The San Francisco call., 1897-03-24
More Cheerful News From
Iowa and South
Dakota.
Points in Illinois and MINES TIA,
However, Are Still in
Great Peril.
st. Louis Aids the Arkansas Suffer-
ers = Thousands Of P opls
Probably Lo t.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa, March 23.-While
endeavoring to esca pc through the water
which surrounded her house, Mrs. Belle
Maxsey, residing on the Big sioux, be-
tween here and Westfield, fell from boat
and was drowned.
From Canton to Sioux City the river is
falling fast. At Canton big gorge and
fresh rise may be expected when it goes
out. Visitors to the city from the Big
Sioux Valley say the half has not been
told of the damage during the flood. The
Missouri is still falling here. The gorge
at Haggin's Bend, below Yankton, still
holds and is growing worse. Ii warm
weather sets in above, a general overflow
will be inevitable and high water Is sure
here when the gorge goes out.
The Jim River is reported rising to-
day, but the cool weather is delaying the
thaw at present.
In this city special council session was
held to-day to arrange for repairs to pub
lie Improvements ruined by the Floyd
River freshet The situation is improv-
ing but it is still very bad.
The Milwaukee, the heaviest loser, is
minus ten bridges on the Sioux Falls line
and two on the Mitchell division.
At Elk Point, s. D., the Sioux River
is rising and thousands Of hogs and cattle
have been drowned. The Missouri at that
point is stationary and the food scare is
about over.
DIES MONIES. Iowa, March 23.-The
flood in the Des Moines is beginning TO
subside. All last night and most of to-
day snow has been falling. The river has
fallen about six inches and it is believed
the worst is passed. Should it turn warm,
however, and melt the snow now on the
ground, the situation would be worse than
ever.
ST. PAUL, MINI. March 23.-The rivers
of Southern Minnesota and Eastern South
Dakota are rising rapidly and indications
point to the highest stage OF water since
1881. There is great suffering among the
poor people OH the bottom lands and the
property loss will be enormous.
ALTON, ILL, March 23.-There is every
indication here tonight that serious
food is i'm pending. The Mississippi stands
within loot of the top of its banks with
fifteen feet on the gauge, and the water
is rising rapidly witt Missouri backwater
and the outpour of the waters from the
upper Mississippi and Illinois valleys.
Thousands Of acres of crop lands are
endangered.
s ST. LOUIS, Mo-, March 23-Acting
upon an appeal from Governor Jones OF
Arkansas for assistance, the Merchants
Exchange OF this city to-day subscribed
$1,000 for the relief of the flood sufferers.
This money and future donations will be
handed over to the Memphis relief COM
mittee.
statement was received from the
Mayor of Helena, Ark, that the danger
point had been passed.
There Is no Improvement at Paducah.
That place is now almost an island and is
reached by only one railroad, the Illinois
Central. The water is stationary at
Memphis. The worst break is below
Friar's Point but there is no serious loss
of life re ported.
A startling statement by river pilot is
published here to-day. He says: "All
the rescue work seems to be done on or
near the Mississippi River. Nothing is
known of the fate of the thousands of
poor people on the lowiands, on the
White, the Arkansas and the Black
rivers in Arkansas. When the DEATH
roll is made up it will be largely from
these valleys"
MEMPHIS. TENN, March 23.-The stu
alton in this city is tritie more encour-
aging to-day, and the river is stationary.
Rescue steamers are patrolling the flooded
district and bringing refugees to this city
by scores.
CAIRO, Ill, March 23.-A slight rise
in the Mississippi River during the past
twenty-four hours was taken as an indi-
cation that the flood is now at its height,
and unless heavy rains prevail in the
next few days the danger will be over at
this point. The gauge hero this morning
marked 81 IS feet.
Is HELENA, ARK, March 23-This after
noon the water fell about three inches in
the Mississippi River as a result of the
break in the levee two miles below this
city. The break is spreading rapidly.
The railroad authorities sent a gang of
men with sacks OF sand to repair the break
if possible. II their efforts are without
success the whole country south of here
will be flooded. The weather Indications
this afternoon promise heavy rain with
high winds. and it is believed this will
rasnii in uraaf damsoe