The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-15
SITUATION IN GENERAL.
Levees Guarded Night and Day-Sev
eraI People Drowned.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 14.-The river
continues to slowly rise at Ficksburg and
all points south and the situation along the
Louisiana system of leyees is acute. The
waters being hurled outward with tre-
mendous force and several thousand men
are working and watching night and day
in one grand effort to hold the en1bankment
intact. Reports from the overflowed Mis-
sissippi delta tonight are not encouraging.
The expected fall in the waters that extend
for miles and miles over the fertile valley
has not occurred. Many well-known plant
ers express the fear that the yellow stream
will not recede until June-too late to plant
this years crop.
Much suffering still exists in the Sun
flower and Bogue Phalia country, where
hundreds of negroes have deserted their
cabins and are huddled high grounds
and the railroad tracks. Many cabins are
submerged to their very roofs, while sew
eral have been swept from their founda-
tions and carried away by the swift cur
rent On a plantation ten miles west of
Helena Sylvester Sanders, a colored ten
ant, his wife and five children were over
whelmed by the current and all pershed
Near Greenville to-day two negroes were
drowned in an attempt to reach dry land
that many negroes We're in imminent peril
at Davis island, where the break in a pri-
vate levee occurred yesterday, and assist
ance was asked for a relief steamer was
Immediately dispatched to the island. AT
Rosedale the work of relief continues
Rations will be sent to the Sunflower dis
trict tomorrow. At Greenville the river
stands stationary tonight
Throughout the overflowed area rain fell
in torrents last night and part of to-day
AT Helena the downpour was of such vio-
lence that great pumps were put to work in
the lower part of the city. The water
gained so rapidly that the pumps had TO be
discontinued on account of the driving felts
becoming soaked and unmanageable. The
whole of the southern part of Helena is
those who had provided themselves with
boats were fortunate: The pumps were
started up again tonight and 1t is expected
the water will be thrown out or the streets
in few days. Owing to the great rain
storm the river did not fall at Helena to-
day, but stands stationary.
At Memphis the river is practically sta
tionary tonight. AS the river is falling at
Cairo and the rainfall throughout the
territory draining into the Mississippi at
Memphis and above has been heavy, the
local observer predicts that during the en-
suing twenty-four hours there will proba-
bly, be slight rise at this point
The work of relieving the flood sufferers
with the government funds appropriated by
Congress for that purpose Is progressing
from Memphis TO Cairo and from Memphis
TO Helena, local relief stations have been
established and placed in charge of respon-
sible men. Nothing remains TO be done in
these districts now except TO ship supplies
every week to the relief stations. So far
no relief stations have been definitely es-
tablished in any of the districts below He
lena, but the army officers who have been
sent into these districts on tour of in
spection are expected to report within a
few days When these reports are filed
and the relief stations suggested, the army
officers will then have the entire situation
well in hand and will be able to supply the
needs OF all the flood sufferers in the entire
overflowed country.
Dispatches from Nicksburg tonight say:
The steamer John r. Meigs left for Davis
as she could possibly get up steam. The
government steamer Florence CHANGING to
arrive from Greenville in time, was also
sent to the island y small steamer was
there ready and the NatcheZ mailboat ST.
Joseph passed there this morning and was
no doubt hailed by the people. The boats
should suffice to relieve those in distress
and it is believed they will be in time. ex-
cept in the smallest number Of cases at the
worst The steamer Ruth came from Aus
tralia plantation to-day with a load of
stock and negroes. The latter are very
numerous now but most of them are living
somehow on their resources Captain Mar
tin charged by the War Department with
the duty of inspecting the situation with
view to future relief. returned from Green
willie by river to-day. His report was sent
tonight 10 Washington He would only
say the situation was deplorable in many
fected arrangements toward the distribu-
ton of supplies at all points where they
are required. The Deer creek country will
probably be supplied from here.