The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-20

Washington, March 1S.-Special river
bulletin: Although athe Ohio river has
begun to fall at Cairo, the conditions
continue extremely critical at nearly
aIl points below.
At Memphis the stage Of water TO-
night was 1913 feet, a rise of O.2 feet
since this morning. No additional
crevasses have been reported. The
weather bureau official at Memphis,
however. states that the 1evees at Pc
can Point and LuXora are i'm extreme
danger, and that a break is liable to
occur at the last named place at any
time. People liable to be affected
Should take warning and govern them
selves accordingly.
At Helena the fifty foot mark is like
ly to be reached within thirty-six
hours, and much of the town is re-
ported to be in danger
From below Helena to Vicksburg
stages as follows are indicated. should
| the levee hold above: Arkansas City
$40 feet, or slightly over, previous
record 51.9 feet on March %, 1897;
Greenville 4S feet, previous record 46.7
feet, March 90. 1897; Vicksburg 51.0 feet,
previous TeCOTu 1etI April IOlh 1oSG
The creSts at Arkansas City and
Greenville will be reached about Sun
day and that at Vicksburg several days
later.
From below Vicksburg to the gulf no
changes other than those previously in
d;cated have occurred.
Flood Situation Very Serious at
Memphis.
Memphis, Tenn. March 1S.-The flood
situation tonight shows a number Of
dark and serious developments and
there is scarcely a ray of hope for i'm
proved conditions yet, except the fact
that tributaries Of the Mississippi, to
| the north Of Memphis are reported to
| be falling. One of the most serious de-
| veiopments of the last twenty four
| hours is the washing out of all lines Of
railroads entering the city from the
west and the complete tying up of
| railroad traffic through the Memphis
| gateway to that section. There have
| been no trains into or out Of the city
over the Memphis bridge and there IS
| every indication that traffic cannot be
resumed until the flood has subsided
| to considerable degree. 1t is believed
| that week may pass before traffic
| can be resumed. So suddenly did the
| rise come in the section of Arkansas.
across the river from Memphis, after
| the st. Francis levee broke at Trice's
Landing that two passenger trains,
caught between the washed out points,
are now surrounded by water on blind
| tracks in the overf1owed territory,
| about three miles west of Bridge juno
| ton, Ark. Aboard these trains were
| Is passengers and crews, each. and to-
| night over one hundred of these per-
sons remain. on the trains with no pros
pect of being taken off until tomorrow
| or later. However, they are not con-
| sidered to be in any danger.
The breaks occurred shortly before
9 o'clock last night. just after the west
| bound train on the Cotton Belt and
| Frisco had left Memphis. The Cotton
Relt train left at 9 clock and had pro-
ceeded but few miles, when it en-
Iccuntered a section Of flooded track.
In attempting to cross, the rails
spread and the engine was partially
derailed, preventing the train from
moving in either direction. While in
this position, the Frisco fast Kansas
City passenger train, approached from
Memphis and with it's assistance the
Cotton Belt engine was pulled back on
the track. In the meantime. a serious
washout had occurred between the
trains and Memphis, and retreat to the
city was completely cut off. All night
the passengers were compelled to re-
. main in the coaches while the water
rose on every side and this morning
, there was not a particle Of land in
sight within a mile of their position.
The trains are on the track of the
Iron Mountain near Altman, Ark. Be-
: fore them are washed out tracks and
on this side. the foundation has been
carried away until passage is unsafe in
, the extreme. By taking risks several
ha ndcars succeeded in reaching the
water bound trains today and about
fifty passengers were brought to this
/ city over submerged and shaking
tracks. The remainder refused to at
tempt the return and are housed in the
, | coaches
The river here tonight shows S9.s
feet on the guage, the highest stage
, ever recorded and a rise Of two tentns
/ since last night. The river Is aooul
stationary and it is possible that a TAI
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