The Topeka state journal., 1900-04-20
APPALLING
CALAMITY.
Lower Mississippi Country Visit
ed by Floods.
The Worst Ever Known in That
Section.
THE RAIN CONTINUES.
Disastrous Conditions Are Only
Fairly Begun.
Loss of Property Runs Into the
Millions.

New Orleans, April 20.-NeW Orleans
has ceased to regard the flood situation
as a temporary inconvenience. As time
has passed and as the full scope Of the
disaster which visited this section of
the country in the excessive rains
which began in the early days of the
week and still continue has been learn
ed the conviction has been irresistibly
brought home that a calamity of ap-
palllng magnitude has been experienced
and that instead of the worst being over
the evil has just begun.
There are now within the gates of the
city no less than five hundred water
bound travellers, who are not only un-
able to return to their homes now, but
who do not know when they will be able
to leave Partial reports of the dam
age incurred in the storm belt have run
the figures up into the millions, and
taking into consideration the losses real
and resultant, the amount foots up to
an enormous figure.
The Illinois Central railroad system
has incurred damages which will
amount to hundreds of thousands Of
dollars, figuring the loss Of business, and
the end is not yet Not only was that
road tied up today but there is no tell
ing when the trains will be able to run.
The same state of affairs prevails on
the other southern roads. The streams
are still rising and rains continue to fall
today.
Belated news is just now beginning
to arrive regarding the loss of life. -Four
people We're drowned near Meridian and
two near Hattiesburg, Miss. In the vi
cinity of Enterprise, Miss, the waters
| of the ChickasaWha are raging. The
water is five feet deep in the main
| streets and throughout last night cries
| for assistance filed the air. The loss of
/ life If any could not be ascertained-
The three bridges between East and
| West Enterprise have been swept away
| The Enterprise Acadamy, a building
| Which was the pride of the town is
| swept away A number of buildings
| were also demolished.
Shubuta and Desoto. Miss. are COM
| pletely Inundated.
THE floods have been worse than ever
before kneWn. and todaY's adzices may.
| bring additional news of disaster and
FLOAT OUT TO SEA.
New Orleans. April 2O.-Advices today
from Pearlington say Pearl river has
reached its highest mark since 1874. To-
| day the timber booms commenced
breaking up and thousands of dollars
| worth of timber has foated out to sea
| All business on the river is a a stand
still The water has reached the first
! floors of all stores along the river. All
the steamboats, are lying at their
| wharves with steam up in case of en-
| ergencies. Traffic of all kinds is sus-
pended and the water is still rising EV-
| cry bridge from Pearlington to Log
lONU mas D66n swept away Ine wafer
| in the public roads is deep enough to
swim a horse. People living on the
| Louisiana side have been forced to
| abandon their homes and fee to the
| Mississippi side for safety Hundreds
| of head of cattle and hogs have been
! drowned. Deer and other game are
! swimming across the river al every
! available point All farms and gardens
| will have to be replantei
PEARL RIVER SIX MILES WIDE
jackson, Miss, April 20.-The flood
! situation during the past "a hours has
| shown improvement Railroad traffic is
still badly crippled by washouts and
| missing bridges. The passenger schedule
| of the Illinois Central was suspended to-
| day on account of track trouble south
| of Jackson and no trains will go through
/ before evening" a heavy rain fell last
| night and large section of the southern
| part of Jackson has been flooded by the
backwater of Town creek. Families have
| been compelled to move from their
! homes. To the east of this city Pearl
river is six miles wide. The stage of the
river is the highest ever known and the
| water continues to rise rapidly
A DAM BREAKS
Meridian. Miss April 2O.-The flood
situation in the country eighteen miles
south of Meridian is growing worse with
every report. The town of Hickory on
the Alabama & Vicksburg railroad is
| iR a distressing condition The town is
completely surrounded and water
rising, the result Of heavy rainfall last
night.
The town of Enterprise on the NJ & o.
railroad and surrounding country Z
devastated. The Wanita cotton min
dam, six miles above the town. enclOs-
ing ten acres of water. broke last night
and many buildings were swept away.
In the Chunk river swamp a number OF
lives are reported to have been lost
The resumption of traffic in this section
, is indefinite A two foot rise in the
waters around Meridian was noted this
morning.