Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-13


the detailed reports from the inspect
ing officers came to Secretary Alger
this afternoon from Lieut.. Whitney, as
follows:
Memphis, Tenn, April 12.-As a re-
suit of personal inspection of part or
the Memphis-Cairo district north OF
Ashport, Tenn, ninety miles by river,
| found eighteen crevasses in the levees.
varying in width from fifty to 1000
feet and widening some. The increased
damage of levees will be considerable
unless the ends of the breaks are heav-
lily capped. No fresh creyasses are now
anticipated. The flood is completely
over.
Water at the maximum was three
to four feet higher on the gauge than
ever before known. 1t has been falling
ten to twelve inches every twenty-four
hours and is now about on stand, but
still higher than any previous flood.
The maximum approximate length and
breadth and area of the inundated dis
trict are reported in my previous tele-
grams. In addition there is about 40
square miles in Tennessee, nine miles
long and five miles wide on an average.
| found about 5000 refugees 19-2O
colored), 1900 more have been brought
to Memphis. Most all have some sort
of shelter. but are suffering for want OF
necessities. Judging from reliable re-
ports this number represents barely one
quarter of those needing immediate
assistance in this portion of the dis
trict Stock is suffering terribly; one
third to one-half of the cattle are drown
ed and the remainedr will die
unless forge is supplied
from the outside. The ready
resources of the district are exhausted.
Condition in Mississippi county, Tenn,
is representative. Nine-tenths of its
SO5 square miles are covered with water
and three to seven feet deep. About 10
per cent. Of this was under cultivation.
Many cabins are washed away or torn
I'D. Those standing are filled with peo-
ple and rescued stock on raised floors
and on RATS. Out of 10000 popula-
ton. six thousand are dependent ana
needy. Four lives reported lost by
drowning.
The conditions in Crittenden county
are even worse and the suffering is rap
idly increasing, due to prolonged high
water. Most of the refugees are col
lected on high ground and at points on
levees. I have noted their location ana
approximate number. They can be
reached from Memphis'by relief boat
which should leave supplies for five
davs at q time at certain relief stations.
each in charge of one responsible resi-
dent Would recommend that an OIL
Ger distribute ratiOns and take receipt
from persons in charge OF stations.
Those back from the river can nc
reached by small boats from these sta
tiOns. Sufferers in my section can ana
should be relieved where they are. This
will prevent serious demoralization OF
labor later. Would recommend fur
nishing simplest food supplies. corn
meal and side meat, and that every ra-
tion be accompanied by forage for two
head Of stock. l start soon as possible
for the northern section.
Governor McLaurin telegraphed Sec
rstarv Alger this afternoon as follows:
jackson. Miss, April 12.-ln addi-
tion TO names and places heretofore
telegraphed YOU. I suggest d. \. He
bron and Charles z. Wright. at Nicks-
burg. for relief for food sufferers
Gen. Gillespie has forwarded TO the
War Department the following tele-
Grams from CAPTAIN Derby. the engineer
IN charge at New Orleans, dated this
afternoon:
"-ve are still in good state and hope
ful Carrollton gauge now reached the
highest poit.