The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-26
ANXIETY LESSENS
 AS RIVER FALLS. Some Fears Felt for St. Francis Levees in Arkansas, BREAK NEAR VlCKSBURG Famous Farm Known as the Briers Is Flooded and Water Is Four or
 Five Feet Deep-The
 Delta Will Escape.
BREAK NEAR VlCKSBURG

Memphis. Tenn, March 25-The river tonight is falling at a fair rate, the gauge showing SS9 a falling of two tenths since 6 o'clock this morning. The situation is rapidly assuming normal pro- portions and all anxiety is practically over. Some uneasiness is stin felt for the St. Francis levees in Arkansas to the north of this city. but all news from that section is of a reassuring character
 No trains have yet succeeded in getting over the tracks few miles west of Bridge Junction. It is now thought pos sible that Memphis may remain cut off from the west for another day. The Iron Mountain announced last night that 1t would have an open track west this morning, and, in fact, train was made up and sent from the depot, but it was halted before the Mississippi river bridge was reached by a telegram saying that the tracks were not repaired sufficiently to allow a passage over the points that were damaged by tne flood.
 Levees Still Hold.
 Vicksburg, Miss March e.-Another day of fair weather combined with a diminished rate of rise in the river has raised high hopes in the hearts of the dwellers behind the Ievees While the danger is not yet past, it is now believed that the rich Yazoo delta will be spared the calamity of an overflow. The river here came to a standstill yesterday even ing at 514 and has remained stationary all day This is a foot lower than the 1897 record.
 The most serious feature just now is the danger that rail communication will be entirely severed. Fourteen miles north of the Yazoo bridge the Yazoo and Mis- sissippi Valley tracks are from a foot to IS inches under water with the tide stead fly rising General Manager Harahan went to the overflowed territory today but could sec no way out of the difficulty If train service is suspended it will mean much distress, as the people living in that territory will have no means of getting supplies.
 Big Plantation Flooded.
 Natehez, Miss, March 25.-A break in the private levee at the Briers one of the best plantations in the county, located about twenty-one miles below this city, flooded the place and it is now four to five feet under water. The Briers was projected by a large private ievee run ming all around the sides and as pro- lection from the rear, a levee was built through the place protecting the old ante belum residence the quarter houses, gin, stables and barns. This back levee broke this morning and a messenger was dis patched to Natehez for the steamer Jo seph to go down for the stock some one hundred head having been on the place. There are also five thousand sacks of cot ton seed on the ground under a shed and it Is feared all this will be lost.
 Adjoining plaa sations will not be af- fected by this break as they have been under water for almost two weeks.
 The Briers is one of the most famous plantations along the river as 1t was there that Jefferson Davis. president of the Confederacy, courted and married the wife who survived him, The place is now the property of MT. Frank D. Howe of Cairo
 Reports from Sycamore levee that it is sure to hold, continue to come, but no chances will be taken and large gangs of men are working on it night and day. The river here rose two-tenths in the twelve hours ending at 8 a. m.. since which time 1t has been stationary.
 On Stand at Monroe. Monroe, La, March 25.-A message was received here this afternoon by the Sec retary from President Barham of the Ten sas levee board. who has just completed | an inspection of the levee as far up as Arkansas City. saying:
 Rise here three-quarters of an inch | in twenty-four hours. River about on stand and the view is more hopeful of the levees holding. We have a large force of men and material on hand for emer- | gency."
 At New Orleans. l New Orleans, March 25.-At g o'clock tonight the river is stationary at 20.1 with no change anywhere as far as known on the lower Mississippi. The break near l Howells. on Bayou Lafourche has reliev- ed the tension against those levees and no other crevasses are likely there
 Mud Box Completed. | Baton Rouge, La. March Ex-Governor ! Heard, Col C, Harrison Parker and party returned from Arlington levee at 6:SO i o'clock this afternoon. The mud box has l been completed and planked throughout l and willow revetments, we'll sacked, have l been laid over It's length The situation