The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-19
All Traffic Around Memphis Is Suspended and People
 Are Suffering
PASSENGER TRAINS ARE
 SURROUNDED BY WATER
Some of Those on Board Are Rescued With Hand Cars, But Others Must Remain-GIoomy Reports
 Come From vlcksbura.

Memphis, March 1S.-The flood situation tonight shows a number of new and seri- Dus developments and there is scarcely ray of hope for improved conditions yet, except the fact that the tributaries of the Mississippi to the north of Memphis are reported to be falling. One of the most serious developments of the last twenty-four hours Is the washing out of all lines of railroads entering the city from the west and the complete tying up of railroad traffic through the Memphis gateway to that section. There have been no trains either into or out of the city today over the Memphis bridge, and there 2 is every indication that traffic cannot be resumed until the flood has subsided to a considerable degree, so that the tracks are uncovered and may be repaired where they have been destroyed All efforts to- day to repair the breaks have proven of no avail, and although the work trains of the railroads are making strenuous efforts to repair the washed out lines. it is believed that several days, and prob ably week, may pass before traffic can be resumed.
 So suddenly did the rise come in the section of Arkansas across the river from Memphis after the St. Francis levee broke at Trices landing, that two passenger trains were caught between washed out points. and are now surrounded by water on blind tracks in the overfiowed terri tory. about three miles west of Bridge Junction, Ark.
 Passengers on Board.
 Aboard these trains were about seventy five passengers and crew each, and to- night over 100 of these persons remain on the trains with no prospect of being taken off until tomorrow or later. How ever, they are not considered to be in any danger, and those who have returned from the trains report that the other passengers are being well cared for.
 The breaks occurred shortly after g o'clock last night, just after west-bound trains on the Cotton Belt and Frisco had left Memphis The Cotton Belt train left at g o'clock and had proceeded but few miles when 1t encountered section of flooded track In attempting to cross, the rails spread and the engine was par tially derailed, preventing the train from moving in either direction.
 While in this condition, the Frisco fast Kansas City passenger train approached from Memphis, and with It's assistance the Cotton Belt engine was pulled back on the track. In the meantime, serious washout had occurred between the trains and Memphis, and retreat to this city was completely cut off. All night the pas sengers were compelled to remain in the coaches while the water rose on every
 
 particle of lard in sight within a mile of their position.
 Hand Cars Reach Them.
 The trains are on the track of the Iron Mountain, near Altman Ark. Before them are washed out tracks and on this side the foundation has been carried away until passage is unsafe in the ex- treme By taking risks, several handcars succeeded in reaching the water bound trains today, and about fifty passengers were brought to this city over submerged and shaking tracks. The remainder fused to attempt to return and are housed in the coaches, being fed by the railroad companies. Attached to the Frisco train Is dining car and additional supplies were sent to them today on the hand cars.
 The river here tonight shows 39.S feet on the gauge, the highest stage ever  last night.
 The river Is about stationary and 1t is possible that a fall may set in any mo- ment. But this prediction would be eX- tremely uncertain, as the drainage from the river by the break at Trices Landing has been something enormous and the water continues to pour through the break at rapid rate. The water behind the levees in the flooded portion of the Arkan- sal side is within almost foot of the height of the water on the river side, and when this foot rise has been completed, the Mississippi may show a further rise. The rise at Memphis in the face of the break and while millions of barrels of water were being drained into the immed- fate territory which has been flooded, was almost at the rate of an inch an hour This fact has set all past per- formances at naught and shows that the river is capable of vagaries that had never been dreamed of from it's former floods.
 Situation Grows Worse.
 The situation in this flooded area is growing worse with each hour, and 1t is evident that a general rise of a foot more must occur over the entire submerged area unless a very material fall takes nlace in the river before the gap at Trice's can let through the volume of water alone or with the assistance of other crevasses which may occur An ef- fort was made today to send a steamboat and barges through the gap for the res- cue of persons and live stock in that dis trict by President Killougi1 of the St. Francis levee board
 On the way up the river the steamer was disabled, and it returned to Memphis for repairs. A second effort will be made tomorrow, and it is thought 1t will be suc- cessful, although 1t is sure to be at- tended by considerable danger to those in charge of the boat
 Some persons who were rescued from Marion, Ark. by means of skiffs and the situation there Is somewhat relieved Eight white families and fully 200 negroes remain there in the second stories of buildings. Over a thousand head of live stock has been gathered at the village. The city all day has been filled with travellers, who have been delayed on &C., count of the washouts west of the river. To relieve this congestion has been the