The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-02
THE MISSISSIPPI FLOODS.
Inc River Still Rising at Many Points
aud Levees Giving Way-Another Heavy
Ffeshef Coming Down the Over.
moving the Levee in New Orieans-The
Worst Not Yet Reached.

Worst Not Yet Reached.
Memphis, Tenn, March GA large
oreak has occurred in the levee at Way
side, Miss, nine miles below Greenyille.
Inc break is reported to be a bad one
and In a section where the levee is high
and garde as measurably safe.
Inc levee broke this afternoon hack
or Perthshire, Miss. The situation be-
low here is reported alarming.
Washington, March 29.-General Will
son, chief of army engineers, received
a telegram from Colonel Gillespie.
president of the Mississippi river COM
mission, dated Vicksburg yesterday. as
follows:
Gauges along the river from Mem
ph1s to Vicksburg give flood readings
varying liz to 8 feet above any previ-
Dusty recorded readings. The feeling
everywhere is one of great Uneasiness
and all state levee boards are battling
against rising floods, regardless of cost.
AS yet no widely spread damages have
been reported, though several breaks in
leVeeS above Greenville on both banks
lave occurred. Levees are seriously
strained at all points. The commission
will give all possible aid by applying
money balances to protection of works.
The water is rising slowly below Hen
ena."
O. GA ptIld
from Helena, Ark, to The Daily States
says: The situation here today is
worse than eve before. The river rose
az inches during the last t~wenty-four
hours and a stiff gale has been blowing,
almost without a moments cessation
since 8 o'clock last night. Mayor Frit-
zen issued q proclamation this morning,
recltlng the dangerous condition of
things and calling upon all able bodied
men ard bows To secure shades and nnt
themselves under the commander-in-
chief of the leveeS. The proclamation
met with hearty and prompt
and at this mOment 500 or 600 men are
working on the levees, while many
others are on the hill filling a long line
of wagons with dirt, to be conveyed to
the weakest points. The levees are in
good condition considering the long
siege, but the heavy wind and the
knowledge that the river is to rise for
several days longer has nerved every
man for the most desperate fight ever
seen in this country.
Captain Molly, of the rescue boat
Titan, reports another break. 1t is at
Wood Cottage landing, a mile and a
half above knOwltOns. The break was
500 feet wide yesterday as the Titan
passed there, although it occurred late
Saturday afternoon. This break will
put all the country not already inun-
dated under water down to LacOnia.
and Captain Nolty thinks there is little
doubt that that magnificent body of
land will also be deluged. The break in
the levee at aconia is already in a
precarious condition.
At Helena hope is strong but a des-
perate fight is being made all along
the line. Today the entire front will be
raised from one to two feet, making the
levee from four to five feet higher
tI~- - Il
Many offers of assistance have beer re-
ceived, but Helena feels tina she is
able to take care of herself and the
stricken ones to apply to her for shelter.
More tents are due here today, but
more refugees are reaching here from
every point Of the compass.
New Orleans, March 29.-The river
has finally reached the top of the
levees in this city, and this morning
began running Owe into Vaudeville
street, directly in front of the celebrat-
ed French market building. 1t is not
believed that any damage will occur to
property.
An urgent request came from AL
giers on the right bank of the river this
morning for help to strengthen the
leveeS, which were seriously weakened
by the high water and the heavy wind
Of last night. The liver rose seven
tenths of a foot in the past twenty
our hours, n is now eight-tenths of
a foo above the sixteen foot mark,
which is the danger line.
Cairo, Ills, March 29.-The river fell
one-tenth of a foot in the last twenty
-four hours, but the severe rains this
afternoon will offset the fall and by
tomorrow the flood from the north is
expected to reach here and the river
will go higher hen ever. The govern
ment boat, Minnetonka, reached here
last night from Golddust. On her trip
she rescued 125 persons and over 200
head of cattle.
A special to The Daily States from
VickSburg says: At 2 O'Clock the break