The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-13

Memphis, March 12.-There is little
change in the river situation tonight
and although the rise today has been
slight, the situation is still considered
grave and a stage Of more than SS feet
is still expected. The guage tonight
shows 35.S and rising an advance of two
tenths since midnight last night
Dispatches from Charlottesville say
that the situation there is practically un-
changed, and that the embankments will
hold a stage of water three feet greater
than at present These dispatches are
from private individuals and if the gov
ernment engineers have received adviees
from Charlottesville today they have not
made them public Captain Lucas, United
States engineer in charge of the firstaa and
second districts, left today for Helena,
Ark. to personally inspect conditions In
the White river district. The government
steamer Mercury left today for Helena
with supplies and men for Assistant En-
gineer Levasseur, who is in charge of the
levee Strengthening work at that point.
Steamer Starts With Supplies.
The Robert E. Lee left today for the
south, carrying supplies and men for
the levee engineers at Cat island, where
the rush of the waters through the seven
teen mile gap in the levees is causing un-
easiness. The James Lee left for the
north with men and supplies for the en-
gineers at Pecan Point, where strength
ening work is in progress on the embank
ments. No news has been received from
the area in Mississippi county. Arkansas,
which was reported flooded yesterday by
water having percolated through the en-
bankments.
The engineers here say that the crest
of the rise will probably reach Memphis
Sunday unless there are further heavy
rains generally over the area drained by
the tributaries of the Mississippi In the
meantime They predict a record break
ing stage of water on account of the fact
that the levees are all holding against the
flood During the high water of 1897 the
river at Memphis was forty miles broad
and there were no embankments on the
Arkansas shore to back up the waters
and narrow the channel of the river.
Should the embankments hold, the crest
of the rise will pass Memphis better than
otherwise would be the case and the
danger of breaks in the levees pelow this
city will be greatly decreased. For this
reason the situation below Memphis is
now that which is developing most con-
Germ.
Red River Above Danger Line.
Alexandria, La, March 12.-Red river
at this point is 34.9 feet, which is 10
above the danger line, and is rising. Old
river observers predict that 1t will go
above the record, which was 3S.25 In 1882,
while many think 1t will go over 80 feet.
Many plantations are partly flooded,
and a guage of 80 feet would mean the
inundation of every plantation unprotect-
ed by levees. The rain fall since Janu-
ary / to o'clock this evening has been
251 inches. The ground was already
saturated with water and this. with high
water in the river has caused the unpre-
eedented high water In the lakes, swamps
and bayous.
The town of Pineville is partially flood
ed and several families have been forced
to abandon their homes.
The flood conditions are regarded as
serius, but the levees have been raised
and strengthened and there is no dam
ger to this city.
T. and p. Embankment Holding.
Natchez, Miss, March I2.-The Demo-
crat has received authoritative informa-
tion that the Texas and Pacific embank-
ment at Bougre. in lower Concordia par
ish. La, is holding against the water. A
filling the embankment where 1t meets
the state levee on the south end.
The local packets returned this after
Noon from south of Vicksburg on the
north trip They had full loads of refu-
gees and live STOCK.
Heavy showers fell this afternoon the
bavous md creeks overf owing their
hanks. The river is 2.3 over the danger
line and rising at the rate of four inches
a day.
MANY Weak Places Found.
Vicksburg, Miss. March 12-Disquiet-
ing reports from Issaquena and Coahoma
counties tonight, where there are said to
be many weak places In the levee lines.
At these danger points large forces OF
men and great quantities or materials
are concentrated and strenuous efforts are
being made to hold the earthworks. An
additional force of state convicts was or
dered out this morning by the governor.
The most disquieting feature of the situ-
alton today has been steady fall OF
rain, which is playing havoc with the
new work Indications tonight point to
continued rains. Should break occur
In either the Issaquena or Coahoma lines,
thousands of acres of the richest land
1in the Yazoo delta will be inundated, and
lthousands of negroes rendered destitute.
At this point the river continues to rise
slowly, the guage at p m. registering
47.s, q rise of one-tenth since a. m.
VIII Go to 81 Feet.