The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-17
CRISIS IN THE FLOOD COMING.
THE SUPREME TEST NOW ON BE-
Low VICKsBURG.

Swift Current which In Rising
steadily Beating Against the Lee
wees with "A Force That Is Causing
the Grnvest ApprchensiOn-AIarm
ina RumOrs AIoat Of Heavy Loss
of Life ON Davis IsIand-The Lee
wees Near Bedford store in Preca-
rious COnditiOn-An Army Officers
Ride on the swollen Rivers.
Memphis, Tenn, April l6.-Advices from
Natchez and other points below Vicksburg
indicate that the supreme test in the food
situation is at hand. A swift current,
which is rising steadily, is beating against
the levees with such force as to cause the
gravest apprehension at many places.
At Natchez the river is near the top of
the levee, and everything possible is be-
ing done to fight back the rising waters
AL kinds of rumors have been current
to-day regarding Wholesale loss of life
on Davis Island, but diligent Geographic
inquiry fails to confirm the story. 1t is
known that three negroes were drowned
on the island, but outside of these fatali-
ties no further loss of life is known to
have occurred.
At Vicksburg the river is rising at the
rate of four-tenths of a foot daily. The
swift volume of water pouring out Of the
Yazoo into the Mississippi at a point
twelve miles north of vicksburg will con-
tinue for several days
The levees between Bedford store, four
miles south of Delta La, to Duckport,
six miles above, are in precarious con-
dition tonight, and every man and boy
available is at work strengthening the
embankment. AT some points in this
stretch of levee the water is washing over
and the greatest alarm is felt.
A more cheerful feeling exists in the
delta tonight. At Greenville the back
water from Stops Landing creVasse, which
has been rising in the flooded part of the
town during the last three days, is sta
honary and will begin to fall tomorrow.
Rosedale, Friars Point, Helena ana
other places report an encouraging i'm
provement in the situation. The river de-
clined one-tenth of a foot at Greenviile
to-day, and the fall of two-tenth of a
foot reported at Cairo gives hope that
the water will recede in Gme to make a
At Memphis the river is stationary.
Capt. Mccoy of the steamer Bluff arrived
in port from St. Louis and brings a very
encouraging account of the improvement
in the condition of the overlooked terri
tory above Memphis. He says that the
waters have receded sufficiently to allow
steamboats, to land at all places. There is
marked improvement and the outlook on
the upper river is cheerful.
Washington, April 16.-Maj. Sanger of
the inspector generals department, arriv-
ed In Washington this morning, being the
first of the officers sent out by Secretary
Alger to the flooded districts to return 70
this city. He Is preparing a written re-
port of his operations, but meanwhile he
explained verbally to the President and
Secretary Alger just what had been done
by him under his instruction TO ascertain
the condition of the flood sufferers and
arrange for their relief.
Chartering a steamboat at Memphis,
with the best captain that could be found,
a man, who. the major said was of the
greatest help and willing to go anywhere
to relieve distress, he took aboard two
weeks supplies of a character suggested
by the Memphis committee and started
down the river, accompanied by Col Rog-
ers, chairman of the Arkansas levee
board. who was thoroughly familiar with
the country to be visited.
1t was found that the Memphis people
had already established stations for the
relief of the refugee in many places
tn onghout the st. Francis district, In ad-
dition to the big camp they had pitched
in West Memphis.
ALI of these were visited, and in addi-
| ton Maj. Sanger established stations at
other points where they seemed to be
needed: The relief boat ran up the st.
Francis river, up the Languille river and
| across country over cotton fields and farms
in every direction where IL was supposed
people were to be found In need Of help,
acting largely upon advices Of the local
relief committees along the route.
Returning to the main river visit was
made to the Flower lake crevasse, which
WAS found to have extended TO width Of
1880 feet. Maj. Sanger says the country
oyerhowed from this break, some Of the
richest bottom lands in the south. Is I'm
der water ranging In depth from 2 to e
feet He says that IL the waters recede
by May 20 al will be well with them and
that with economy and careful distribution
the funds already appropriated will be
sufficient for the maintenance of the alb
solutely destitute. But II the water holds
up and II is not possible to make crop
this summer the distress that will result
will be terrible.
Vicksburg, Miss. April 16.-The Queen
and Crescent route train dispatcher's Of
flee at - o'clock tonight reported That
Bigg's levee in Madison parish, broke at
10 o'clock and that the break was 100
feet wide In twenty minutes The break
is four and half miles south Of Delta.
La, and one-half mile above the uppes
end Of Reds levee The news was sent
10 Delta at once, the operator there be.
ing rousted out Of bed ana the message OF
warning sent along the line of the rail-
road westward. The levee Is very large
one and has been engaging the special
attention of the levee authorities for
weeks. or ever since the Mississippi ere
vase. .Several hundred conXleis have Lnnn