The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-01
A STARTLING RIVER RUMOR
DISCREDlTED REPORT SAYS A
LEvEE BOARD HAS ORDERED
LEvEES CUT.
FILL 1t MEMPHIS; RISE At CAIRO
Two Ladies Rescued From the
Attic of Their DEMONSTRATION
Below Greenville Serious.

Memphis, March pa special to the
Commercial-Appeal from Helena, Ark,
says:
A startling rumor reached the city this
morning. So startling is it that few peo-
pie credit it, though stranger things have
happened along this raging father of
waters in times of excitement like the
present. The rumors are to the effect
that the lower White river levee, from
Modoc down, has been ordered cut by the
Desha levee board. The levees, being cut
in half dozen places, the released waters
devastated all the fertile country between
Hughey landing and Laconia Circle,
drowning cattle. horses and mules, and
driving the defenseless inhabitants to the
levee for protection. President Green
field Quarles of Cotton Belt levee. dis
trict 1, received information to this eff
feet over the telephone from Modoc to-
day, and it was also reported from Old
town landing. Your correspondent inl-
mediately called upon Mrs. James Hardin,
who is temporarily in charge of the Mo-
doc telephone, and learned that there
were good grounds for the rumor. Mrs.
Hardin says that Clint Hughey, near
whose farm the first break occurred,
called to her husband this morning and
said that he had cut the levee with his
own hands at point near the Dixey plan
tation. There were already three breaks
between Modoc and the Hughey place,
the smallest of which was 300 feet wide,
and as there are now four breaks below
the Hughey place, the information is that
the Desha levee board has had the
White river levee system riddled in or
der to save the levee around the rich
country contained in the famous Laconia
Circle.
1t will be remembered that in 1882 the
Mississippi river ran over the tops of the
Laconia Circle levee, inundating more
than 10000 acres of the lands contained
therein, and entailing untold loss and suf-
fering to the defenseless whites and
blacks of that rich section. The levees
have been greatly enlarged and strength
ened since then, but the indications I'm
year, as the gauges at Modoc, Avenue
and Boiths all show stage of water un-
expected and unprecedented.
The government boat Titan, in com
mand of Assistant Engineer James Mol
ty, came up from Yellow Banks bayou
early this morning and took tow of five
barges loaded with twenty tents, two
skiffs and n number of sacks and spades
which had been sent from Memphis by
there are good prospects of holding the
levees from here to Modoc. but thinks
that from the latter place, down to and
including Laconia Circle. the whole levee
system will be rs badly riddled and
broken as it was in the floods of 1882.
Here in Helena there is slight rise.
The town is gradually filling with unfor-
tunate refugees from the inundated dis
tricts below here. Our entire fleet of
steamboats, are kept busy night and day
bringing people, stock, feed stuff and
household goods to this city, where they
are being cared for by the relief commit
tee appointed by the Chamber of Com
merce.
The government boat Joseph Henry ar
rived from New Orleans today. The
Henry picked up thirty-one negro refu-
gees and landed them at Helena.
The negroes wished to come to Mem
phis and join the main procession Of suf-
ferers, but the captain of the government
steamer thought it best to land them
nearer home. Nearly all the women and
children have been moved out of the
flooded country below Modoc. but the
men in most instances have remained to
take care of their property.
At Island 40, Miss Ludlow and Mrs.
Blackwood were taken on board and
brought to Memphis. Mr.. Ludlow re-
manned at his house, which is half full
of water. The family were found living
in the attic of their house, and the la
dies were almost frightened to death.
The Rowena Lee arrived from Ashport
tonight. Captain Fitzgerald reported that
there was bad break at J. d. Drivers
place, short distance below Osceola.
The levee at Osceola is still intact. From
Judge Drivers place down to Pecan point
the levee is badly broken. and the water
is rushing over into the adjoining country.