The herald., 1897-04-20
BANKS CAVE AT THEIR FEET
AND PLANTATIONS DISAPPEAR
UNDER WATER
Hall q Dozen Louisiana Parishes In
undated and Vast Suffering Will
Be Entailed--Relief Work
i. ...,.,.,.d Press Special wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
NATCHEZ, Miss, April 19.-The hret
break in the Concordia parish front oc-
Cured on Sunday morning when the
(.lasscock levee gave way. This levee
was located about 2S miles below Nat
chez. and is near the lower end Of the
levee system of the parish. A large
force of men were at work on the levee
Sunday morning, raising and strength
ening It, when suddenly the laborers
saw the muddy water begin to bubble
up at the lower end. Almost instantly
the seething water tore a great hole
through the embankment. The water
rushed through at a great rate and be-
gan spreading out in the low lands ad-
jacent. The water from this break will
inundate the lower part of the parish
from Morville down to Brabston, cover
ing q number of fine plantations The
food from this crevasse will be met by
the waters from the Biggs break north
of here, covering vast area. 1t Will
entail a vast amount Of suffering on the
people of the neighborhood and relief
will have to be extended to them. To-
night the crevasse Is reported to be from
800 to 1000 feet wide and still caving.
Madison parish is fast becoming in
undated and the water will extend to
other parishes. destroying thousands OF
acres OF newly planted crops. Vicke-
burg, Natchez and other river points
are crowded with refugees, and every
thing possible is being done to alleviate
the sufferlngs of the poorer classes. The
situation throughout the delta tonight
Is about the same as on yesterday. 1t
was beautiful day In the fiood-stricken
district, and the planters hope that the
waters will be carried away in time to
make a good crop.
At Memphis the river is slowly falling.
and at Cairo decided fall is reported.
PEOPLE DROWNING
VICKSBURG, Miss, April 19.-Mid-
night-Major X. H. Willard, United
States engineers, hae just received dis
patch from the master of the steamer
Florence, ordered last night to Coons
Landing, La, to rescue food sufferers.
asking him to send all skiffs obtainable
by the first steamer as people are drown
ing and cannot be reached except by.
skiffs. Coon's Landing is about thirty
five miles from this city, and Is being
flooded by the Biggs crevasse.
A dispatch arrived at midnight from
Ashwood. La, saying the water ie rush.
ing rapidly into the swamps of Tensas
parish. which are inaccessible by steam
er and this dispatch raised many ap-
prehensione. Skiffs cannot be sent to-
night
Later-A dispatch from the Valley
route operator at Hays. Miss. referring
to the foregoing. says the calamity at
Coon's Landing is due to break In the
levee there and another has occurred
opposite Rodney. No details have been
received. Boats cannot be sent before
morning.
RELIEF WORK
VICKSBURG, Mics, April 19-Relief
work is the feature of the flood situation
here. 1t is reported today that Louisiana
levees are black with people waiting to
be ferried over to the city. Lieutenant
Crowley of the quartermaster's depart
ment, is here buying supplies for the
flooded region in general and handsome
donations are coming in by mail and
wire.
A MICHIGAN FLOOD
PINCKNEY, April 1.-THE min darn
broke today. carrying away bridges, In
cluding two large ones in this vicinity.
Fences. trees and houses along the bank
of the stream were carried away. DAM
age to the amount of $4,000 to bridges
and mill property was done in this vicin-
itv alone