Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-06

y
Thousands Of Men Volunteering
to Work Day and Night to Save
the State From Inundation-The
Worst to Come.
New Orleans, La, April 5.-Governor
Foster last night issued a proclamation
to the people. He calls attention to
the fact that the levee system, although
not yet entirely perfected, is the bull
wark of the States salvation. Behind
them lies one of the most fertile sec
tions of America. Government and
State aid has been extended and the
future depends upon the people. Trust
leaders are in charge OF the work,
and if the people help them properly,
despite the fact that the flood is the
greatest ever known, all or most of the
levees can be held, and the future will
be bright because the system will be
strengthened and completed, and the
country will have confidence in Lou
isiana, her enterprise and her oppor-
tunities.
The sentiment expressed took root
before it was uttered, for all along the
Mississippi Valley road between this
city and Baton Rouge mass meetings
were held and volunteer forces organ
lied to keep strict watch on the banks
and to labor night and day to strength
en- them, even where the danger is not
apparent except in the rivers steady
climb to the top Of the protecting
earthworks. The warning Of the
weather bureau TO abandon homes and
seek safety in fight has been disregard
ed, and instead, men, women and chill
dren, white and black, are piling on
dirt and building revetments, seeming
~ fascinated with the struggle against
the attacking monster. So far there is
not a break in the entire Louisiana
levee, not counting the tributary bayou
Lafaurche, where the levees were
known to be weak before the flood
came. Lumber and sacks are being
distributed everywhere, even nails are
shipped by the carlaod, and there will
be no lack Of new work during the
week. The only question is about the
new work holding In this the weather
has been and will continue to be an
important factor. So far, the levees
have been drenched and softened al
most daily, and high winds have made
the blows of the stream more power
full.
Yesterday general sunshine raised the
hopes and quickened the work Of the
army of protection, and few more days
of fair calm will see giant strides made
in raising the barriers against overflow
The levee system has proved its value
during last weeks strain, but the test
will grow greater day by day, and each
days story will be the record of crisis
met with patience. vigilance, industry
and heroism worthy of all praise.
Last night. by a curious coincidence,
General Manager Thorne, of the Texas
Central, and General Agent Spelman, Of
the Illinois Central who is also presi-
dent of the Ponchartrain Levee Board,
spent the night almost opposite each
other. one at Lutcher, the other in st.
James, distributing material to the
planters. who say that if they are given
supplies they will furnish the labor and
hold the line. From this time on the
leaders in the various works will see
little of New Orleans, giving every mo-
ment. night and day, to the supervision
of the efforts in which all are so vitally
interested.
Austin, Miss, April 5.-Mr Tom Nc
Kenzle. a prominent merchant and
PLANTER of Lulu, Miss, who was present
when the Flower lake levee broke,
gives the following account Of the
calamity:
'I had been on the levee all night,
and about a. m, was riding along eX-
amining it closely, when | noticed
small eddy Just outside and close up to
the LAYER of sacks which topped the
embankment. Dismounting, | made an
examination, and down toward the base
of the levee on the inside could see that
the Bermuda grass sod was agltated.
I grabbed few bags of dirt which were
conveniently near and dropped them
over the front of the levee, with the
hone of stopping the hole. which was
evidently there. 1t was too late, how
ever. the eddy had gotten In It's work,
which was an uppercut of dreadful
nroportions. Three hundred men were
Of work on a bad piece of levee a hun
dred wards distant. while this section,
considered impregnable, was giving
away before a hidden current. which
did its work silently and remorselessly.
7 yelled for help but before anything
conld he done. a 20-foot crevasse in
terposed between Dabney and myself
on one side and his 300 men on the
other