Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-03-19
SITUATION CRITICAL.
The Break Near Trice's Landing
complicating Matters.
A VAST AREA IN ARKANSAS FLOODED
Fears That q Lsvee ut Helena, Ark., Wih
Not Hold Out-The Break ut Bougere,
La, Now More Than Three
Afilea Long.

AAhfD1 A<SA8s
Memphis, Tenn, March 18.-The
food situation in the portion of the
Mississippi valley contiguous to
Memphis is extremely critical and re-
ports of loss of life are at hand.
1t was thought at first that the
break in the levee Monday night at
Hollybush, near Trice's Landing,
would help matters by relieving 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 last night veritable sea existed
in the st. Francis and Mississippi
river basins, extending from one
basin to the other, distance OF
many miles. From. this territory
call for help has gone up from per-
sons who have been surrounded in
their homes and on high parts of
the country, but thus far it has
been an impossibility to send them
assistance. A few floating bodies
have been found at various points by
the rescuing boats, but the number
has not yet been alarming.
The st. Louis & San Francisco rail-
road runs through the st. Francis
country, but that company yester-
day annulled all trains, its tracks
being under water near Marion,
Ark. The town of Marion is almost
totally flooded and citizens are using
skiffs as their only means OF travel.
Negroes and white persons from the
adjacent 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 break in. the
levee near Memphis, and this may
be done to-day if conditions show no
improvement. Sheriff Williamson, Of
Crittenden county, in which Marion
is situated, has gone to the village
in skiff and will report to Presi-
dent Killough, of the St. Francis
levee board, the true conditions
there. 1t is estimated that several
hundred persons are surrounded by
the water in the flooded Arkansas
territory and that the amount Of
live stock lost is heavy in the ex-
IRENE. Small sdffs cannot begin to
rescue the citizens and it seems that
it will be imperative to send steam
boat of some character to their aid.
Negroes at Marion have given way to
fright and almost panic exists.
They have congregated at the depot
and in the cabins of the village and
refuse to work.
In Memphis the situation is grow
ing worse each hour and the water is
spreading to sections other than
those which were flooded Monday.
The water pumping plant is endan-
gered and few inches more rise in
the river must cause it to suspend.
Helena People Very Anxious.
Helena, Ark, March 1S.-A levse
defective is inches from its apex
and with the waters of the Missis-
sippi river in places less than one
foot from the top, is all that pro-
tects the 300 homes in North Helena.
It is said by many that the leyee
will not hold until tonight, while
some of the residents of the district
are fearful that before then they
will be compelled to flee from their
homes. Already the entire section
Of the city from Walker street north
to where the North. Helena levee
joins Crowley Ridge is from one to
five feet under water, and the wa
ter is pouring in through hundred
small seep holes that have appeared
in the levee. There have been per-
sistent rumors that the directors
would cut the levee and allow the
water to come in gradually rather
than risk a break of the embank-
ment, which would let the water
rush in torrents and perhaps de-
stroy hundreds of small houses.
The Boueers Break Over Three Miles Long
Natchez, Miss, March 1s.-Reports
from Bougere, La, last night were
to the effect that the break which'in-
cluded the Texas & Pacific embank-
ment is now more than three miles
long. The water is filing the swamp
and flooding the lower section OF
Concordia parish across to Black
river. This water will make its way
TO the Red river and back again in
to the Mississippi. Sacks and lum-
Der have been shipped to the scene
of the break and the ends will be