The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-21
PEOPLE FLY FROM HOMES
Advices From Several States Indicate
Damages in the Millions.
ALABAMA FARMS UNDER loFEET OF WATER
The Flood on the Mobile and Ohio Seems 10
Have Reached It's Limit. Leg Bonn
Threatens The |. 4 |. Bridge
cMrihe Pascagoula,
Over the PascsgouIa.

Jackson, Miss, April20.-The Illinois
Central managed to open traffic with New
Orleans tonight over the Natchez branch
of the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley road.
although trains are running with great
caution on account of the treacherous con-
dition of the track. The main line is
still tied up below Magnolia by high wa
ters, and the officials do not expect to
get traffic opened before the early part
OF next week. A bridge was washed out
at Pearl river today The situation in
jackson is rapidly growing worse and
good sized section of the Southern por-
ton of the city is submerged with the
backwater from Pearl river. Surround
ed on three sides by water and with the
numerous small streams swollen beyond
their banks the city is at the same time
confronted with the danger of water
famine as the overflow of the river has
put out the fires in the pump house of
the water works company and compelled
the plant to close down. No lives have
been lost. Many people have been driven
from their homes by the inundation and
are searching for lodging.
1t is reported tonight that twenty
seven miles of track of the new
Gulf and Ship Island road be-
tween Jackson and Hattiesburg has
been washed away that Leaf river has
broken from it's banks and is spreading
out over the surrounding country, sweep
ing away fences and houses, inundating
crops and drowning much live stock and
poultry Pearl river is now one vast lake,
stretching six or eight miles to the east
and southeast. The Alabama and Vicks-
.14Ior ~
away before morning. Advices from sew
eral States from which general idea
Of the flood is gained, indicate that the
damage will reach into the millions and
the calamity falls especially hard on
the farmers.
THE FLOOD IN ALABAMA.
Mobile, Ala, April 20.-The flood sit
uation on the Mobile and Ohio was not
improved by Thursday. Today, however,
has been fair and it is believed the flood
has reached it's limit. The railroad COM
pany has 500 men at work in the flooded
district, repairing breaks and the officials
are confident that the through trains will
be run by Monday.
special from Buckatunna on the
Mobile division, says that the loss of stock
and to farms is enormous, many Of the
farms being ten feet under water. Fam
lilies have been forced to seek the hills
for safety. The Southern Railway is suf-
ferng between Meridian and Selma, and
there will be no trains before Monday on
that division.
The Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City
Railroad escaped damage until today,
but the rivers have overlooked and cut
off the town of Merrill, at the western
terminus. Much alarm is felt there
There are from one to three million logs
in the Pascagoula River boom, threaten
ing damage to the Louisville and Nash
Vile bridge below, if the boom breaks
The boom company have taken the pre-
caut on to use steel ropes to hold the
boo and the danger has, it is believed
been averted