Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-20
IS NOT YET PASSED
Weather Bureau Warns the People to Take
Every Preosution,
WATER IS VERY HIGH At MEMPHIS
situation IL Now Reported Grave In
Arkansns and Levecs nag he arr
ried Awny Any Moment
by the FLOOD.

WASHINGTON, March t9.-The weather
bureau this mornign gave out the following
weather bulletin:
The stage OF water this morning at Mem
phis is 30 feet. a rise since Wednesday
morning Of O4 foot. This rise was probably
due to overflow water from the Arkansas
side, as the Mississippi has fallen above
Memphis.
While a further slight rise is possible, the
decline may begin at any time. 1t is i'm
possible to estimate the amount of water
yet to come from the west side.
The situation continues critical below
Memphis, and forecasts previously made are
repeated, as more rain is expected tonight
and Friday.
Every precaution should be taken and
preparation continued for stages in excess
Of those OF 1897.
ROCK RAPIDS, Ia, March 19.-Rain has
been falling here since Monday. The low
lands are flooded and residents had to be
taken out in boats.
water Reaches Highest Stage.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March LIT is be-
lieved tonight that the crest Of tho Mis-
sissippi food has reached Memphis and that
a fall will begin within less than twenty
four hours. However, the conditions that
exist about Memphis with the gap In the
levee at Prices Landing, Ark, made 1t most
diflcult to forecast what is likely to occur.
The gauge tonight shows 40 feet and sta
tionary, a rise Of q in twenty-four hours.
The effects Of the food are being felt
more severely at Marion, Ark. There are
over 200 people there awaiting succor.
Relief boats left Memphis today in an
effort to reach the unfortunate little viii
lage. An attempt will be made to ease the
.---a L--.-I a. $1,000 IF Nha NwgA T.
successful it will not be necessary to cut
the levee.
A feet Of skifs was today sent to the
two passenger trains which are hemmed by
the waters on the Iron Mountain tracks.
three miles west Of Bridge Junction. and all
the imprisoned passengers we're brought
here.
Yesterday the Frisco officials sent
eighteen cars of rock to a break in their
! tracks. All OF this rock was dumped into
the break, but not a single stone appeared
above the surface OF the water.
The levee at Osceola, Ark. is reported in
a critical condition today. The waters are
soaking through and 0 break is imminent
at any hour. The situation at North Hell
ena, Ark, is reported grave. The levee has
, partially given away and mighty efforts are
being made to hold it against the rising
torrent. North Helena is separated from
the city Of Helena by Il strong embankment.
The railroads entering this city from the
west are completely tied up and the water
is rolling over their tracks.
Flood Fighters Playing Out.
vICKSBURG, Miss, March 19.-With all
previous high water marks already passed
at several points between Vicksburg and
Greenville and the crest Of the wave not
in sight, anxiety for the safety Tor the
, levees guarding tho Yazoo delta grows
greater. Several weak places have APP
peared on the entertainments along the Isa-
quena, BOLIVAR and Washington county
fronts, notably at Duvalls, Malones and
Moores landings, and grave fears are en-
tertained that the worst is yet to come.
The long strain is beginning to tell on
the flood fighters, a majority Of the en-
gineers and levee officers are on the point
Of collapse. being on duty almost con-
tinually for a week past.
The river here rose two-tenths today, the
gauge registering 49.7 tonight.
NATCHEz, Miss, March 19.-Betsy Ann
came in from Bayou Sara with another full
trip Of refugees and stock. It cleared as
quickly as possible to get another load.
The river is Abs feet above the danger
line and rising.
NEW ORLEANS, March 19.-The river
gauge tonight is 1875. one-tenth below the
previous highest record.
The river is going much higher, but the
levees in the city and most OF the banks
in the state are built and prepared for
several feet more of water, so that the en-
gineers still see no cause for uneasiness.
Advices froIl points between here and
Baton Rouge are to the effect that all weak
places have been strengthened and that
the whole system of levees is sustaining
the strain without deterioration.
LA CROSSE, Wis, March 19.-Continued
rains Of the past week have sweIled the