The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-20
Northern Tributaries of the sFather
Of Waters BeEinning to Boom
at "a Rate That Bodies Ill.
SITUATION NEAR MEMPHIS
HOMELESS REFUGEES FLoCkING TO
THE CITY BY HUNDREDS.
Two Negroes Drowned at Fifteen-Nile
Bayou and Several Casualties Re-
ported at Other Points.

MEMPHIS. Tenn. March 1.-TWO ne
groes lost their lives to-day result OF
the great food which engulfs thousands
of acres of land in the Arkansas bottoms.
The two men were drowned in Fifteen
mile bayou. near Marion. Ark. There is no
cessation in the rise of the river and to-
night the gauge registers 37.2. rise OF one
tenth since the morning report. Cairo
ports 50.4 feet, a rise of four-tenths OF a
foot in twenty-four hours since yesterday
morning Heavy rains continued last night
throughout the entire region of the Ohio
valley and in the territory the drainage
from which swels the upper Mississippi.
AT Marked Tree. Ark on the St. Francis
river. there has been a deplorabe rise OF
one foot in the twenty-four hours ending
this morning-deplorabl not only on ac-
count of the probable disaster in that i'm
mediate section of the country, but because
this river swells the great volume of water
in the Mississippi. where conditions are
already distressing. At Greenville the
danger line is now passed and the rise con-
tinues.
Throughout Arkansas and Tennessee
heavy rainfalls were The rule during the
past twenty-four hours. during the pre-
ceding day. At Helena the rainfall was i'm
mense. measuring 3.65 inches. In Memphis
it was 1se inch. with 1.24 inch at Nashville
and Chattanooga. Helena. Vicksburg and
points below report a steady rise.
The first ray Of sunshine in five days to-
day penetrated the gloom which hangs over
the overflowed country. Ii seemed rather
to heighten the effect of desolation which Is
everywhere apparent across the river in the
eastern part of Arkansas. II had an appre-
the populace. The relief fund for the food
sufferers has been materially increased by
gifts from individuals and from firms out
side of Memphis. This assistance is greatly
needed in caring for the new arrivals which
the rescue steamers bring i'm at every trip.
A telegram from Modoc, where the levee
was reported to have broken, calls for ma
terials for strengthening the levee at this
point The levee is intact as yet though
a break is feared. Arrangements are being
made to send assistance. The railways are
heavy sufferers from the high water. The
Iron Mountain road Is the only one avail
able from the West. The Mississippi VAL
ley road has TO abandon the sale OF tick
cts over it's line on account Of a washout
near Lakeview. The Memphis & Charleston
trains have been forced TO stop running for
the same reason.
The work OF rescue goes on with undated
zeal The rescue boats make as many trips
as possible during the day. returning from,
each trip laden with refugees and such
household goods and cattle as they have
been able to save.
A GLOOMY FEATURE.
The gloomiest feature of the distressing
conditions is the fact that there is little
or no hope of tho abatement Of the high
floods reported in the upper valleys To-
day the most alarming reports concerning
the condition OF the levees above and below
Memphis have been in circulation in Mem
phis. but they have particular reference
to the levees below this point and even
below Helena. The levees are in most places
built to extend three four feet above
the highest mark in the locality where they
are constructed 1t seems that this
allowance of altitude has about been con-
sumed by the rising waters.
Up TO this time the people have exerted
their utmost strength TO solidify and pre-
serve the levees believing that by careful
watching and by applying remedial meas
ures wherever there was a prospect OF a
break disaster could be averted. But re-
ports from down the river Indicate that
hope has been lost in many places. The
United States engineering force for the dis
tricts south OF this city have been doing
everything in their power TO relieve the
sufferers and protect the leyecs. The Mis-
sissippi River Commission, complying with
urgent requests, has transferred some $4,000
from the fund at it's disposal TO be used
in the protection OF those districts during
the high water
There is very reliable information to the
effect that at Modoc. Avenue, Hugheys
and other points below Helena the water
has gone over the leyee, and, the leyees be-
ing in such a mushy condition from the
rains, it is not thought possible 10 protect
the country much longer from the ever-ris-
ing floods. The people living behind the
dykes in the localities mentioned are ai-
ready flying for their lives. The hundreds
of men who had been at work watching the
leyees have about all been taken away,
and their labor will be utilized in saving
the lives of other people. The government
steamer Abbott has carried a large number
OF sacks of sand 10 the MOdoc locality and
to points below. At that place the govern
ment has only recently spent many thou
sands OF dollars in completing the strength
ening of the leVees.
There is positive information that the
levee constructed under the direction OF the
st. Francis leVee board, near CaruthersVille,
Mo- has been cut and the belief il prevail
ent in that locality that the work was done
by persons living on the Tennessee Side.
flood on the Arkansas side 10 decrease the
flood and thus save the property on the
Tennessee side. The reported break In the
levee at Glendale cannot be confirmed. and
IL is thought 10 be premature.
Hundreds of refugee were landed here by
the relief steamers to-day and tonight. aud
are being cared for by the relief committee.
Tonight a report Is current OF the leyee
having broken al Hin House Miss. flooding
the fine farms in that locality. steamer
with men and sand has been dispatched 10
the scene OF the reported break
All telegraph communication with New
Orleans was cut OF to-day. The lines