The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-26
INHABITANTS RUSHING TO LEvEES.
Cutting Supposed to Have Been Done
by Leyee Board.
DANGER IN LADoNIA CIRCLE.
Relief Boats are still HurryinE Ref
ugees Into Helena and Memphis.
Caring for the Sufferers.

memphis, Tenn, March ga special 10
the Commercial Appeal from Helena, Ark.
says:
A startling rumor reached the city this
morning SO startling is It that few people
credit II, though stranger things have hap
pened along this raging Father Of waterA
in times OF excitement like the present.
The rumor was to the effect that the lower
White river levee from Modoc down had
been ordered cut by the Desha levee board.
Tho levees being cut IN half dozen places,
the released water devastated the ric
fertile country between Hughey's landing
and Laconia circle. drowning cattle. horses
and mules and driving the Iefenseless in
habtants to the levec for protection. Pres
ident Greenfield Quarles Of cotton levee
district No. received Information TO this
effect over the telephone from Modoc today
and It was afterward reported from Old
town landing. Mrs. James Harden, who
is temporarily In charge of the Modoc tel
ephone, was called up. aud 1t is learned
that there is good foundation for the ru-
NOR. Mrs. Harden gays Clint Hughey.
near whose home the first break In the
levee occurred. called to her husband
from the leyee this morning. saying he had
seen the engineer cut the levee with his
own hands at point near the Dixie plan
tation. There were already three breaks
between Modoc and the Hughey place. the
smallest OF which was 800 tcet wide. and
as there are now four breaks below the
Hughey place, the inference is that the
Desha levee board has had the White levee
system r.ddled in order to save the levce
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 leyee, inundating more than
10000 acres of land contained therein and
entailing untold loss and suffering to tho
defenseless whites and blacks OF that rich
section. The lovees have been greatly en-
larged and strengthened since then. but
the indications undoubtedly point to slim
liar calamity this year. as tho gauges at
Modoc avenue and Beiths all show stage
Of water unexpected and unprecedented.
The government boat tiffany, with United
States Engineer August Nolty. came up
morning and took tow of five barges
loaded with twenty tents. fourteen skiffs
and a number of sacks and spades which
had been sent from Memphis by the tug
Welcome. Captain Nolty believes that
there are good prospects OF holding the
levees from here to Modoc. but thinks that
from the latter place down to and includ-
ing Laconia circle the whole levoe system
will be as badly riddled and ruined as It
has been on the st. Francis front.
Here in Helena the situation is prac-
tically unchanged. although there Is still
q slight rise. which is coming out OF the
st. Francis basin. The weather is excel
lent. The town is gradually filling with
unfortunate refugees from the inundated
districts below here. Our entire fleet Of
steamboats, and tugs. more than half
dozen, are kept busy day and night bring
ing people. stock. feed stuff and household
goods to this city. where they are being
cared for by the relief committee appoint
ed by the Chamber of Commerce.