Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-14

came the following telegram to Secretary
Alger from Representative Robinson, OF
Louisiana.
"Baton Rougue, La. April 10. 1897.
.sHave lust arrived, and find the leyee
situation I'm Louisiana extremely critical.
with the result OF the struggle problemat-
ical Should crevasse occur on the
Mississippi river in this State there
would be great destitution among the
people and much destruction OF property.
! would suggest, therefore, respectfully,
that a portion Of the appropriation for
relief OF overhowed sufferers be reserved
by the department TO meet such con-
tingency."
LOWER MISSISSIPPI RISING.
MEMPHIS. TENN, April l3.-The river
continues to rise south of Vicksburg ana
the swift current Is throwing the waters
against the Louisiana levees with eDor-
nous force. A telegram from Taliulah
La. received last night, reported that the
leyee at Davis Island, in Warren county
Miss. had broken. but the report was
premature. The water is washing over
the levee at that point however, and a
break may occur at any hour. Many
people have left the city, with their most
valuable effects and stock.
Several weak spots have developed In
the southern levee system. and the people
i'm that section are making heroic strus-
giles TO save their farms and other proper
ty. Tonight the back-water in the flood
ed Nississippi delta is about stationary.
The river at Memphis continues to fall
slowly.
At Helena the river is declining at the
rate of two tenths of a foot daily. The
refugees are fiocking into Helena by every
boat. Lieutenants a. S. Rowan and NJ.
c. Rowley. OF the United States army,
and Captain Graham ID. Fitch have ar
rived at Helena. on the steamer ltasca.
A conference between the officers and
the local Relief Committee was held. so
that Lieutenant Rowan might secure all
the facts regarding ere situation there.
At the meeting ii was estimated that or
the 25.3n people inhabiting the county,
1000 lived i'm the city, and one half the
remainder lived in the territory now in
undated. The population. therefore. OF
the overhowed territory was put down
at approximately 1900. OF these. from
. O00 10 2 600 are now I'm Helena. and scat
tered along the foothills for distance OF
fifteen miles. There are 1000 refugees AT
Old Town ridge. The Relief Committee
reported that 5000 people were dependent
upon aid. Three thousand dollars weekly
was the sum decided upon to take care
OF these people.
Ijeutenants Rowan and Crowley left
Helena to-day for Greenyille and the
White river 20 investigate the situation
there. Captain Molly of the steamer
Titan. reports forty-three refugees AT
Nodoc. eighty at Avenue, forty at Daw-
SONS. forty-five at Lower Ludlow. l64 at
Ferguson. and 100 at Knowlton. The ma
ioritv of these unfortunate people are
canned on barges. and have been sup
piled from Helena
THE MISSOURI.
KANSAS CITY, MO, April B.-Wea-
ther-O Observer Conner to-day predlcts rs
follows: 1.-THE Missouri river viii rise
quite rapidly. crossing the danger-line by
Wednesday noon, and will be about l
foot above that point Thursday"
To-day the gauge showed slight rise.
At Leavenworth a rise Of 8 Inches mas
been experienced since daylight. and the
water is still climbing. Across the river
in Harlem, the citizens are organizing 10
combat the flood. and all along the river
precautions against damage will be taken
from now on.
ANOTHER RISE AT ST. JOE.
ST. JOSEPH, MO. April l3.-The Mis-
souri, river at this place is rising again.
During last night it rose inches, ana
has climbed higher on the gauge all day.
The railroad tracks down the river are
threatened but il is thought the tempo
rary respite has been sufficient TO allow
all defences to be made secure.
NORTHERN FLOOD SUBsIDING.
GRAND FORKS, n. D., April 1S.-The
great flood is slowly but surely subsiding
The waters have receded "A inches since
trouble from Red Lake river. The Mehan
dam has been carried away, and over
100000 feet of logs are en- route for
Crookston and Grand Forks.
REPORTS are coming in of damage done
by the flood and much suffering in the
Snake-riyer country. The Great Northern
railroad has succeeded I'm closing its
draw. and passenger and freight trains
have been passing both ways. Affairs IN
this city are looking brighter. and resi-
dents Of the flooded districts are pre-
pairing to return TO their homes.
THE TROUBLE AT OMAHA.
OMAHA, NEB., April 13.-Piling and
boards and bags of sand, old hay and
stones are being fed TO the hungry Big
Muddy" at Omaha in an effort TO restrain
the manifest intention of that erratic
stream to resume the channel abandoned
twenty years ago. At nightfall it looked
as il the effort might succeed But all
hope is hedged about with provisos that
the river does not rise any higher, that
north wind does not blow, and, most un-
certain Of all. that the break above
Florence lake is not so bad as the over
flowing water indicates.
East Omaha and North Omaha are
flooded by the waters that are rushing
from the over-full Missouri river. The
residents fee for their lives. leaving their
possessions behind. The houses are
standing in the food. submerged from
/ to feet deep. The flood is pouring in
upon the lowlands of the East Omaha
bottoms in a stream that is estimated 70
be 1000 feet i'm width. 1t is sweeping
southeast. and pours into Florence Lake.
The water in the lake has broken over
the levee that was built to separate II
from Cut-Off Lake, and it is now rushing
with ever-increasing volume into the lat
ter. In the last twelve hours Cut-On
Lake has risen almost feet If this rate
continues 1t is anticipated that by morn
ing the lake will overflow its southern
banks. If this should occur, and the
rise be still maintained, the entire south
ern portion of East Omaha would be
threatened with most disastrous flood.
INSURANCE SWINDLING GALORE.
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