The herald., 1897-04-15
Turn Aside Threatening
Waters
SANDBAC DYKES HOLD FIRM
AND THE CITY rs SAVED FROM
DESTRUCTION
Farming Communities Do Not Fare
So Well, and Heavy Loss OF
Stock Is Reported
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated PRESS Specidi Whc'
OMAHA, Neb.. April 14-There is less
danger of the cutoff of the MISSOURI
river. and unless there is an unlooked-
for rise or high winds from the north, 1t
is not probable that much more damage
will be done. The dykes were greatly
strengthened today and have almost
stopped the flow at the most dangerous
point. The water is spread out over
wider stretch of territory and surrounds
a few more houses, but the change OF
channel of the Missouri has been averted
for time at least.
Up till midnight last night the river
held stationary, but after that began
to rise, and at o'clock this morning the
gauge at the Florence pumping station
showed a rise of inches. The wind
was blowing strongly from the south,
and this materially assisted in maintain
ing the repairs made in the levee along
the south bank of Florence lake. That
still holds, but the second stream of wa
ter, which runs from the river west OF
| Florence lake, is still pouring into CUT
off lake. The banks of the river are
holding better than had been expected,
but there is still great danger. The gov
| ernment work boats, which were tied
| up during the winter, have been steamed
| up and sent to the breaks, to do what Is
possible to save the cutoff From all
along the river north and south OF Oma-
| ha come reports of flooded bottoms and
| squatters are fleeing in the night from
| the angry waters. No loss of life Is re-
| ported.
The men employed along the levee
struck today for double pay. They were
getting Is cents an hour and demanded
30 Their demands were refused and 20
quit work. Other men were easily Sc
| cured
On the Iowa side of the river the water
has inundated farms for a distance OF
| three or four miles back from the stream.
The water came up in the night and the
| farmers report many hogs, cattle and
| horses drowned.
| These reports are coming in tonight
from every point along the river as far
south as st. Joseph. The flood is the
worst since 1884, and is doing much dam
age, but seems to have reached its height
and will probably fall from now on.
MISSISSIPPI RISING.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 14.-The river
| continues to rise at Vicksburg and all
points SOUTH and the situation along the
Louisiana system of levees is acute. The
waters are being hurled outward with
| tremendous force, and several thousand
men are working and watching day and
night in one grand effort to hold the em-
| bankments intacr.
The reports from the overfiowed Mis-
sissippi tonight are not encouraging. The
expected fall in the water that extends
for miles and miles over the fertile val
leys has not occurred
Throughout the overflowed district
rain fell in torrents last night. At Hell
ena the downpour was of such violence
that great pumps were put to work In
the lover part of the city. The water
gained so rapidly that the pumps had
to be abandoned as impracticable. The
whole of the southern part of Helena IL
under water from one to four feet deep.
and those who had provided themselves
with boats were fortunate. The pumps
were started up again tonight. and 1t Is
expected that the water will be thrown
out of the streets in three or four days.
The work of relieving the flood suffer-
ers with the government funds appropri-
ated by congress for that purpose ispro-
crossing smoothly.
PRIVATE RELIEF.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. April 1.-THE
Christian Herald of New York, which ID
edited by the Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage.
will send a relief boat down the river
from Memphis. George A. Seaman, q
representative of the Christian Herald,
has come to this city from New York In
order to conduct this expedition. yes-
terday Mr.. Seaman chartered the tug
Welcome and bought two tons Of provi-
sions for her cargo. Thursday morning
the Welcome will start.
HOPELESS PLANTERS.
GREENvILLE, Miss. April 14-An-
other wet blanket was thrown over the
Mississippi valley today when tins
weather bureau rainfall report reaches
here. This makes even the most san
guine cave in. The water will not 80
off before June Is.