The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-01
BREAKS BELOW GREENvILLE.

Waters Rushing Into Mississippi
Low Lands Doing Much Damage.
Memphis, March 29.-The Commercial
Appeals Greenville, Miss. special says: .
The solid line of Mississippi levees have
been broken at last. At II o'clock last
night the levee at Deerfcld, ten miles be
low Greenville. succumbed to the pres
sure Of the waters of the mighty Missis.
sippi. The levee was a large one. and
100 yards of the vast embankment gave
way, and In trice the torrent of waters
rushed upon the country. Soon the sec,
ton between the river embankment Of the
Riverside division of the Yazoo and Mis-
sissippi Valley Railway and the lake was
full of water Horses and cows rushed
on to the levee and huddled together until
rescued No loss of life is reported.
Another break is reported at Wayside,
small station on the Riverside division
of the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley road.
Thousands of acres of most fertile land in
the delta, already planted in corn or
ready to be planted in cotton, will suffer
from the waters pouring through this
crevasse.
The backwater will reach nearly to
Greenville. The situation Immediately
above and below Greenvile today is i'm
proved. The weak spots and low places
have received close attention and ener-
getic aid. Business men, lawyers. clerks,
and all other classes of men, except ne
groes, are hauling dirt and in other ways
aiding to keep the people from destruc-
ton. The people Of Greenvile feel con-
fident once more that this place will es-
cape the food. The weak places in the
Arkansas levee at 'Possum Fork and a
few other places are reported strengthen
ed this evening.
Thirteen carloads of sacks reached
Greenvlle last night for use on the levee.
Thousands of bags were sent to the places
needed by steamers today. The river at
Greenville shows decline Of nearly an
inch today, due to the crevasse at Deer
field, while at Lakeport, opposite Deer
field, on the Arkansas side. the river fell
four inches.
The crevasse Mt Port View, up the riv-
er, VIII also relieve the pressure IN TINS
territory, and the inhabitants feel that no
further breaks will occur. The breaks
already recorded will likely stop every
car wheel in the delta during the next
few days, while vast area of farming
land in the Yazoo and Mississippi delta
will be submerged for weeks yet to come.
The loss of cattle and hogs will be heavy,
while the Generalization Of labor will
work hardships on the planters.
A special to the COmmercial-Appaal
from Gunnison. Miss, says:
The levee broke at the Sledge planta-
ton near ConcOrdia Landing. three miles
north of Gunnson, at about $3.50 p. m.
today. The crevasse is about 100 feet
wide, and the levee being made of sand,
will cave fast There is much excite
ment and there il no effort being made
to stop the widening of the crevasse. 1t
is expected the crevasse will cut to a
width of 100 feet by morning.
There was no uneasiness felt about this
levee, as there was nothing to indicate n
weakness except a leak. which did not
seem to be dangerous. Water is pouring
through the break ut a terrible velocity
carrying houses, trees and everything in
its path There Is some uneasiness felt
about the safety of the people on the
Coldstead plantation, but up to this hour
no lives are reported to be lost.