The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-19
CUT OFF BY WATER
TWO PASSENGER TRAINS HELP
LESS NEAR MEMPHIS.
PASSENGERS LIVE IN CARS.
NO LAND IN SIGHT WITHIN A MILE
OF THEM.

New and Serious Developments in
the Mississippi Flood Situation.
Trains of the Frisco and the Cot
ton Belt Encountered "A WashOut
and another Developed to Their
Rear-Grave Danger from "A Furth-
Rise-Crest of High Water Has
Passed Cairo.
flood situation tonight shows num-
Der of new and serious developments,
and there is scarcely ray of hope for
improved 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 developments
of the last twenty-four hours is the
washing out of all lines of railroad en-
tering 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
either into or out of the city over the
Memphis bridge, and there is every
indication that traffic cannot be re-
sumed until the food has subsidized to
a considerable degree. 1t is believed
that a 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 Trices Landing that two
passenger trains, caught between
washed out points. are now surround
ed by water on blind tracks in the
overlooked territory, about three miles
west of Bridge Junction. Ark. Aboard
these trains were about seventy-flve
passengers and crews, each, and to-
night over 100 of these persons remain
on the trains. with no prospect of be-
ing taken off until tomorrow or later.
However they are not considered to be
in any danger.
Engine Was DeraiIed.
The breaks occurred shortly after {
o'clock last night, just after the west
bound trains on the Cotton Belt and
Frisco had left Memphis. The Cotton
Belt train left at o'clock and had pro-
ceeded few miles, when ii encounter
ed a section Of flooded track. In at
! tempting 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 approach
ed from Memphis, and with its assist
ance 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 this city was
completely cut off All night the pas
sengers were compelled to remain 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 sew
eral handcars succeeded in reaching
the water bound trains to-day and
about fifty passengers were brought ia
this city over submerged and shaking
tracks. The remainder refused to at
tempt the return, and are housed in
the coaches.
Pouring Through Crevasses.
The river here tonight shows 1915
feet on the gauge, the highest stage
ever recorded. and a rise of two-tenths
since last night. The river is about
stationary, and ii is possible that a
fall may set in at any moment. But
this prediction would be extremely un-
certain, as the drainage from the river
Lxr tI,c L. at he
been something enormous, and the wa
ter continues to pour through the break
at a rapid rate. The water behind the
levees in the flooded portion of Arkan-
sas is within almost a foot of the hight
of the water on the river side. and
when this foot rise has been completed.
the Mississippi river may show fur
Their rise.
The situation in this flooded area is
growing worse with each hour, and
1t is evident that a general rise of
a foot more must occur over the entire
submerged area, unless a very mate
rial fall occurs in the river before
the gap at Trices can let through this
volume of water, alone or with the
assistance of other crevasses which
may occur.
Some persons were rescued from
Marion, Ark, by means of skiffs, and
Eight white families and fully 200 ne
groes remain there in the second
stories of buildings.
The city all day has been filled with
travellers, who have been delayed on
account of the washouts west of the
river. To relieve this congestion has
been the efforts of the railroad COM
panies. and tonight relief is in sight.
The railroads have chartered steam
boats to carry west bound passengers
to points from whence they can take
trains.
In the city there is practically no
change. Refugees continue to arrive in
large numbers.
The flooded portion of the city has
grown considerably with the advance
Of the river to-day.
No Alarm mt New Orleans.
New Orleans. March 1S-The river at
this point continues stationary al