The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-20
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Memphis, Tenn, March 19.-It is be- Heved tonight that the crest of the Mis- sissippi River flood has reached Memphis, and that fall will begin in less than twenty-four hours. However, the condi- tions that exist above Memphis with the gap in the levee at Trice's Landing, make 1t a most difficult and uncertain matter to forecast what is likely to oc- cur in the flood situation. The gauge to- night shows forty feet and stationary, rise of two-tenths in twenty-four hours.
 While the crevasse has not widened to any appreciable extent, the levee is over topped a short distance further to the north and the flooded Mississippi is dis charging much water at both this point and at the creVaSSe.
 A difference of between four and five feet exists in the height of the water or either side of the levee at the crevasse and the rush of water through the open ing Is terrific. The St. Francis levee board today made a second effort to send the tug Diana and a barge through the crevasse to assist in rescuing people and live stock from the flooded area in Ar kansas.
 The Plan Abandoned
 The Diana and the Government steamer Abbott went to the crevasse today with the purpose fully formed of sending the tug through In charge of Captain Fogle- man who had volunteered for the dan- gerous work. When the situation was carefully inspected the idea of putting the tug through the gap was abandoned as the fall is so great and the rush oi st tug could not safely pass through. About 100 yards west of the levee there is a belt of heavy timber and the current sweeps against the large trees with force sufficient to make them sway with vio- lenca This condition made 1t most prob able that the tug would be swept into the timber by the force of the current and be disabled or even overturned These and other unfavorable conditions make 1t impossible to ease the tug through with cables, as was contemplated and consequently the task has been aban- doned for the present at least.
 Today's reports from flooded Arkansas are more favorable and for this reason the failure of the passage through the crevasse of the relief tug was not taken with much disappointment. The Frisco Railroad succeeded in running a relief | train today to Marion from the west, but persons there declined to leave their homes, as they take the view that they are in no danger for the present. It it also reported that all live stock there is being well cared for and food is suffi' cient All passengers from the water bound trains across the river wert brought to the city today.
 No Repairs Made.
 No repairs have been made in th' washed out tracks and no forecast car be made as to when traffic may be re | stunned to the west.
 The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Rail road has resumed through operations oVe its own line to New Orleans from L4ak View. train having been put in service between this city and that point.
 There were no startling development in the flood conditions in the Memphis territory today and conditions are as sIlIning a more favorable attitude excep along the levees in Arkansas north O the break at Trice's Landing. Severa critical points exist in that section an' other breaks may occur. The territor! north of the break has suffered yet bu little from the overflow and abundan dry land still remains there. A breal would. however, cause much suffering and loss of property.