The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-15
IN THE YELLOW TIDE.
Whole Eastern Side of Arkan-
sas is Mississippi River.

Memphis, March 15.-At no time in
the history of the weather bureau has
the water been so high, and it contin-
ues to rise. Opposite this city, in the
low lands of Arkansas, the flood is COM
plete and the damage to property is
great. Today a reporter took a trip
to Marion, Ark, fifteen miles from the
city and seven miles into the interior
of Arkansas. The trip was made by
water, and one could have gone forty
miles further due west to the White
river.
Today dawned dark and gloomy for
the homeless inhabitants of the flood
stricken districts in the territory near
this point. Rain began falling shortly
after o'clock and at this hour is COM
ing down in torrents. adding to the
misery and suffering already caused by
the OVerfioWing of streams. The work
of rescuing people and stock continues
and is being conducted systematically.
A citizens relief committee has been
organized, boats chartered and funds
raised.
BY these means hundreds of head of
stock and almost as many men, women
and children have been rescued from
houses and tree-tOpS in the oVerf1owed
district and brought to this city by tow
boats. News comes today of the par
tial breaking of the st. Francis levee,
sixty miles above Memphis at a point
near the south end of the IeVee.
St. Louis, March 15.-The weather
here is cool. hazy and threatening. Re
ports made by the weather bureau in
dicate that the Missouri and Mississippi
rivers above here are at present either
stationary or fallins slightly. Here
the Mississippi river will continue to
decline slowly for the next Sc hours,
while the Missouri Will commence to
rise west of Hermann
Nashville, Tenn. March 15.-AlthOugh
there is no rain the Cum berland river
has been steadily rising and. will con-
tinue to rise. Last night Al feet was
reached, the danger limit being 40 feet,
and merchants along the river front are
moving goods. Cellars in portions of
the city have been flooded and many
citizens have been forced to abandon
their homes.
Memphis, March 15.-Marion. the
county seat of Crittenden county, is
quite a prosperous little town, situated
on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Mem
phis, and upon the Mound City lake,
navigable from Memphis in high water.
There are. perhaps, half a thousand
people in the town, and as many more
have been driven in there by the high
water in the bottoms. Marion has
formerly been a city of refuge for them
on account of the dixie around the city
That had withstood all of the previous
floods and was several inches above
the previous high water mark But on
Saturday night the water began to go
over a low place in it, and it took but
a short time for the small stream to
make a crevasse in the dixie. Now the
dixie can be seen only in a few places.
Large sections of it are washed entirely
away, and in other places the water is
over the top of it. The little town is
four or five feet under water, many
houses and cabins have been washed
away and the inhabitants have sought
shelter elsewhre.
Memphis, Tenn, March 15--Tne
steamer Rarbin this morning brought
to this city $50 negroes and lot of
stock from President island situated
about four miles above this point, who
had been driven from their homes by
the high water.