Evening star., 1897-04-14
MADE A FINE FIGHT
Gallant Struggle With the Waters by
the Louisiana Planters.
II HAS been WITHOUT PARALLEL
-Four ScoundreIs Attempted to Cut
the Levee.
SHORT SHRIFT IF CAUGHT

NEW ORLEANS La, April 14.-"Louisi-
ana has made fine fight and deserves
success said Chairman Morrison of the
interstate commerce commission during
trip along the harbor yesterday. "If she
escapes without a crevasse 1t will have
beneficial effect upon the country
The sentiment was justified oy the facts,
for the struggle is probably unparalleled
in any section. The Bayou la Fourche line
was given up two weeks ago, but the plant
ers are still holding it. The engineers Ge-
clared that nothing short of a miracle
could hold the Tensas line, but work has
never ceased for an instant Yesterday
came word that Ravenwood, on the Atcha-
falaya river, was about to go. The plant
ers at once organized and declared that the
f1Cod should not conquer, no matter what
it cost The Texas and Pacific road runs
alongside the levee there, and General
Manager Thorne joined the defenders by
telegraph. A leader was elected, forces
thoroughly organized, a saw mill in the
vicinity set to work, and now 800 men are
engaged In the measure of protection This
IS but a sample of the work going on all
along the river in this state.
The city wharves are found too low for
the rising river, which is covering many of
them. There is no danger here, for barri-
cades can easily be built and managed, but
it will result in the old levels being aban-
doned. and new and higher wharves being
constructed within the next year.
The Queen and Crescent has already
given orders for a higher wharf, as plat
forms had to be built so to unload the
fruit ships.
There came near being a sensation last
night Four men in a skiff tried to cut the
levee at Davis, on the opposite side of the
river, eighteen miles above the city, where
the great crevasse of 1884 occurred Armed
men pursued them in boat, but the dar-
ing miscreants escaped. Now twenty-five
armed men patrol that one levee each
night, and tampering with the bank will
mean death.
Supplies for the Sufferers.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 14.-A large lot
of supplies has been shipped to the flood
sufferers at points above Osceola on the
steamer Chickasaw. The supplies were pur
chased by Capt. Davis, who was located
here by Secretary Alger for that purpose.
Lieut.. Whitney is on board the Chickasaw
and will make an inspection Of the situa-
ton above Ashport. He has already in
vestigated the conditions between Memphis
and AShport.
Government supplies have also been sent
10 Cncent and Marked Tree. In the future
supplies will be sent out rapidly, as soon as
the relief stations along the river arc es-
tablished. The government officials and
the citizens relief committee are working
together in this matter and hope within
short time to have the relief work within
such systematic shape that it will not be
very laborious.
The Christian Herald, which is edited by
the Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage, will send a
relief boat down the river from Memphis.
George A. Seaman, a representative of the
Christian Herald, has come to this city
in order TO conduct this expedition. Yes
terday Mr.. Seaman chartered the tug Wei
for her cargo. Thursday morning the Wei
come will start down the river, and she will
be gone about q week. Mr.. Seaman will
distribute the supplies to the overiowed
people in need of them.
This relief expedition Is entirely inde-
pendent of the local relief committee. The
Christian Herald expects to give aid to
many people before they are reached by
the government agents.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark, April 14.-Mr. r.
W. Brown, managing editor of the Louis
vile Times, yesterday delivered 10 Gov
Jones 81 ,2s9 in cash for relief of flood suf-
ferers. The governor will send his private
secretary on a tour through the flooded
district to distribute the funds where need
ed.
Drowning of a Family.
HELENA, Ark, April IA distressing
accident has occurred ten miles west of
this city, resulting in the drowning of
family of seven negroes. Sylvester Sanders,
tenant on the Joel Higgins farm, where
the current has been SO swift as to threat
en- the destruction of the houses, left with
his family, wife and five children, for high
ground. Unfortunately, he took into his
fiat boat a large bull which he valued
very highly. When near the Calicott
place, and within mile of the hills, the
bull, which was almost famished, attempt
ed to eat the small limbs of the willow
trees through which the boat was being
laboriously pushed. The animals action
tipped the boat and frightened the in
mates, who made frantic efforts to right it.
In the excitement the animal kicked the
side of the boat to pieces and the entire
family was drowned. Some negroes saw
them, but were unable to render any as
sistaEce
On the Upper Mississippi.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, April 14.-The river reg
istered decline of OF during the past
twentyfour hours, and is still falling. AS
far north as Keokuk the Mississippi is
falling, but above that point rise is
shown. Bonneville, No., Is the point far
thest west on the Missouri at which a fall
is shown. while at Kansas City that river
shows rise.
TOday's prediction by the local weather
bureau follows: The river at St Louis will
continue to fall, reaching 26.S feet by Fri
day.
another day. Eut will commence to rise on
Thursday as far east as Bonneville.
The upper Mississippi will rise slowly
fIcm Hannibal north, ana continue to fall
to the south.
MOLINE, ILL.,, April 14.-The river il. still
rising here, and the danger of the Moline
water power fall is so imminent that .he
government has taken emergency action to
protect 1t. slanting bulkhead is being
built so as to take care Of a possible 1ise of
two feet or more above the present fall
The water now stands 2O.5 feet, or within
two feet of the top. The wall, which was
built many years ago, has been weakened
and the water is now sweeping through ali
along It's length. The Golfer dam. which
protects the new wall in course of ctn-
struction. is also being strengthened hv
temporary stone buttresses and bags of
sand. Several factory Easements are al
ready under water, and considerable annre.
hension exists regarding the Hood.
Moving Goods From Cellar..
DAVENPORT. Iowa, April 14-The Mis-
sissippi Is within two feet of the danser
Of several inches daily. Merchants are
moving goods from cellars in the tn,.,na..
hne at this point and is rising at the rate
district, and districts below the city ana in
he tuor nd To,