The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-08
THE LEVEEs SOUTH OF GREEN
ARE NOW IN THE GREATEST
DANGER.
WORST WILL Be KNOWN BY SUNDAY
I'VE Counties VIII lie Badiy Tnun-
dated for Thirty Dnys-River
Rising at Memphis, and Fall
Ing In the Vicinity of the
Leyee Breaks.

Memphis, April 1.-The food situation
in the Mississippi delta above Grecnvillc
is decidedly better tonight as to threat
ened loss to life and further destruction
of leyees The half dozen crcvasses ON
the Arkansas and Mississippi shores be-
tween Helena and Grcenvillc have drawn
an immense volume Of water out of the
main channel, which Is spreading itself
over the lowlands, but not with the degree
of rapidity which cuts off escape to in
habitants of the low-lying country.
The river shows decline from point
below Helena to Wayside crcvassc The
decline above Grcenville in many places
is as great as 10 inches. However,
Helena Ark, il not out of danger, for
the waters from the st. Francis basin
in Arkansas are still swelling the chan
mel of the main river from the mouth Of
the st. Francis to Il point south OF
Helena, for no break occurs until West
over IL reached, ten miles below that
place The worst nj Helena will he
known by Sunday. The damage to the
farming country in the delta can not be
exaggerated. Five counties will be for
the most part under water for thirty days,
and will have more than 100 miles OF
track inundated.
OUUOkltt tilt upper Wv =
mile of track has been completely
washed away.
Probably twenty railway stations and
small towns are flooded tonight, among
them being Gunnison. Rosedale. Perth
shire. Terrenc. Phalia. Riverton, Daho-
mey, Storm. Benoit, Beulah. Wayside,
Longwood, Refuge, Swift Water, Deer
son and Australia.
But the shift Is now to the south of
Grecnville, and lcvces from Wayside to
the mouth of the Mississippi are begin
ming to feel the pressure of the water
backing from the channel of the delta,
the White river country, and the st.
Francis basin. A line east and west ON
the water crossing Rosedalc would prob
ably be- fifty miles long. All this water
must pass out between twenty mics OF
levec In many places but few miles dis.
tant from one another. Another rise OF
.0l of an inch ut Memphis is shown by
the official bulletin from the office OF The
weather bureau. The gauge tonight reg
listers 1854 feet. At Cairo an encouraging
fall in the river IL shown. while Paducah
reports fall Of .07 of foot.
At Vicksburg the river is stationary
Shreveport and other points below Nicks-
burg report n continued rise.
The Louisville and Nashville, ana
Nashville, Chattanooga and st. Louis
Railways resumed direct traffic commune
cation with Nashville tonight, after ces-
sation of two weeks due to high water in
the Tennessee river
The local relief committee sent Il steam
boat to the st. Francis basin country to
bring out water-bound people and carry
food supply TO man and beasts 1t is SAID
the dcstitution in the territory to he Gov
cred is fearful, but the news of 1t did not
reach Memphis until today.
The following telegram was received
tonight by the Commcrcial-Appeal IRON
II. q, Dabney, chief engineer of the upper
Yazoo district. extending along the from
of Tnnica and Coahoma counties:
1.-The influence of the violent storm last
night was most depressing and demoral
izng to the men who are lighting alonl
the line. The successful resistance OF
the danger is very encouraging and III,
sunshine of today has induced n mucl
more cheerful feeling. The report from
Mr.. Lombard of 10 inches fall along hi'
division, covering nineteen miles on tn,
lower end, during the breaks opposite ant
security of that front ought to afford grea
relief. The slight rise at Helena from
the 81. Francis basin is gradually en-
croaching on our margin of safety at nnt
above Friars point, but has not and II
not likely TO reach n stage of so grca
danger as we have contended against be
low.
'.The Helena rise is nearly neutralize,
by the influence of the Arkansas breaks
along the Stovall front and the pressur,
there will not be materially increased
Ny conclusion is that while the issue il
still in doubt. the outlook is growing de
cidcdly more hopeful