
high II goes We can keep above it. ],
therefore wish TO allay the alarm that
has been spread abroad regarding the
situation here"
Appeals for aid were also received from
Crittenden and Mississippi counties. Ark.
Dispatches from many points I'm the Hood
cd section show but slight changes from
yesterday.
Slight rises are reported from New
Madrid. Mo. Columbus and Paducah,
Ky. and Metropolis III. The greatest i'm
crease was az Paducah. That town Is
now an island and only reached by one
railroad, the Illinois Central.
At noon to-day the gauge al Memphis
ft..tt. ..ssrs
but rises al points above and below there
show that the steady gauge was caused
by levee breaks az Hopeheld and 81.
Francis I'm Arkansas.
SOUTH OF HELENA.
South Of Helena 10 Chicot there Is
scarcely any more effort to save the le-
vecs At Modoc the break is now nearly
q mile wide. The levees In Mississippi
are older. higher. and better aligned 10
resist the torrent than those on the west
bank Of the river and the area under
water IS much less. The worst break
is below Friars' Point. but cross levecs
restrict the overflow
4 dispatch from Greenville. Miss, says
the SunhoWcr river is as wide and fun of
water as the Mississippi at ordinary
stages. and that the sluggish Yazoo river
is now a raging torrent.
Rescue work continues undated from
Vicksburg. Helena. Memphis. and Hick-
man, KY Steamer expeditions never re-
turn frultloss. and IL would seem that
| only "a start had been made 10 save the
suffering The misery undergone by these
people Is beyond description. Naturally
an improvidont class they were not pre-
pared for tho calamity that came so
suddenly All are without extra cloth
ing. and many have not eaten a morsel
for twcnty-four hours when rescued.
THEIR FATE UNKNOWN.
4 startling statement by a river pilot
Is published hero to-day. He says: "Ail
the rescue work seems to bc done on the
Mississippi river. Nothing is known Of
the fate of the poor people In the low
lands OF the white. Arkansas, and Black
rivers In Arkansas. When the death roll
is made up it will De largely from these
Villages"
BREAEs IL THE LEVEEs.
4 special from Cairo. H.. says there has
been break i'm the leyee at
Cottonwood Point, another at the
| head Of Chute 1G. and stnl an
other at Caruthersville. Pilots say
Tipton and Darnells Point. are the only
landings boats can make between Gin
clnnau and Memphis Chief Engineer
Starting was telegraphed 10 bring men
and material 20 Greenville, by a special
train for work on the leyees. Advices
lust IN from Frlars Point, Miss. state
that the lovee at Australia broke yester-
day. The extent Of the break IS not
given.
The health authorities are considerably
agitatcd over the condition OF the re-
fugees who are packed together in mar
row quarters. Already n score Of chill
dren are suffering from measeis which
threaten to become epidemic.
GROWING WORSE.
BELMONT. MO. March 23-Conditions
here are continually growing worse. All
trains have been abandoned between here
and Charleston since Thursday last Mail
connections are now made by transif
steamers between Belmont and 81. Loui~
The water Is now three inches deep IN
the telegraph Office and II the river Keeps
rising tho Office will have 10 be abandon
ed there bv cutting off communication.
OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE.
COLUMBUS. ONO. March &.-Gover-
nor Bushnell sent the following telegram
to-day 10 Mayor Clapp. OF Memphis:
"Ohio recognizes generosity of your peo-
nile I'm caring for the sufferers Of floods.
n more tents are needed Will gladly send
them 10 dll III gOHi ov'N ''-'''
advise me-
LITTLE CHANGE.
ST. LOUIS. MO. March 23.-There was
occasional riffs yesterday In the black
cloud OF dependency that has rested over
the flooded valleys Of the Southern rivers
Several points report the water AT q
stand. and in two cases slight falls.
At Memphis the government gauge
ebo,vad q faat q fall OF an inch in u
hours. At Nashville the river receded
two feet, and all danger there is past.
At Cairo, H., and Caruthersville, Mo.
the water is about stationary.
The city Of Memphis relief committee
has issued the following:
"The sufferers by floods in Eastern
Arkansas. lower Missouri and the Islands
in the Mississippi river are coming 70
this city In large numbers. Many or them
are actually in need OF aid. Some are
able 10 take care OF themselves. The ex-
act needs cannot as yet be determined.
Memphis so far has through its hber-
alitv suficiently rendered the necessary
aid and has funds 10 continue tho good
work for awhile.
we are receiving contributions from
many generous people from other points
for which We express our deepest thanks.
The uncertainty az 20 the length OF
time the present condition or affairs VIII
exist makes the committee hesitate "a
10 what course IL should pursue in seek
ing aid. We recognize the fact that an
cau from us for aid VIII receive prompt
and generous donations. But we can
not afford 10 ask for more than Is need
ed"
Chinese Beg for Their Heads.