The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-18
Marion, Ark, Under Water, and One
Railway Compelled to Temporal
riIy Abandon Its Tracks.
THREE-MILE GAP AT BoUGERE
BREAK IN THE TEXAS & PACIFIC
ENHANCEMENT WIDENING.
No Crevasses Yet Reported I'm the
yicksburg District-NOrth Helena
in Imminent Danger.

MEMPHIS, March 1.-THE flood situation
In the portion of the Mississippi valley
contiguous to Memphis is extremely criti-
cal tonight and reports of loss Of life are
at hand. 1t was thought at first that the
break in the levee last night at Trice's land
ing would help matters by relieving the
pressure of the water and causing fall at
this point. Instead. the break has compli-
IN Arkansas across the Mississippi from
Memphis, and tonight a veritable sea ex-
lists In the st. Francis and Mississippi river
basins, extending from the one completely
to the other. a distance Of many miles.
From this territory call for help has gone
up from persons who have been surrounded
country. and thus far 1t has been an i'm
possibility to send them assistance. A few
floating bodies have been found at various
points by the rescuing boats. but the num-
Der has not yet been alarming.
Through the st. Francis territory the st.
Louis & San Francisco Railroad runs. but
that company to-day annulled all trains.
its tracks being under water near Marion.
Ark. At this latter point telegraph con-
nections still exist at Memphis. but the re-
ports are far from encouraging. The town
Is almost wholly flooded, and citizens are
using skiffs as their only means of travel.
Negroes and white persons from the ad-
jacent territory are pouring into Marion
every hour, asking that boat be sent to
rescue their families. There is no means
OF reaching them except by making a
break in the levee near Memphis. and this
may be done tomorrow IL conditions show
no Improvement Sheriff Williamson, of
Crittenden county. that in which Marion
Is situated. has gone to the village in a
skin and will report to President Killough,
of the St. Francis levee board, the true
conditions there.
II Is estimated that several hundred per-
sons are surrounded by the water in the
flooded Arkansas territory and that the
amount OF live stock lost is heavy In the
extreme. Small skifs cannot begin to
rescue the citizens and II seems that IL will
be imperative to send a steamboat of some
character TO their aid.
Negroes at Marion have given way to
fright and almost a panic exists. They
have congregated at the depot and in the
cabins OF the village and refuse to work.
relief train, the last that reached the
village, arrived early this morning with
5000 sacks to be used in damming back the
water. but labor cannot be secured to un-
load the train.
Choctaw railroad are still open and no
trouble has been experienced. The Frisco is
detouring it's trains over the tracks of the
former system. There seems to be every
indication that all predictions of the stage
at this point will be surpassed as the river
IS again rising slowly tonight.
The weak points in the levees reported
last night other than at the break, are
still In a critical condition and further
breaks may occur. Forces of men are work.
ing night and day at these points and the
situation has resolved itself into a race
between the workers and the water.
In Memphis the situation is growing
worse each hour and the water is spread
ing to sections other than those which
were flooded yesterday. The water pump
ing plant Is endangered and few inches
more rise In the river must cause it to
suspend The water has flooded the cell
lar OF st. Josephs Hospital and other