Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-03-19

Francis leyee gave way late yester-
day afternoon at Trice's Landing,
Ark, 20 miles north of the city, and
last night the waters of the Missis-
sippi river were rushing through a
three-quarter. mile creyasse in the
embankment with roar that could
be heard for miles. This is the first
break that had been made in the Vi
cinity of Memphis, but the water is
still rising at rapid rate and three
other points on the Arkansas levee
north of Memphis are in precarious
condition.
Sunday night the water was on a
level with the crest Of the levee at
Holly Bush and the rise yesterday
carried 1t over foot higher, sweep
ing away the temporary embank-
ments at Trice's and tearing the
levee itself from its foundation,
giving a new channel for the food.
The break was Of such extent that
the engineers realized the hopeless
ness of attempting to repair the
break and it was abandoned after
| the side of the crevasse had been
revited with sand sacks and stones
to prevent further cutting away Of
the embankment. The situation in
the meantime had become critical at
other points and last night 1t was
considered doubtful it these places
| can be held in the face of the rising
flood.
At Pecan Point, Fogleam's Land
| ing, the food is abreast of the crown
of the levees and hundreds Of men
at each place are working by lantern
light to save the day. So rapid is
the advance of the river that reports
from these positions are awaited
with dread and 1t will be no surprise
IL crcvasse has developed at each
before tonight.
The engineers of the levee board
say that the damage from the break
at Holly Bush will not be as serious
as would have been the case had the
crevasse occurred at any other point
on the embanl1ment. From this point
a draw leads into the St. Francis river
through several bayous and lakes
and this will hold the water to a
great extent and prevent its spread
ing out. But even under this favor
able condition there will be con-
siderable damage in Crittenden coun-
ty, Ark, from the break.
The break above will not tend to
relieve the situation below Memphis,
as the water will flow back into the
Mississippi through the st. Francis
and It is feared that several serious
breaks may occur ON both the Arkan-
sas and Mississippi sides before the
week is ended.
In the city the situation is the
worst that so far has been reached.
In North and South Memphis many
homes and business houses have
been flooded. Street car traffic
practically has been suspended in
North Memphis. The tracks of the
Illinois Central along Wolf river are
under water.
Appeals are pouring into the city
from all directions for aid by those
who have taken refuge on high points
along the river and who are now sur
rounded by the water. All local
packets have gone strictly into the
rescue business, but their capacity
40 vserUaSsu ana casv ar r'sS!A -
respond to an demands that are re-
ceived. All day cargoes Of refugees
and their property have been dis
charged at the wharf here and last
night there were several hundred
destitute persons in the city, who
are being cared for by charity. l.
The Bougere Lsvee Breaks.
Natchez, Miss, March 1.-THE Is
foot embankment of the Texas and
Pacific at Bougere, 80 miles below
vidalia, broke Sunday and q gap two
miles in length was cut by the river
In few hours. This gap was fol-
lowed by a break in the lower
Bougere which Tapped the railroad
on the south end, and
the water is running into and filing
Bougere swamp. The first news Of
this break was brought to the city
by the local mail packet Betsy Ann,
which arrived from Bayou Sara yes
terday afternoon. The railroad en-
banlment had base Of 100 feet and
was built last year. II connected the
upper and lower Bougere levees, and
Il had been feared It would give way
since the protection levee washed
out last week. The ends of the break
will be sacked to prevent further