The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-20
EARLIER FLOOD DISPATCHES
How the Inundation Crept Higher Yester-
day, and the Dana xe 1t Did.

Memphis, Tenn, March 19.-Rumors
| of sensational nature are afioat today
as to the breaking OF the levees above
and below this city, in consequence caus-
Ing serious damage TO property and
stock. Sc far these reports have not
been verified in full, but sufficient is
known 10 warrant the statement that be-
fore nightfall an additional 200 square
miles will be submerged. The points
where the ievees are alleged to have
failed are remote from telegraph sta
tiors, making it impossible 10 get infor-
nation. In the territory covered by the
relief steamers under the supervision os
the citizens relief committee of Memphis
the appalling facts came TO light this
morning. Drowning negroes, men, wo-
ment and children, are officially reported
until the list now numbers half a hun
dred. The relief committee thus far
have ample funds to feed and clothe all
the afflicted in the city, but the work is
unnecessarily slow because Of the diff
Guilty in controlling the ignorant refugees
and preventing them from spreading ov-
kilograms from points siXty-five miles
south Of this place ask for steamers TO
rescue people left by last-trip boats.
Two steamers were dispa tched east and
west and are expected to return al mid
night with several hundreds of persons
and a lot OF stock. if the time can be
spared TO rescue the latter. The govern
ment is aiding the city in the rescue
| work. a dispatch from Washington au-
! thOrized the government engineers to
| lend men and service 20 further the pro-
| lection of life and property. The gauge
! this morning heads 81. a rise of 8 in
| eighteen hours.
FAMILY OF SIX DROWNED.
| Memphis, March ia family OF six
! found a watery grave by the capsizing
Of a dugout while making for Highland
Two of the family were infants in arms.
The Memphis levee is a sight wonderful
10 behold. For a distance of half a mile
there is a congregation Of negroes, stand
ing and reclining. awaiting individual
turns for relief. No one IS refused The
government weather bureau says. Il
| is probable that the river will rise slowly
during the next twenty-four hours.
WASHINGTON BULLETINS.
Washington, March 19.-The heavy
rains Of the past forty-eight hours in
the central valleys will cause a contin-
ued rise in the Cumberland. Tennessee,
lower Ohio and Mississippi rives and in
tensify the threatened flood conditions
previously announced. II is probable
| that the floods in the lower Mississippi
| valley during the next ten days or two
weeks will in many places equal or ex-
coed in height those OF any previous year
| Additional warning is given 10 residents
OF the threatened districts in Louisiana,
| Arkansas and Western Mississippi 10 re-
move from theregiOn of the danger
The weather bureau this morning
made the following report on rivers:
| Risen-Cairo. 4; Nashville, 8; Mem
phis. 3; Helena. Ark. /
Above the danger line and rising. Cairo
le.4; Nashville 5.5; Memphis Al; Arksn-
| sas 10.7
Reports are missing from Shreveport.
Vicksburg and Arkansas City.
| The following heavy precipitation IN
inches was reported: Knoxville 142:
Louisville I3S. Nashville l34: Chatta-
noosa la; Palestine IA; Cairo lie;
Memphis ISS; Fort Smith lie
| Washington. March Especial river
| bulletin: The stages Of water reported
this morning IN the rivers OF the Ohio
and lower Mississippi together With tbs
| heavy falls that have occurred in those
| regions during the past fo-,y-sight hours
and which are likely % continue today
| rem Ger IL highly probable that the foods
| in the lower Mississippi. during the mex;
ten days or Two weeks viii n many
! places equsi or exceed the destructive
| ness OF any previous years foods. and
warning is given u the residents % The
! -A-A. tAnaS districts in Arkansas T-na,i.-