The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-19
PASSENGERS
WATERBOUND.
Train Can Neither Advance
Nor Return to Memphis.
NO IMPROvEM in FL GOD :'']'l,'
Traffic from Memphis West Completely
Tied Up and Week May Pass Before
II Can Be Recommendations S3
still Rising. 5&
thy ASSOCIATE ted Press

.i fsF5 Thy Associated prcss0
MEMPHIS, TENN, March 1S.-The
Hood situation tonight shows a number
u of serious Developments and there is
scarcely n ray Of hope for improved cor
dltions, except the fact that tributaries
OF the Mississippi to the north OF Menu
phs arc reported to be falling One
Of tho most serious developments OF the
last twcnty.four hours is tho washing
out g,of ali lines OF railroads entering
the city. from the west ana the complete
tying up Of railroad traffic through tho
Memphis gateway to that section There
have been no trains into ortout d: the
city over the mississippi bridge. and
not be resumed until the flood hasSsub-
sided to q considerable degree. n 49,
~ 1t is believed that a week may spass
before traffic can (. be resumed 80 sud-
denlygdid the rise como in the sscctionyof
Arkansas across the river from Mems.
phis after the st. Francis lcvee broke ut
Trlces Landing, that two tks passenger
points. are now surrounded by water on
blind tracks IN the overlooked territory
about three miles west OF Bridge juno
tlon. Ark. &5 Aboard these trains we're
about seventy-fve passengers and crews.
with no Immediate prospect Of beng
taken or. They are In no danger! The
breaks occurred shortly after 0 O'clock
last night. Just as the north bound trains
on the Cotton Belt left Memphis. The
Cotton Belt train had proceeded but y
! Eew miles when 1T encountered "a section
Of flooded track. In attempting to cross
The rails spread, and the engine was par
tally derailed, preventing the train from
moving In either direction. Willis In
this position the Frisco fast from Kan
sas city, passenger train approached
from Memphis, and with It's assistance
the Cotton Belt engine was pulled BACK
on the track n
SGSf, q. 'Sl,5i. ALL CUT OFF. .3t
n In the meantime serious washout
had occurred between the trains and
Memphis. and retreat to the city was
completely cut on. All night the pas
sengers were compelled to remain in the
coaches while the water rose on every
side. and this morning there was not
particle OF land In sight within q mile OF
their position The trains are on the track
OF the Iron Mountain, near Altman, Ark.
Before them arc wushed cut tracks. and
on this side the foundation has been car
rled away until passage Is unsafe IN the
extreme. BY taking risks. several hand
cars succeeded In reaching the water
hound trains to-day. and about fifty pas
Eengers were brought TO this city over
submerged and shaking tracks. The re-
mainder refused to attempt the rerdrn.9
and are housed In the ches. rs lfj
The river here tonight shows 1913 feet
on the gauge, the highest stage ever re-
corded. and n rise OF two-tenths since
last night. The river Is about stationary,
and It Is possible that fall may set In
any moment. but this prediction would
be extremely uncertain, as the drainage
from the river at lTrlce's Landing has
been something enormous. and the wa tor
continues to pour through tho break ut
rapid rate. The water beside the levees
n the flooded portion Of Arkansas Is
within almost foot OF the height Of
the wa ter on the river side. and when
Z this foot rise has been completed the Mis-
sissIppi River may show n further rise,
# ss GROWING WORSE. 3sft 4
The situation In this flooded area Is
growing worse with each hour. and 1t
is evident that general rise of q foot
moro must occur over Z the entire sub
merged area unless n very material fall
takes place in the river before the break
mt Tricc's Landing can let through this
volume OF water alone without tho as.
sistance of other crevasses, which may
pccur. H;r7=f
Some persons were rescued from Mar
IpIlp fhI Wy anu VIC
situation there Is somewhat relieved.
Eight white families and about twenty
negroes remain there In the second-story
Of their houses All day the city has been
nlled by travellers. who have been de-
)ayed by tho washouts west, OF the river.
TO relieve this congestion the railroads
have been working hard, and tonight
relief is in sight.
In the city there Is practically 20
change. The refugees continue to tSar-
rive In large numbers. The flooded
portion OF the city has grown consider
ably with the advance Of the river to-
day.
The river at this point continues stn-
itionary.s although sixteen mile wind
Is blowing the. wrong way and banked
up $40 moro at one time. AS the river
Is not going down and rs the Memphis
rise Is on tho way the Weather Bureau
has good grounds for ndherlng to Its
prediction of p feet. The highest pre-
sVioun record was In 1897, and was 1873 AS
10 the city there Ii no alarm because
Tho already high banks have been rein.
Forced and tho llne-is kept In good shape.
30 far travel In and out OF the city Is
uninterrupted.
The crevasse fifty miles below the
city, while affecting small territory
because OF proximity to the Gulf is like.
~ to prove costly as. 1t will damage
vast oyster fields Tonight closes with
little change In the situation and hops
as bright as ever,