The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-04-02

stages at lower river points, however,
have not materially changed.
Advices from G:eenville, Miss,
state that a volume Of water 16 feet
deep and over 600 fec in length Is
pouring steadily through a erevasse IN
the levee FIVE miles south of the city
and is flooding thousands of acres OF
the finest farming Land in the cele-
brated Yazoo delta, regarded by many
/ to be the most fertile in the world.
The break in the levee occurred al
IL o'clock Friday morning and the
roar of the rushing waters could cas-
lily be heard in Greenville. Only 2oo
feet Of the embankment gave way az
first and a mighty effort was made oy
hundreds of laborers in charge OF the
| government engineers to check the
rushing food by cribbing and sacking.
but 1t was soon apparent that 1t was
beyond human power to successfully
combat the restless fury of the cur
rent. An hour later it was seen that
| the ends of the ievee on either side OF
the crevasse were melting fast, the
force Of the current cutting the en-
bankment away as though 1t were
| built of sand.
When the first report of the break
reached the city the excitement was
intense and many people began 10 col
lect their valuables and held them
selves in readiness to move away at
moments notice Shortly after night
fall the backwater reached the city.
Major John NJ. Sears, who has
charge of the government office IN
Greenville, in the absence of Captain
Potter, in an interview stated that
the break is unQuestionably the worst
in the history of the levee system. He
says the entire delta south as far as
Vicksburg will be inundated and the
fine farming lands In washington.
Bolivar and Sharkey counties Will be
under water for more than two weeks.
This is the first break to be report
ed on the Mississippi side since the
present rise began.
The situation at midnight grew rap
idly worse. Work on The protection
! levee through Main street was soon
abandoned and water reached Wash
ington avenue, the highest point In
the city. Appeals for help began COM
ing In from the Tuxedo and race track
additions and relief boats were hur-
ried to their relief.
The news came from these addi'
tions that people were seen clinging
to roofs Of houses and RATS to escape
the rising waters. Many lives have
been reported lost, woman and five
children perishing in one house.
The southern part Of the city IS en-
tirely under water. Houses even as
high as Central avenue began filling
up and their inmates were forced to
upper floors for safety.
The city was in total darkness, wa
ter putting out the fires in the elec'
trio light plants.
| People Cut Levees.
Interest in the flood situation at
New Orleans Friday centered in the
break at Hymelia, near Lucy. La, 40
miles above the city, and the disas-
trous crevasse reported south OF
Greenville. Cotton men felt especial
concern with respect to the latter and
the announcement IL private dis
patches, which were circulated on the
floor of the cotton exchange that 100.'
900 acres of the richest delta land
would probably go under water. crea-
ted a feeling of depression.
Crevasse Cut Near Vicksburg.
A Vicksburg special says: The sec
ond crevasse of the day on the Mis-
sissippi occurred at Albemarle levee
in lower Issaquena county at o'clock
Friday afternoon. Backwater from
Steeles bayou had already spread all
over that section and was within five
feet Of the levee's crown, consequent
ly not much damage will result. Re.
ports from there state that the gap Is
several hundred feet wide, but as the
water Is running through with very
little force 1t can probably be closed.
The Albemarle levee was an old piece
of work and had been displaying dan
ger signals for week past.
| The breaks IN washington and 1ssa-
quena counties will cause a suspen-
sion Of traffic on the Yazoo and Mis-
sissippi Valley railroad north of Vicks-
burg. the tracks for 10 miles or more
having already been covered by water
to a depth OF 20 inches.