The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-23
WRECK OF A BIG BRIDGE
l.. & N. SUFFERS A HEAVY Loss IN
LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
The Flood situation Shows Improve
ment at Many Points, but Heavy
Rains Are Again Falling.

NEW ORLEANS, April Especial dis
patches received here tonight report heavy
and general rains throughout the greater
norton of Texas, Louisiana and Mississip-
pi. Two spans of the big Louisville & Nash
Vile steel bridge, at West Pascagoula,
Miss, were forced ten feet out of place to-
day by floating logs coming down the river.
The passenger service is badly crippled and
passengers and mails are being transferred
in boats. The freight traffic is entirely sus-
pended. This is on the direct line of travel
between New Orleans and the North and
East, and traffic is always heavy. The Pas
cagoula river, which the bridge crosses, be-
tween West Pascagoula and Scranton. has
been rising very rapidly the past few days
and many log booms, broken away from
their mornings up the country, have been
carried down stream. Last night, fearing
for the safety of the bridge, the Louisville
& Nashville officials run long train OF
freight cars on to the bridge. in an attempt
to weigh 1T down, but the pressure was too
great and to-day when the flow of logs
was heavier than for some time two spans
of the steel structure were moved ten feet
out of place. The water continues to carry
hundreds of logs down stream and the
spans may be forced completely off before
morning. Pascagoula river, at the point
where the bridge crosses, is now ten miles
in width, the entire distance being ira
versed by the bridge and its approaches.
The loss of the bridge at this time Is seri-
Gus, the Illinois Central and Northeast
ern have been utilizing the Louisville *
Nashville to get out their freight until they
get their roads in shape. Gen. Russell A
Alger and most of the delegates to B'nai
Birth convention here were caught be-
tween the break and Mobile.
Northern Louisiana points report anoth-
er heavy rainstorm tonight. The railroad
tracks are washed out at a number of
points and the loss to strawberry and vege-
| table gardeners on account Of lack of ship
ping facilities will be heavy.
A Dallas (Tex.) dispatch says rains have
| fallen all over Texas to-day, extending to
Texarkana on the north and San Antonio
on the south At San Antonio the rain fell
| In torrents for three hours, and the streets
were like rivers. severe windstorm pre-
vailed this evening in northeastern Texas,
| doing much damage in the vicinity Of Mar
shall.
At Noble the Mobile & Ohio officials re-
port that the work of getting their road I'm
shape is disappointing. Bridges have been
washed away, and at Quitman a mile and
| half of the track Is of the embankment
and in the woods. The water is falling I'm
many places, but much of the roadbed is
still covered with water. Repairs cannot
| be completed before next Thursday or Fri
day
| Jackson, Miss, reports that the session
| of the Circuit Court which was to have
convened tomorrow at Hattiesburg has
| been postponed on account of the high
water surrounding that place. At 10 o'clock
| tonight the water at Scranton and Pas
| cagoula, Miss, is rising rapidly, and the
| situation is serious.