The record-union., 1897-04-14

accommodate four or five feet more of
water 1t is held back by a strong
double dyke across it's lower end, and
from there on to the river the old bed
is crossed by paved streets, street car
tracks, railroad tracks, etc, all of
which present entertainments from eight
to fourteen feet in hight, which must
be washed out before the Missouri can
resume it's abandoned bed. There is
much uncertainty, owing to the ex-
tensive property interests involved.
Should the river complete the cut off it
has threatened, East Omaha, with eX-
tensive factories, including the great
Carter White Lead Works, will be
moved into Iowa, and the $3,00O,0OO
bridge of the East Omaha Terminal
Company will be left across a slough,
While the thousands of dollars expended
by the Government in protecting the
banks of the river along the great bend
will have been wasted from Cut Off
Lake
Down in town the situation is less
serious than it was last night The
smelter of the Omaha and Grant Com
pany is still above water The Thomp-
son-Houston Electric Lighting plant
and the Willows Springs distilery can
stand rise of another foot, and the
railroad companies feel that their
tracks are safe for the time. All are
watching, though, and taking every
precaution to protect their property.
The weather has cleared off here and
the prospects are favorable for cessa-
ton of the rains.
DAVIS ISLAND FLOOD.
ST. JOSEPH, April 13.-The steamer
st. Joseph arrived here, having been
detained at Ursulina plantation, Davis
Island, taking on women and children
and mules, cattle and other domestic
animals. 1t was not apparent to the
people on the boat that the planters
were moving. 1t was ascertained, how
ever, that it was feared the levees
would not stand much longer, though
every effort had been made to hold
them. The water had overtopped them
in several places, creating something
of a panic, and causing an exodus to
take place. Davis Island is not within
the limits of any levee district, but the
tanned a private levee, protecting the
island from overflow.
FURTHER RISE PREDICTED.
KANSAS CITY (Mo), April 10
Weather Observer Conner to-day pre-
diets: THE Missouri River will rise
quite rapidly, crossing the danger line
by Wednesday at noon, and be about
one foot above that point on Thurs
day night" At noon to-day the gauge
reads 1876, a slight rise since yester-
day. At Leavenworth a rise of six
inches has been experienced since day
light and the water is still climbing.
HIGHEST EVER KNOWN.
VICKSBURG (Miss), April 13.-To-
day the gauge marked 5L35, a rise Of
40 in twenty-four hours, the high
est water ever known The information
received to-day was discouraging. Fine
plantations at Brunswick are all under
water Boats are wanted everywhere
to rescue people and save stock. All
hopes of saving the levee have been
ahand1r4le6.s The levee from Delta up
to Buckport, a distance of eight miles,
is causing much anxiety. 1t will hold
to 80 feet on the gauge here, which
will be reached in forty-eight hours.
The Sunfower and Deer Greek sec
tons are going under deeper and
deeper.
THE MISSISSIPPI RISING.
MEMPHIS, April 13-The river con-
tinues to rise south of Vicksburg, and
the swift current is throwing the
water all over the levees with enormous
force A telegram from Tallulah, La
received last night, reported that the
levee at Davis Island, Warren County,
Miss, had broken, but the report was
premature. The water is washing over
the levee at that point, however, and
a break may occur at any hour. Many
people have left the island with their
most valuable effects and stock. Sew
eral weak spots have developed in the
southern levee and the people in that
section are making heroic struggles to
save their property. Tonight the back
water in the flooded Mississippi delta is
about stationary. The river at Mem
phis continues to fall slowly.
AT Helena the river is declining at
the rate of two-tenths of a foot daily
The refugees are fiocking into Helena
by every boat.
Three officers - Lieutenants A. S
Rowan and Nice. Crowley of the y. S.
A, and Captain Graham d. Fitch
have arrived at Helena on the steamer
Itasca. A conference between the Off
GERS and local relief committee held
that Lieutenant Rowan might secure
all the facts regarding the situation.
At the meeting it was estimated that
of % 600 inhabitants of the county
1000 lived in the city, and one-half of
the remainder lived in the territory
now inundated. The population, there
fore. of the overlooked country was
put down at approximately 5000. OF
these 1000 to 5000 are now in Helena
and scattered along the foothills for a
distance of fifteen miles. There are
900 refugees at Old Town Ridge. The
Relief Committee reported that 5000
people We're dependent upon aid. Three
thousand dollars weekly was the sum
decided upon to take care of these peo
pie. Iieutenants Rowan and Crowley
left Helena to-day for Greenville and
the White River to investigate the sit
uation there. Captain Nollty of the
steamer Titan reported 43 refugees at
Modoc. so at Avenue. 40 at Dawson. 10
at Lower Ludlow, 164 at Ferguson. and
100 at Knowlton. The majority of these
unfortunate people are camped on
barges and have been supplied from
Helena.
Nominations Confirmed.
WASHINGTON, April 13-The SEN
ate in executive session to-day confirm
ed the following nominations: Alfred f.
Buck of Georgia, to be Minister to ia
pan: James Boyle of Ohio. to be Consul
at Liverpool. w. E. Bell of Leadville