The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-26
CYCLONE And FLOOD.
DESTRUCTION OFLIFE AND PROP
=: ERTY BY THE ELEMENTS.

Sections OF Georgia and Alabama Swept
by Violent Wind Storms, Followed y
Cloud Bursts-Two Families Destroyed
Floods In the Western Rivers Cnabatsd
Work Of Rescue Going on Continually
Fearful Death Roll From the Back Coun.
try Expected.
Chicago. March "a special to The
Tribune from Eufaula, Ala, says:
This city Is central in a section hic
was swept by a tornado yesterday, in
which death and disaster has played a
dreadful part. For several days there
has been summer mildness all through
southwest Georgia and southeast Ala
bama. the unit tributary to the
Chattahoochee river. On Sunday the
thermometer wen up to eighty and the
air was oppressive. Yesterday morn
ing leaden skies and increasing wind
pressure preceded a storm which came
sweeping along with terrific force.
Shutters and roofs gave way, and for
two hours there was terror and desola-
ton, when the tornado passed off TO the
northwest, coursing along the Chatta-
hoochee valley. The reports soon
coming in told of the terrible devasta-
ton.
The town of Blakeley, in Georgia, was
nearly lifted out of existence, and peo-
pie seeking refuge indoors We're as
badly knocked around by creaking and
falling timberS as were those on the
outside, who were unable to dodge fence
rails and other flying missiles.
From Henry county, Alabama,
around Abbeyville, there comes stories
Of death and wreck. A family of five
nercOnS are remarked killed na2r (sanna
A second disaster, hat of floods, is
now upon the country. The rivers n
creeks are swelling with the rainfall
which almost a cloudburst
in it's cOpiOusnesS. On both sides of the
Chattahoochee, south Of this city, the
fields are overlooked, destroying all the
winters work of preparation, carrying
away cabins and stock.
Late last night, news came in Of the
drowning of a family of eight persons
on the Alabama side Of the river in
Henry county. Richard Manson, with
his wife and six children, live in a
cabin on the river bank at the crossing
of the Central railroad from Columbia.
The waters rushed in and before they
could eXtricate themselves all were
lost.
ST. Louis, March 23.-Acting upon an
appeal from Governor Jones. of Ar
kansas, for assistance, the merchants
exchange, Of this city, today subscribed
$1,000 for the relief of the flood suffer-
ers. This money and future donations
will be handed over to the Memphis re-
lief committee. Statements from May
or w. l.. Clapp and Chief of Police E.
r.. Moseley, of Memphis, were received
by the exchange. The mayor says that
nearly all the refugees come from Ar
kansas. The chief says that Memphis
has two funds to draw upon-balance
left from the yellow fever fund and the
cash donated for the JohnstOwn, Pa,
flood sufferers, neither of them being
exhausted.
The following from the mayor Of He
lena, Ark, was also read:
Helena, Ark, March 23.-Th danger
point has been reached and passed. We
are in such shape now that we can
build our levee up as fast as the river
can rise. No matter how high it goes,
we can keep above it. I therefore wish
to allay the alarm that has been spread
abroad regarding the situation here"
Dispatches from many points in the
flood section show but slightly varied
condition from those of yesterday.
Slight rises are reported at New Mad
rid, Mo-; Columbus and Paducah, KY;
Cairo and Metropolis, Ills. The great
est increase was at Paducah. That
town is now an island and is only
reached by one railroad, the Illinois
Central. AT noon today the guage at
Memphis read exactly thirty-eight feet
and stationary, but rises at points
above and below there show that the
steady guage was caused by levee
breaks at Hopefield n st. Francis in
Arkansas. South Of Helena to Chicot
there is scarcely n more effort to
say the levees. At MOdOc the break
is now nearly a mile wide. The leveeS
in Mississippi are older, higher and bet
ter aligned to resist the torrent than
those on the west bank of the river and
the area under water is much less. The
worst break is below Friars Point, but
Cross levees restrict the overflow. A
dispatch from Greenville, Miss, says
the Sun Flower river is as wide and
full of water as the Mississippi at or
dinar stages and that the sluggish
Yazoo river is now a raging torrent.
Rescue work continues undated
from Vicksburg, Helena, Memphis and
Hickman, KY. steamer expeditions
never return fruitless and it would
seem that only a start has been made
to ave the suffering. The mysery I'M
dergOne by these people is beyond de-
scription. Naturally an improvident
class they were not prepared for the
calamity that came SO suddenly. All
are without extra clothing and many
have not eaten a morsel for twenty
four hours when rescued.
A startling statement by a river
pilot is published here today. He says:
All the rescue work seems to be lone
on or near the Mississippi river. Moth
ing is known Of the fate of the 100, 900
poor people in the lowlands of the
White, the Arkansas and the Black
rivers in Arkansas. When the death
roll is made up it will be largely from
these villages"
Supreme Court Decisions.
lCpacial N Tba N~acSapparl