The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-16
River Has Passed the 38-FOOt
Mark at Memphis and
Still Rising
NOTHING BUT MIRACLE
CAN SAVE THE LOWLANOS
At New Orleans Bright Sunshine
Causes Engineers to Have More
Hope and Believe Situation
Can be Controlled.

Memphis, March 15.-The flood situation
between Caruthersville, Mo-, and Baton
Rauge, La. is serious tonight. The river
is rising rapidly and it will be little
short of marvellous if the levees hold the
great volume of rushing water. The
gauge at Memphis tonight marks 3S5
feet, a rise of IL feet since last night.
This is the highest water ever recorded
here and local Observer Emery of the
weather bureau said tonight that S91s
feet would be registered by Tuesday. and
those interested have been warned to
prepare for a stage of forty feet.
The situation in and around Memphis
is becoming more dangerous. Without
single exception the numerous lumber
plants In north Memphis have suspended
operations owing to the encroachment
of the waters At Fourth and Market
streets people are moving about in skiffs
and the street railway has annulled all
schedules in this part of the city. Three
of the Illinois Central tracks are under
water, north of Auction street, although
traffic has not been suspended on them,
but if the water continues to rise trou-
bic is expected there
Railroad Tracks Inundated.
At Ensley, six miles below Memphis,
6ye hundred feet of the Yazoo and Mis-
sissippi Valley tracks are inundated, but
they were "cribbed" over today, and
trains are running through.
The Choctaw railroad has suspended
operations between Hopefield and Wolf
The Memphis bridge.
dangerous place in the levee is re-
ported from Holly Bush, twenty miles
north of here. Engineers of the st. Fran
els levee board, with a steamboat, went
to the scene this afternoon. 1t was
found that the water was running over
the levee for distance OF six hundred
feet Men and material are being sent
there and strong fight is being made to
hold the embankment but 1t is believed
nv many that a break will occur in a day
or two. Refugees with hundreds of horses
and mules continue to arrive here on
every boat.
Thousands Of people lined the river
banks today watching the swift moving
current and several excursion steamers
carried many more up and down the river
SO a good view of the vast expan5e OF
water could be had.
At midnight the gauge registered 1871
feet.
Sunshine at Vicksburg.
yicksburg Miss, March 15.-The river
euage here this afternoon registers 1871,
a two-tenths rise since morning. Ioday
has been the first clear, sunshiney day
In two weeks, and with a cessation OF
the rains, there is a corresponding in
crease in the spirits of the dwellers be-
hind the leyees Late reports state that
all the embankments are holding on both
sides of the river in this section The
saw mill district in the suburb of Wal
tersville on the lake 'front.' Is threatened
bv back water and complete shut down
of all the plants will prooapiy result.
Refugees from the lowlands with cattle
and household goods continue to arrive
IN every sort of craft from a steamboat
to a homemade raft
Night trains on the Yazoo and Missis-
sinpi Valley railroad between Vicksourg
and New Orleans have been annuiled.
Rad condition of track below Baton Rouge
is given as the cause. Ira1nc on .he
north end between Memphis and Vicks-
burg has been entirely suspended owing
to the washing away of trestle at Lake
View.
Weak Place Found.
Natchez Miss March 15.-Captain
Harry S. Douglas of the United States en-
gineer corps has ordered 10000 feet OF
lumber 10000 sacks and a car load OF
wheelbarrows and shovels for use on the
levees between Vicksburg and Natchez
The government is furnishing the ma
terial but the local authorities must furn-
ish the labor.
A week place has been found in Con-
cordia Parish, La, eighteen miles below
Vidalia. The weather Is clear. The
guage is 47s or three feet above the dan
ger line. and rising.
New Orleans Confident.
New Orleans, March 15.-The gauge
here tonight reads little over 1873 which
is onIv two-tenths below the record of
1897, but the sudden change from stormy
weather to sunshine and brightness has
viven renewed hope all along the line.
saturday's terrific rain was test in
itself and not sign Of weakness was
aisnlayed With good weather more
workers have been enlisted and more
B work rushed, and even those who were
ready to surrender weak places to the
rivers rush have gained courage and say
INV volume of water can be met. week
100 II was thought there would surely be
crevasse at Arlington, short distance
below Baton Rouge. There had been
eave-in in the old levee ana a long new
evee was started in the rear. This was
II, process of construction when the high
water came The new Ievee was then
abandoned and a smaller new levee was
built around the cave proper. During
the terrific rains 1t was feared the work
could not be completed. but several thou
sand convicts and other laborers were
kept busy: the river was held back and
The task finished when the storm was at
It's height Saturday Governor Heard
made an inspection yesterday during the
rain and went there again today and is
,atisfied the danger is past.
In the city there is great rejoicing be-
,ause. even with the record rain of eight
inches on Saturday, no water from the
liver came over, and the entire line. rein
forced by rows of earth-flled sacks, Is
growing its efficiency. With good wealth.
tr the rivers defence will be so solidified
hat even the highest water on record
I will be handled in safety.
4 Ohio Falling at Evansville.
Evansville, Ind, March 15.-The Ohio