The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-21
MORE BREAKS
IN L.EVE,ES,
Most Serious Yet Occurred on
River Above Memphis.
s: / CROWS WORSE d
"a a 4 a
SITUATION GROWS WORSE.
New Maximum Recorded II Memphis.
Refugees Crowd'ng Into the
City Faster Than They Gan
Be Cared For ss

-. A..eai. "a n.asa

my Associated Prcss.)
A MEMPHIS. TENN, March 2o.-The
feeling Of hope that was produced yes
terday and last night by the Mississippi
River coming to stand at this point,
with 4o.1 feet on the gauge. was dis
PEELED to-day by tho occurrence OF two
additional breaks in tho 81. Francis
levees north OF the first crcvassc at
Trice's Landing, Ark, and tho grave
reports that arc being received from
mississippi as well as by rise Of one
tenth here.
& To-day tho 81. Francis levee gave way,
fat Random, Shot and Shawnee Village.
Ark. tho first about forty-ono miles
from Memphis and the second about
ported to be serious. the one at Shawnee
being the worst OF the three. The situa-
tion, therefore, In Arkansas IS much
complicated and made more grave than
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 calamitics have come 30
thick and fast thnt relief measures have
been and must be for several days. COM
pletely Inadequate. The long llnelo
ilevees that protect the, vast and fortile
delta region OF that State are reported
TO be in critical condition at many
points. At many places the water Is
sweeping through the embankmcnts.
flooding lands and villages. and In other
places the entertainments are overtopped
by the floods and enormous Quantities
OF water are being discharged into the
country behind the entertainments. The
most encouraging feature IS that the
river here has remained stationary all
day. 5 q
NEW MAXIMUM.
The stage this morning was 4o1. rise
OF Of IN twelve hours. The stage has, not
changed during the day. This Is the great
est recorded and sets n new maximum.
1T Is hoped that tho fall will begin to-
might or tomorrow The two < breaks
on the Arkansas shore are thought to- be
exerting great Influence on the flood.
ms large amount of water Is escaping
through them.
+ Refugees are crowding into Memphis
and the facilities are too limited to care
for them Secretary OF War Root has
answered to an appeal that he VIII do
what he can to give relief 10 the food
sufferers. Tho government Will issue
tents for the refugees These fonts Will
sary supplies will be issued to tho suffer
ers. so that they will not lack for neces-
sitiea. 81 III
Out OF the refugee situation there IS
growing a great hardship to the city and
TO the planters OF the regions that sare
not as yet flooded. From the protected
sections able bodied negroes and their
entire families are coming to the city
in large numbers. ostesIbly as flood
refugees but 1t is claimed their real pilr-
pose is to escape work and be cared
for by the city and charitable organiza-
lions. This Is not only increasing the
citys burden, but Is working gre,tn
hardship upon the planters as they CAM
not secure laborers who are 50 badly
needed Mt present, 35.44iz s.
RAILROAD SITUATION. Sst ii q,
Tho railroad situation west OF Mem
phis shows no improvement, and !, al
though 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 tinne Of relief can
yet be made. The two crevasses OF
today may tend to complicate the stu
alton. and til Is highly probable that
this new pouring In OF water will destroy
tracks at other points In Arkansas to
the west of tho present gaps.
BY roundabout ways the railways are
carrying wcst-bound passengers TO their
destIna tons.
In the city the situation is about the
same. Much OF the manufacturing dis
trict is still flooded, and In the residence
portion there is much suffering. Devel-
opments to-day tend to show tina the re-
ports from Marion last night were some
what exaggerated The levee was not