The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-21
MORE BREAKS OCCUR
LEVEES CANNOT WITHSTAND THE
MIGHTY PRESSURE.
WATERS RUSHING THROUGH
TO INUNDATE Low COUNTRY OF
ARKANSAS.

Lands OF mississippi Are Thrent-
ened-RaiIrOad situation Is Not
ImprOVed-NegrOes Leave PIantR-
tiOns and Labor Can Not BE Had.
Reports From River Towns.
Memphis. Tenn, March 2O.-The feel
ing of hope that was produced yester-
day and last night by the Mississippi
river coming to q stand at this point,
with 401 feet on the gauge was dis
PEELED to-day by the occurrence of two
additional breaks in the st. Francis
leVees north of the first crevasse at
Trice's Landing, Ark, and the grave
reports that are being received from
Mississippi points, as well by rise of
one-tenth here.
To-day the ST. Francis levees gave
way at Random Shot and Shawnee VIII
lage, Ark, the first about forty-two
miles from Memphis. and the second
about thirty-five miles. Both crevasses
are reported to be serious, the one at
Shawnee being the worst of the three.
The two breaks to-day will probably
slightly increase the water in the ter
ritory of Arkansas which was flooded
by the break at Trices, and in addi-
ton they are flooding a vast scope of
country, which has thus far been free
from any considerable amount of wa
ter. The situation. therefore. in Ar
kansas is much complicated, and made
more grave than at any time during
the flood.
Just what will be the extent of the
damage and suffering will not be
known for several days, and the ca
lamities have come so thick and fast
that relief measures have been, and
must be for several days, completely
inadequate.
May Damage Rich Lands.
The long line of levees that guard
the river front of Mississippi and pro-
tect the vast and fertile delta region
of that state, and which have thus
far stood firm against the great flood,
are reported to be in a critical con-
dition at many points, and news of
disasters from that country will not
be surprising. At some points the
water is slipping through the en-
bankments, flooding villages and plan
tations. At other places the embank-
nent is over-topped by the flood and
enormous quantities of water are be-
ing discharged into the country be-
hind the earthworks.
The most encouraging feature to-
night is the fact that the river here
has remained stationary all day, and
that a falling stage is reported from
ST. Louis, Cairo and other points on
the Mississippi and its tributaries.
The stake this morning was 401 feet,
a rise of 4 in twelve hours. The stage
has not changed during the day. This
is the greatest ever recorded and sets
a new maximum. 1t is hoped that the
fall will begin tonight or tomorrow.
The two new breaks on the Arkansas
shore are thought to be having a con-
siderable influence on the stage, and
the water being discharged though
them and the first cravasse could cas-
lily hold the river in check here, and
for this reason the standing stage is
not received with the satisfaction that
it would otherwise give.
Are Many Refugees
Refugees are continuing to arrive
in great numbers, and the facilities are
too limited to care for them. In re-
Spouse to a telegram asking for aid
from Mayor Williams of this city, Sec
rotary of War Root has answered that
he will supply all needed tents, as we'll
as provisions for the food sufferers.
This offer will be accepted and will be
of great assistance to the authorities
in handling the proposition for caring
for the needy. These tents will be
pitched on vacant lots and commits
saries will be established so that all
the destitute may be cared for.
Secretary Root was authorized to-
day by the cabinet to give the aid
sought, and the prompt action of the
Secretary and the cabinet has given
the greatest satisfaction to the people
of the city, as well as to those of the
surrounding territory who have been
attempting to cope with the grave sit
uation that confronts them.
Out of the refugee situation there is
growing a great hardship on the city
and the planters of the regions that
are not as yet flooded. From the pro-
tected sections able-bodied negro men
and their entire families are coming
to the city in large numbers, ostensibly
as flood refugees. but 1t is claimed
their real purpose is to escape work
and be cared for by the city and char
liable organizations. This is not only
increasing the city's burden, but is
working great hardship upon the
planters, as they cannot secure la
borers, who are so badly needed Just
at present There is practically no
way to set apart the imposters from
the genuine and destitute refugees,
and there seems no way of relief from
the imposition.
No Trains From the West.
The railroad situation west of Mem
phis shows no Improvement, although
the various systems that have had
their tracks washed away by the flood
are making strenuous efforts and are
sparing no money to open their tracks.
1t is reported tonight that traffic is
still completely suspended and that no
predictions of the time of relief can
yet be made. The two crevasses of to-
day may tend TO complicate the sltua-
ton, and 1t Is highly probable that this
new pouring in of water will destroy
tracks at other points in Arkansas to
the west of the present gaps.
BY roundabout ways the railroads
are carrying westbound passengers to
their destinations.
In the city the situation is about the
same. Much Of the manufacturing dis
trict Is still flooded. and in the resi-
dence portion there Is much suffering.
Developments to-day tend 10 show that
the reports from Marion, Ark, last
night were somewhat exaggerated.
The levee was not dynamited to-day
and no relief boat has been sent 10