Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-03-21
ST. FRANCISLEVEE GAVE N
TwENTY-FouR MILES NORTH
MEMPHIS. TENN.
The Waters Of the MIssissipn; .
ing Through a crevasse Nearly
Mile Long-First Break In Thu. !,
cinity--Home and Business u.
in the City are Flooded.

Memphis, Tenn, March 1S.-The 3,
FRANCIS leyee gave way at 1r0s'
Landing, ARK, "A miles north M
city ana the waters OF the MlssissiDn
river are rushing through a three on.s
ter mile crevasse in the empankmos.
with roar that can be heard -
miles. This Is the first break that ~
been made in the vicinity OF Memn1,N
but the water is still rising at rapIs
rate and three other points ON =.
Arkansas levee north of Memphis a.
in precarious condition.
Sunday night the water was nm
level with the crest OF the leyea =,
Holybush and the recent rise carries
1t over a foot higher, sweeping AVA
the temporary entertainments at Trico',
Landing and tearing the leyee itsa,
from its foundations. giving a new
channel for the flood. Thee break w..
OF such extent that the engineers real
lied the hopelessness of attempting
to repair the break and it was aban
doned after the side of the creyasaa
had been riveted with the sand SACKS
and stones to prevent further cuttin,
away Of the embankment. The situa.
ton in the meantime had become crit.
cal at other points and now it Ia con.
sidered doubtful If these places can
be held in the face OF the rising food
At Pecan Point, Fogleam's landing
the flood Is abreast of the crowd on the
levees and hundreds of men are AT
each place working by lantern light.
The engineers of the levee board say
that the damage from the break at
Holybush will not be as serious az
would have been the case had the
crevasse occurred at any other point
on the embankment. From this point
draw leads into the st. Francis river
through several bayous and lakes and
this will hold the water to a great e.
tent and prevent its spreading out
Flood in Memphis.
+ In the city the situation is the worst
that SO far has been reported. In
North and South Memphis many homes
and business houses have been food.
ed.
Appeals are pouring into the city
from all directions by those who hare
taken refuge on high points along the
river, and who are now surrounded by
water. All local packets have gone.
strictly into the rescue business, but
their capacity is overtaxed, and they
are unable to respond to all demands
that are received. All day cargoes Of
refugees and their property have been
discharging at the wharf here, ana
tonight there are several hundred per-
sons in the city, who are being cared
for by charity.
Situation Critical.
Memphis, Tenn. March 1S-Ths
fiood situation in the portion Of the
Mississippi valley contiguous to Mem
phis is extremely critical. and reports
of loss of life are at hand. 1t was
thought at first that the break in the
leyee at Holybush, near Trice's Land.
ing, would help matters by relieyiny
the pressure of the water and causing
a fall at this point. instead of this the
break has complicated conditions BY
flooding a vast area in Arkansas,
across the Mississippi from Memphis,
and now veritable sea exists In the
st. Francis and Mississippi river
basins, extending from the basin 10
the other, q distance OF many miles.
From this territory call for help
has gone up from persons who have
been surrounded in their homes, but
thus far 1t has been an impossibility
to send them assistance.
A few floating bodies have beer
found at various points by the FescE
ing boats, but the number has not YET
been alarming.
The town of Marion is almost total
ly flooded. and citizens are using skins
as their only means OF travel Ne
groes and white persons from the al
jacent territory are pouring into Aar
ion every hour, asking that boats ID
sent to rescue their families. There
are no means of reaching them.
The negroes at Marion have gives
way to fright, and almost pani'
exists. They have eongregated at ~
railroad station and cabins in the VII
lage and refuse TO work.
Memphis. Tenn, March 19.-Ths
flood situation tonight shows mum
Der OF new and serious development
and there is scarcely ray of hope To-
improved conditions except in the fac
that tributaries OF the Mississippi U
the north of Memphis are reported q
be falling. One of the most serious
developments Of the last "a hours II
| the washing out of all lines of failr0al