The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-02
CRISIS WILL COME
 IN ANOTHER DAY
Heroic Efforts May Save the
 Sugar Plantations.
CREVASSE NEARLY CLOSED
Laborers From All Parts of Louisiana Being Sent to Assist in the Work at HymeIia and the Effort
 May Succeed.

New Orleans, April 1.-The crisis at the Hymella crevasse will come in the next twenty-four hours with the joining of the ends of the two wings of the crib, now steadily approaching each other. All day long the work went forward without mishap Firm bottom for the stakes has been found in the batture, and the labor CTS are working in water now not over eight feet deep. Stacking to strengthen the cribbing is in progress, and Is reduc- ing the volume of discharge into the country back of the broken levee. Natur- ally as the extension of the eribbing mar rows the body of water, it's current in- creases and adds to the pressure upon the ends of the crib work, but there was an altogether hopeful feeling prevailing as night fell that tomorrow would wit ness the passing of the most critical stage of the task, though it will take perhaps a week to make the work perfectly se- cure.
 The prospect of success has had the ef- feet of largely adding to the number of hands available for duty in filling sacks and driving scantlings Planters as far away as the LaFourche are shipping men to the scene, and Senator Brady said tonight that 1t was likely that all the help that could be employed would be within call from now to the end of the undertaking.
 Southern Pacific Sends Force.
 The Southern Pacific. which has not heretofore taken a hand, sent force of experienced crevasse fighters to aid in the struggle, and pile drivers were supplied from the city. The water covering the plantations in the vicinity Of the break was reported to have fallen several inches, indicating that the cribbing and saclSing had materially reduced the flow through the break.
 No depressing news reached here today from other sections of the Louisiana line. Unremftting labor is maintaining the em- bankments on both sides of the river. Advices from the fifth district say that preparations are going forward there to meet the return wave from the Yazoo re- sulting from the Lagrange break. If there are no further breaks in Missis- sippi, 1t is believed these levees can handle all the water that is expected against them.
 The river here today continued prac- tically stationary at 20.1. How much ef- feet the closing of Hymelia will have no one ventures to predict. On the west bank the preparations that were started for the construction of back levees are temporarily in abeyance until the result at Hymelia Is known. Even if the ef- fort fails there is still ample time in which to throw up these temporary em- bankments before backwater appears.
 Situation at GreenvilIe.
 Greenville, Miss, April 1.-Theye is a slight change in the flood situation to- night. Conditions are generally improv- ing and encouraging reports are coming from every direction. The levee board considers that the danger is over with reference to the Mississippi entertainments The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley train for the north did not depart tonight. 9 part of the track being impossible.