Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-04-08
RAGING RIVERS.
Another Bad Break In the Missis-
sippi River at Fowler Lake.
The jim RIVER SUBNERClNG FARMS.
A Steamboat Sent from Yankton, 8. D' TO
Rescue Sufferers -Four Hundred Fam
lilies Made Homeless by the Mis-
sisslppi at st. Paul.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, April o.-Anotner
disastrous break in the Mississippi
levee occurred yesterday at Fowler
lake, six miles below Tunica, Miss.
The crevasse, while not yet OF great
width, is fully Is feet deep and the
water is pouring through the opening
with great velocity. This will prob
ably be the most destructive break
that has occurred in the delta. The
most fertile farm lands Of Mississippi,
lying in Cohoma, LAHORE, Quitman and
Tallahatchie counties, in the northern
part Of the state, will be inundated
and the newly planted corn crops will
be laid waste. Fortunately, no loss OF
life is reported, the inhabitants Of this
stricken section having made prepara-
tons for just such catastrophe as ex.
lists there to-day. The condition OF
the poorer classes throughout the
flooded area is indeed critical. Thou
sands of refugees are huddled on
the levees and spots of land,
waiting for relief. The towns of Rose
dale and Tunica report that everything
possible is being done for these poor
people, but that funds and provisions
are fast becoming exhausted. In the
little city of Rosedale alone 1000 refu-
gees are being cared for by citizens.
Half hundred towns stand in six feet
of water, and the yellow stream is
creeping up slowly but surely. Ad-
vices just received tell Of break in
the levee two miles south Of Helena,
Ark. This is the levee for which the
people Of southeastern Arkansas have
made such desperate fight. The
waters from this break will flood
great area and in all probability will
back up into the streets of Helena.
THE JIM RIVER sUBMERalNa FARMS.
OMAHA, Neb., April Especial tele-
grams from points in South Dakota,
Iowa and Nebraska bring word of in
creased floods in all the rivers. Rain
has fallen almost necessarily for the
last n hours over an area Of more than
100 miles in radius from Omaha, the
fall being fully four inches for that
time. This has greatly increased the
volume of water in the already swollen
streams and now what are usually bah
bling brooks have been transformed into
raging torrents. Thousands OF acres
of farm lands are under from four to
six feet of running water, and many
families have moved from their homes
in boats. Along the Jim river in
South Dakota great many farm
ers had gone back to their
homes when the water receded
early last week. and are now caught
in this second flood, A Missouri
river steamboat has been sent from
Yankton to rescue the sufferers along
the jim river. Sioux City reports that
the Missouri has passed the danger
line there and is Overlooking the lower
part of the city. Cherokee reports the
second food on the Little Sioux worse
than the first. Repairs had commenced
on the property damaged by the first
deluge, but all is being washed away
again. Yankton is cut Oft from rail-
road communication and most OF the
telegraph and telephone lines are
down. Pierre reports the Missouri
river clear of ice there, but word from
Bismarck is that the ice on the upper
river began to move last night. AT
Omaha the Missouri is still within
bounds, but preparations are being
made against dangerous food.
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER UP NORTH.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, April 5.-The Mis-
sissippi river is still rising, but is yet
almost two feet below the high water
mark Of 1881. Nearly 400 families liv-
ing on the flats have been rendered
homeless and are in destitute condi-
ton, Notwithstanding the efforts of
the authorities to assist them. Several
public buildings have been opened to
them for shelter. No serious damage
has been done to business, and the
railroads are still above the flood.