The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-03-27
FROM ARKANSAS.
Lnrora- Ark.. Mar. q. 1908.

Luxora. Ark. Mar. 81, 1903.
/ EaitOr Herald -
The river began falling little yes
terday, and this morning there was
a fall of three or four inches. wnich
has served TO dispel our fears aud
make US all feel little more at ease
than twenty four hours ago.
/ trust that | will never again see
such CONSERVATION and fear as has been
felt by the inhabitants here all THIS
week.
Sunday when we visited the town
and rowed ont upon the turbulent
waters where l had three days De-
fore walked on dry lana. all was
good cheer and amusement seemingly
TO the great throng who viewed me
ocean. like stream ana watched with
interest the workmen as they steadlly
niled sack upon sack of dirt on top
of the levee, never thinking that
there was any danger of the water
looming over. until WEDNESDAY when
warned that it would be wise TO
seek refuge elsewhere. Some OF the
Inhabitants left AS soon as the water
came out, and at this time still more
left, but the larger portion SIN re-
manned.
Tuesday night the levee was covered
, with mass of humanity wading IN
mud mn TO their knees, working 10 save
, the country from the flood. AT times
those directing the work would almost
DESPAIR, but trusted that when morn
ing dawned they would be able 10
check the progress the tides had made
duriup the darkness. but 1t seemed
that some place they thought they had
, secrred would break out afresh anu
, give trouble, SO they decided to dig IN
D and find the cause, and found number
of trenches burrow ed out by moles or
rats. Here was a dangerous bus
mess, but they continued the work
with great heroism, digging to-
denth of tall mans shoulders
and dipped the water out as
it ran IN, checking first, with empty
sacks and hay. then with sacks OF DIRT
. until the earth was sold. Severai
L such places have since been found ana
o repaired still it seemed that all labor
;, had been IN vain Thursday and many
II women who had refused to leave their
9 homes hurried on board the Robert
Lee. gazing with sad hearts as they
u thought, upon their pretty homes, FOL
: the last time, and bidding farewell 10
husbands and sons who fingered 70
: help conquer the raging waters ana
" protect their possessions as pest IneF
could. Such awful suspense as nas
been experienced here was almost--'o
- distraction.
> While those of us in the country were
: not expecting the water tc carry us
I away. we were expecting the entire
! farms TO be deluged and it was almost
:. az distressing to know that others
]. wouId suffer as ourselves. About one
! mile in front of us and below Luxora
: the levee was threatened by levee cut
\ ters. according to report, and we were
+ in awe from the prospect OF vlotenc'
: being done some of the guards there
!. where two of our own sons were OF
:; sduty. Only one night were there any
Z snsnicious characters seen IN ina
!. vicinity and they received such no
( recention from several Winchester
). that they never returned.
~ We hear that the levee has broker
in two places this side of Memphis
= and while we are not entirely out Q
DANGER vat, we are mole hopeful OF tn
water running off very fast by anothe
day and night. We hear that destruc
er tion TO property in those sections VII
amount to millions of dollars. whlc
strengthens my 1elief that the leve
system is all wrong; for while the
hold with a wonderful tenaclty j
r. some places, where they do break the
OF carry death and destruction In thei
OF path and if there were no levees TN
no people would all prepare for mig
ne water when the river begins TO rls
In and would not suffer much. Ii I'll
10 government would expend the sam
r. amount of money in cutting calals ! !
v. drain this country, tnat II does
~ Isl build the levees, we would nave
en- overfows; not in many places an
ed wav and every man who builds ough
ks to he compelled to throw up noun
% for his houses and barns, and wate
wonld then never reach them. Bt
at the water has beer held within ID
lat iavees until the sediment that woul
vel have been left on the land. has settie
mt an the river be0 and continued 10 Ill
air mn until now our levees will have
a be- built higher and stronger each yeal
is The trains can not run farther ina
NE baskerville, as the railroads oeio
Ear there have all been inundated M
* Wiggs, civil engineer, relates man
mt thrilling incidents witnessed by nj!
III as he came up, ore OF whlcn L WI
FOR here repeat. Off one of the islant
or this side of Memphis man Can
ne along side the boat in his sklf an
'oo begged the captain of the boat to
we with him and take his thirty mules
AN hoard from off the scatfolding whlt
Inc he had provided for them, as II w
Ne getting very weak but the capita
10 10 did not go, and in less tnan two hour
u.s. the structure gave way ana drown'
'p, all the mules | do not know put su
emu pose it was too dangerous an unoerta
one . rs % k,nd and help the distress'
as much as ls in their power.
. RIPPING WAVES.
III March 23rd-The above was wrltt
IL, C...a,r hut failed TO get O