Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-04-03
THE GREAT FLOOD.
Three Breaks in the Levee Protect
ing the Mississippi Delta.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE pENNED In.
Two Hundred and Fifty Towns and Villages
Likely to Be Soon Under Water-Home-
less and HaIf-Naked People
Grouped In Squads.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 31.-Tbe ere
are now three breaks in the 1evee that
protects the Mississippi delta from the
waters of the river. One is seven miles
below Greenville, Miss, at Wayside,
which is 1000 feet wide. One is 40
miles north of Greenville, at the head
of the delta, which is ], 1000 feet wide
and becoming deeper and longer as
the water rushes through it. The
third occurred at an early hour
yesterday morning seven miles
north of a point opposite Arkan-
sas City and at last reports a
stream as wide as the Hudson was
tearing through it and covering the
country for miles in the interior.
Greenville is in great danger. The
water from the middle break will par
TALLY flood that town. If the levee in
front of Greenville should break, no
man can conceive what the loss to life
and property would be. Probably 1O,-
coo people are working with despera-
ton born of despair to save their
homes and property. The whole ma
chinery of the state and of the Illinois
Central railroad is being brought into
play.
The news reached Memphis through
a telegram from Capt. NJ. Cheek, of the
steamer Kate Adams, that at an early
hour yesterday morning, the levee
near Stokes landing, four miles above
Huntington, on the Mississippi side,
gave way. The width of the crevasse
could not be ascertained, but the worst
is feared, as the levee there for miles
is considered rather weak.
At Greenville, Miss, thousands of
bloodhound people are caught and
penned in between the three Bolivar
county levee breaks, and no communi-
cation can be had with them. Refu-
gees coming into the city from the
country this side of the Mound break
report many families in peril of their
lives on the other side of the crevasse,
as there is only seven miles of country
between them and Stead's and it is
next to impossible for all to escape.
Two hundred and fifty towns and
villages will be under water in three
days. and thousands upon thousands of
families will be homeless. No losses
of human life are yet reported, but
hairbreadth escapes from the destruc-
tive torrents are numerous, and the
suffering of the afflicted people is
great.
Every lake and stream is out of it's
banks and literally filed with bodies
of drowned animals. Many thousands
of horses, mules and cattle are being
gladly abandoned in the mad rush to
preserve life. It is impossible to esti-
mate the amount of destruction in
dollars and cents. Every town and
village along the Yazoo Sc Mississippi
Valley railroad is full of homeless refu-
gees, and half naked men, women and
children are grouped in squads along
the levees in the vicinity of the breaks.
News has been received that the
1evee has broken at Stokes or Sunny
Wild plantation, 21s miles south of
Gunnison, Miss It is said by good
river judges that it will inundate
everything south as far as Rosedale,
and it is thought it will put the latter
place under four feet of water. There
will be great destruction of property
This break will put Gunnison in very
precarious position, placing the town
between two crevasses, one at Perth
shire, four miles north, and the break
at Stokes. Gunnison is already under
water from one to six feet, and the
break will add to this. Near st.
Charles, Ark, yesterday four negroes
were drowned while crossing the back
water in leaking catboat.