The Flagstaff sun-democrat., 1897-04-01
FLOODS AND WIND.
The Situation Along the Mississippi
 River Very Serious.
A TERRIFIC CYCLONE IN TEXAS
Thc Wind Played Havoc at Austin and the Surrounding Country-Heavy Rains Also Do Mu,h Damage to
 Railroad Property.

CAIRO, H., March 29.-Ihat the Hooo
 situation on the Mississippi has not
 nearly reached its zenith now seems
 certain. Local weather and river
 men in many parts have said so, and
 now the announcement bears the offi- cial stamp of the weather bureau of
 the nation. A special official bulletin
 was issued from Washington to the ,ivcr districts stating that the river will continue to rise for at least ten days in the region from Helena south- ward to Vicksburg, and to rise during a longer period from Vicksburg south-
 ward; that the levees will be subjected
 to the greatest strain about April 10, in southeastern Arkansas, western
 Mississippi and in Louisiana, and that should the levees break the result will
 he one of the most disastrous floods ever known.
 Nearly 1000 men are at work upon the levees for the ten miles covering Greenville, Miss Five hundred laborers fresh from the plantations will arrive here to-day. The Greenville sawmills were at work yesterday with full forces of men, while barges were being loaded with lumber and sacks to be sent to weak points. Ten boats are being used now almost exclusively for transportation of men and material for strengthening the levees.
 Wild rumors were heard here at late hour yesterday evening that 5 break had occurred in the Issaquena district. but onfirmation has not been received. The only point along the Mis- sissippi line last night seriously threat cned was Longwood, 15 miles south of Grecnville, the situation there being very severe, and the water was running over the top in several places. and there are several bad .sloughs.
 The most that can be said is that the lcvees at vicksburg, Miss, are be- ing held on both sides of the river un- der circumstances little short of des- perate. President Maxwell. of the Fifth Louisiana levee board, urges planters to send labor and teams to the lcvecs immediately. The supply of sacks is exhausted and he has ordered 50, 900 from New Orleans, which left by special train last evening. The state convicts at Diamond island will be sent at once to Illawara and Pitchers point levees, which are in danger.
 A TERRIBLE CYCLONE IN TEXAS.
 AUSTIN, Tex, March 29.-This city and the surrounding country were vis- ited yesterday afternoon at two o'clock by a terrific cyclone that did a great of damage to life and prop crty. The wind came from the south west and blew at about 50 miles an hour for nearly 20 minutes, tearing down trees or splitting them asunder with terrific force. Several large elec- tric light towers were blown down and quite number of houses in the resi- dence portion of the city were demol- tshed. In several cases narrow es- capes from death are reported. The wind played havoc with several Humber yards in the eastern DOT EiOn of the city. blowing piles of lum- Der in every direction and scattering ruin and waste on every side. The roofs of q number of residences were torn of and blown a great distance, and In addition to doing much damage fO the state university, the wind blew off the entire roof of the adjoining letting the rain drive full into the four-story building, doing in- estimable damage to the building and the property of the 200 students there- In, many of whom fled for their lives when the roof was carried away. The roof was carried 100 yards, lighting on and crushing the roof of cottage in which four people were seated, but none were even injured, though they were entombed by falling debris.
 The small town of Clarksville, near this city, was swept by the winds, and many horses were killed by flying de- bris, while a number of small houses were blown down, though, fortunate Iy, the inmates were not killed, but several were badly maimed. With the terrific wind came driving rain that was little short of flood, and swept everything before it.
 The little town of Buda, near here, was roughly handled by the storm, quite number of houses being blown down and one or two persons killed, though their names are not obtainable, owing to the fact that most of the wires are down. Late details of the storm show that the loss to property will reach into the thousands. Many fine dwellings were demolished. At Calvert an old lady and two children, who were in their house, were fatally Injured by the collapse of the building, which was partially destroyed by Are, the torrents of rain