Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-29
GREATEST DANGER TO COME
RIVER BELOW HELENA WILL CON-
TINUE TO RISE FOR TEN DAYS.
Levces Will BE Subjected to the Hard
est Strain About April 1O-Sun-
day Not n Day of Rest
Along the Banks.
washington. March 2s.-professor willis

Washington, March 2S.-Professor Willis
L. Moore, chief of the weather bureau, to-
day issued the following special bulletin:
THE crest of the flood wave is still at
Cairo, which shows a stationary gauge
reading of SIG feet for the past four days.
There is great danger yet to come from
the flood in the region from Helena south
ward to New Orleans.
THE river will continue to rise for at
least ten days in the region from Helena
southwark to Vicksburg, and to rise during
4 longer period from Vicksburg southwark.
eff no break occurs before, levees will be
subjected to the greatest strain about April
10 in Southeast Arkansas, Western Mis-
sissippi and in Louisiana. Should the levees
break. the result will be one of the most
disastrous floods ever known.
Weather conditions now INDICATE ad-
t teraily insensi2y eAe the hood T eondisiOns. @ ma
Those living in districts oyerflowed in
and transfer stock and movable property to
places of known safety while there is yet
time. WILLIS L. MOORE,
Chief of Bureau
Rosedale Miss, March ss,-Wild rumors
are heard here at late hour this evening
district but confirmation has not been re-
ceived. The only point along the Missis-
sippi line tonight seriously Threatened is
vile, the situation there being considered
very severe. The water is reported rum
ming over the top in several places and
Valley passenger train reached this place
at $50 this afternoon with necessary mate
rial and hard fight at this hour is being
waged with the turbulent waters of the
great river. Some apprehension is felt for
the levees tonight on account of a strong
wind and extra tbs guards
citrate little specks of light can be seen
dangling in the gloom of the night, show
l-s,, II i.
guard. Any threatened point in the levees
brings men by the hundreds in a marvel
ously short time. No breaks have been re-
ported on the Arkansas side to-day, but
there is a strong wind blowing from the
southeast which will put an additional
strain on these lines.
been one of increased anxiety for those de-
pending upon and protected by the levees.
Orders for sacks and other material have
Major Willard. United States engineer
sent a boat out this afternoon to meet the
demand for sacks and shovels. which came
The river at Vicksburg has risen five
tenths since last evening. and is now 4S.6
six inches below the highest water since
1862.
The most that can be said is that the
levees are being held on both sides of the
river under circumstances little short of
desperate.
Government bulletins to-day announcing
more rains in the upper valleys are most
depressing. President Maxwell, of the Fifth
Louisiana levee board. urges planters to
send labor and teams to the levees immed-
lately. The supply of sacks here is eX-
hausted and he has ordered 5000 from New
Orleans, which left by special train this
evening. The state convicts at Diamond
Island will be sent at once to Illawara and
Pitchers Point levees, which are in dam
ger.
Greenville, March 2s-Sunday as it is.
every hour has been utilized by labor on
the levees. No time is being lost while
the weather remains good. Some may be
praying, but all realize the fact that they
must watch and work as well as pray.
Nearly 1000 men are at work upon the
levees for the ten miles covering Green
vile. Five hundred laborers fresh from the
plantations will arrive here tomorrow. The
Greenville sawmilIs are at work to-day
with full forces of men, while barges are
being loaded with lumber and sacks to be
sent to weak points. The boats Elbrige.
Eidete. Mayfiower, Ruth, Annie. Laurie
Brown, Chicot and Louise langley are be-
ing used now almost exclusively for trans
In strengthening the levees. Every energy
is now being used to prevent a crevasse
with hopes of success. While the water is
above the regular levees in some places,
dirt. lumber and bags of sand have been
used to elevate the embankments above the
water level.
Every point is intact tonight. The gov
ernment boat Mississippi. with the river
con mission aboard. Stopped here tits
morning and in an interview Judge Tay-
lor. member of the commission from In
diana and one of the oldest men in service
on the commission. said that Of the 1.300
flood less than seven miles have given
away under the terrible pressure. only
one-half of l per cent of the system. He
thinks it possible that other breaks will
occur during the next few days. as he ex-
poets one more foot of water for this sec
ion. To be prepared for the rise yet to