The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-13

Washington, March 1.-THE weather
bureau this afternoon issued the fol-
lowing special river bulletin:
From Cairo to Helena, conditions
have become slightly more threaten
crossing at an increased rate and
thirty-eight feet of water is expected st
Memphis by Sunday or Monday. a
stage of 80 feet is not improbable and
precautions should be made for that
stage. The White river has continued
to rise rapidly, while the Arkansas is
almost near flood stage, and the eff
fects of these waters will be felt in the
main river within a short time. Below
Helena the rise will continue steadily
and maximum stages will probably be
reached as follows:
Kansas City 81 feet, Greenville 46
feet; Vicksburg so feet.
The Mississippi below Vicksburg and
the Atchafalaya will continue to rise
for the next three or four weeks. while
the Red below Shreveport and the
Cuachita will continue to rise for sew
era1 days.
Memphis. Tenn, March 1.-THE Mis-
sissippi river is rising steadily at this
point, the gauge this morning marking
35.2 feet. This is a rise of f1ve-tenthS of
a foot in the past 81 hours. 1t is be-
IeYed that the river will reach a mark
of 3S feet at Memphis. Reports from
Mississippi and Arkansas today Indicate
that the gravest apprehensions pre-
walls regarding the flood. In some dis
the levees. All streams and rivers IN
Arkansas are oyer1owing. In North
Memphis the flood has already begun
encrOaching at certain points and il
will take but a few inches more Of wa
ter to render work impossible at many
of the lumber industries in that sec
ton of the city. At Greenlaw and
Second streets, the backwaters have
reached the latter thoroughfare. The
occupants of cabins there have been
compelled to flee to higher ground.
The steamer Georgia Lee arrived
from Cairo today and reports all land
ings to be in a bad condition. The
steamers officers says refugees from the
lOwlands are to be seen everywhere.
The government engineers have aug
mented their forces and the steamers
are carrying sacks of sand and other
supplies to the more dangerous places
in the leyee system.
strengthening the Leyees.
New Orleans, La, March 1.-THE
river is rising here very slowly. The
most unfaVorable condition at present
is the continuance of ii my weather.
This is having the effect of softening
ing for a return of sunshine. Six hun
dred men are at work today at various
points along the river front, packing
weak points and raising the line of en-
bankments. All the levees boards of
the state are practically in continuous
session and every foot of the leVee on
the river and on its tributaries is un-
der surveillance.
City Threatened With Destruction.
charlottesville. Mo-. March 11.-This
city, containing 1900 inhabitants is
threatened with destruction by the
food. An old 1evee which IS causing
apprehension alone stands between the
city and the swollen Mississippi. Gov
ernment engineers regard it as the most
critical flood point along the river. Four
hundred men under Engineer Fitzpatrick
are working desperately at building a
new leVee-
Land Covered With Water.
Evansville. Ind, March 1.-THE Ohio
river reached 424 feet this morning
with a further rise predicted. Several
shanty boats on the Wabash and Green
rivers have been crushed in the flood
and loss of life is feared. Farmers
about Mount Vernon have fled. taking
their household goods and live stock.
In the White river bottoms, as far as
the eye can see fields are covered with
water and thousands af acres are in
undated. Houses are vacant, the Oc-
cupants having been forced out by the
water. White river is still rising.
The Damage is Great.
Jackson, Miss, March 11.-At a special
meeting of the board of control today
a resolution was adopted ordering al.
available convicts to be placed at the
disposal of the Yazoo-M Mississippi levee
board. President Cutrer. today report
ed that levees are yet three feet above
the water, but that the danger is great.
as large volumes of water are expected
there by Saturday or Sunday. Grave
apprehension is felt. Pearl river con-
tinues to rise and has spread over the
sections adjacent to Jackson, but has
done little damage, except to delay
farm work.
Rains Weaken New Work.
Vicksburg, Miss. March IA con-