The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-28
POURS THROUGH LEVEE
THAT WAS PROBABLY CUT.
Crevasse Has Caused Alarm For
Fertile Fields.

New Orleans, March 27-Interest in
the flood situation here to-day conferred
in the break at Hymelia, near Lucy,
La, forty miles above the city, and
the disastrous crevasse reported south
of Greenville.
Cotton men felt especial concern with
respect to the latter and the announce
ment in private dispatches, which were
circulated on the floor of the Cotton
Exchange that 100000 acres of the rich
est delta land would probably go under
water, created a feeling of depression.
While this break will doubtless cause
a decline in the river in the vicinity
of GreenVille, and for a considerable
distance south, relieving the strain of
the Louisiana levees in the Fifth dis
trct, it is also unfortunate in that the
water which goes through must newt
ably return to the Mississippi through
the Yazoo, thus prolonging the period
of high water south of that point.
The days developments at HWnelia
gave much encouragement. Through
the cooperation of the La Fourche
levee boards, the railroads affected, the
government engineers and the planters,
large quantities af material and forces
of men were got to the scene soon
after daylight. Under experienced
crevassee fighters, 700 laborers were
put to work early in the forenoon and
a line of cribbing begun from either
side of the break.
To-night's advices were to the effect
that all the cribbing that had been
driven during the day was holding, ow-
ing to the excellent batture, and that
if the work is not retarded by wind
and rain, sacking is likely to begin
tomorrow, and the break be closed by
Sunday. The upper end 'of the break
is holding, and the wash from the
lower end is slow. The width of the
crevasse is between $50 and 200 feet.
large area of land is already sub
merged, but if the efforts of the forces
at work are successful, the water will
quickly drain of. The crevasse is in
the heart of one of the richest sugar
districts of Louisiana.
1t is expected at the Illinois Cen
trail office that through traffic over
the Mississippi Valley Railroad will
be suspended as a result OF the disas-
ter south of Greenville.
The belief that the Hymelia Ievee
was cut in order to relieve other sec
tons is strong. 1t has resulted in
increased vigilance along the levees
in both the La Fourche and Ponc-
tartrain districts, and any attempt to
to be followed by blookshed If the per-
petrators are caught. The river has
fallen considerably in the immediate
vicinity of Hymelia, and the strain has
been materially lessened on the levees
on the east bank of the river.
The effect here, however, is only
slightly appreciable. Weather Observ-
err Cline, however, expects a decline by
morning If the volume of water going
through at Hymelia is as large as re-
ported. At one time to-day the gauge
marked as high as 20.5, but tonight
the river had gone back to 20.2, net
decline of one-tenth from yesterday
The Weather Bureau expects the up
ward movement to be resumed IL the
work at Hymelia Is successful. and
under these circumstances sticks to it's
predictions OF n feet.
The New Orleans levee board con-
tinues "A patrol Of the local front. The
work Of strengthening moves forward
without abatement.