The herald., 1897-03-19

AT V1ckSDurg the river rOse dnotHcr
eight-tenths of foot, the gauge regis
tering 42.7 feet, which is IL feet above
danger line.
At Greenville the rise in the "a hours
was sIx-tenths of foot. S9S feet being
registered on the gauge. This Is within
two-tenths Of a foot of the danger line.
At Shreveport and New Orleans the
river continues to RISE The work Of res
cue and relief goes forward with una
bated zeal -Four or five rescue steam
ers arrived here bringing several hund-
red refugees, nearly all of whom are
destitute to be cared fer by the char
ity of Memphis people. The relief COM
mittee has its hands full As long as the
overflow continues funds will be needed
to relieve the immediate pressing wants
Of the flood sufferers.
Inasmuch rs practically all of the suf-
ferers are residents of Arkansas, the
relief committee telegraphed to Gov.
Jones of that state asking his co-opera-
tion In relieving the distress of his peo-
pie. The governor replied that there
were no funds at his disposal. The local
relief committees have sent out an APP
PEAL to the individual citizens Of Arkan-
sas, Tennessee and Mississippi. Tonight
the Yazoo Valley railroad abandoned
Its trains. owing to the encroachmsnt
of the water over its tracks few miles
south of Memphis. The railway stu
alton on the Arkansas side of the river
remains unchanged and all trains are en-
tering the city over the Iron Mountain
tracks, which are a few inches above the
water
Four rescue steamers, including two
government boats, arrived this morning
from the overfiowed country north of
Memphis landing, with 400 refugees and
1000 head Of stock. The condition of the
refugees is pitiabie. Some are partly
clothed and sick almost to death from
exposure and long suffering. Seventy
five had been standing for hours in the
water waist deep, awaiting a rescue
steamer One woman clung frantically
to a dead babe. In another family of
four two drowned few minutes before
the boat arrived Rain began falling
yesterday afternoon, and at 10 o'clock
this morning was coming down In tor
rents, causing a rise In the river of two
inches in eighteen hours. The gauge
reads S68 Several small breaks in the
old levees are reported, causing addi-
tional damage and suffering. Islands
| 40, 80, Ss, 81. 36 and "a are reported en-
tirely submerged today. These contain
magnificent cotton plantations of thou
sands of acres operated by 500 negroes
and ESQ head of stock. The stock was
abandoned. The owners and hands have
been landed safely at Memphis and Cal
70, Ill. A special train left this morn
ing containing material to strengthen
the delta levees.
| In Memphis all the vacant stores are
crowded with $500 refugees. They sleep
on the floors.
LEWEES ARE GOING
HELENA, Ark. March 1S.-The river
| here is forty-seven feet on the gauge,
which is one and one-tenth feet below
high water The river at Westovcr is
six inches higher than ever before
known, and at Old Town, six miles be-
| low Westover. the river is three inches
above the highest water mark. and at
Modoc It is six inches higher than ever
before.
At o'clock tonight advices from Modoc
are to the effect that 1t is impossible
| to hold the levee at that point until
morning. The men who are In charge
OF the work have given up the task.
their work having been In vain. although
| they have labored valiantly to hold it.
] The people who are living In that neigh
| borhood have been warmed of the i'm
pending disaster and are fleeing for
| their lives. The water at this hour Is
| going over the top of the levee In that
vlcinity The steamer Abbott, a gov
| ernment boat. is now loading at Modoc
| with sacks and Implements and labor
| ers and will go to Old Town, where work
| will be prosecuted to strengthen the
lovee. Half of the force will be left at
lcvee ifpossible.
| The Abbott passed here for points be-
| low with 5000 sacks Of sand and large
number Of laborers.
| AN AWFUL STORM.
| DALLAS. Tex. March 1s.-A severe
wind storm passed over the state be-
| tween and o'clock tonight At Plano
| few miles north Of here, the storm lev.
eled the sheds Of the Cotton Belt rail.
road. blew over freight cars ana un.
rooted several residences A number 81
! persons were injured.
At Hutchinson fences. trees and out.
buildings were blown over. Consider.
able damage was done by the storm n
the vicinity Of Itasca, Hall county. Tel
egraph wires and telephone wires were
blown down in all directions. and fol
that reason It is impossible to learS
the extent Of the damage. Damage Il
also reported from Fort Worth, Sher.
man and Mckinney. Rain has beer
falling intermittently for four days ane
still continues. The Storm is thought L
have been severe In remote portions o.
the state, where telegraphic commune
cation tonight Is interrupted.
Dennison reports that terrific tor
nado accompanied by heavy rain ant
hail struck that city about 9 ocloclc to-
night and caused many thousands u
dollors' worth Of damage, houses hav
ing been blown on their foundations an<
some demolished.
i Arms for the Trausvaa1
l - =