The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-22
River IL Failing mt Memphis and Re-
lief Has Been Extended to the Peo-
pie of New Marion, Ark.
TWENTY FEET AT NEW ORLEANS
WATER FLUSH WITH TOP OF THE
BAYOU La FoURCHE LEyEEs.
other Embankments Closely Watched
tents Sent from JeffersOnville to
the Flood Sufferers.

MEMPHIS. March 21.-To-night there are
many hopeful features in the flood situa-
ton in the Immediate territory about this
city. and the officers OF the levee boards
and rivermen are expressing more salts
faction with the conditions that now pre-
vail than has been INDUCED in at any time
since the food first assumed serious pro-
portions The gauge tonight shows 39.7
feet and falling. which is decline of four
fenths o. foot since last night at o'clock,
when the water became stationary on the
gauge. IT is now believed that the fall is
due TO natural conditions rather than to
the drainage of water from the Mississippi
by the breaks In the Arkansas levees 10
the north, although the fall might have
been slower if these crevasses had not &C.
Cured. 1t is currently believed that the
fan will continue without check and that
tie crisis is passed.
Levee Board, this afternoon succeeded in
sending large barge through the crevasse
At Trice's Landing for the rescue OF stock
and property at Marion, Ark. The steamer
Hugo was dispatched to the crevasse later
with commission TO enter the Hooded
territory and render assistance.
Mayor Williams has been notified by the
government commissary officers at Jeffer-
sonvflle, Ind, that 500 tents were to-day
shipped to this city for the sheltering Of the
HOOD refugees
Heavy Rains Complaining Situation.
vIcKsBURG. Miss. March n.-Although
all levees in both Mississippi and louisiana
are still intact there is an increasing feel
Ing OF dependency to the outlook Heavy
rains fell last night and to-day all along the
lire. Increasing the work of the flood fight
ers and greatly compIicating the situation.
III nf he
Loufsiana Levee Board, to-day stated that
the reports OF the situation at Leland, Ark,
were greatly exaggerated and that the dam
ger of q break there was not great.
mile stretch north of Lake Providence is
cansing much concern. being below grade
with insufficient forces at hand to raise 1t.
and as the water is at the highest stage
ever known and rising rapidly. there seems
little probability of preventing the flooding
OF a large and thickly settled area
IN the territory contiguous to the YaZoo
river a serious state of affairs is said to
exist. Navigation has been almost entirely
suspended for several weeks, and food for
both man and beast Is running short
Only Danger Ii at La FOurche.
NEW ORLEANS. March n-The river
tonight was within a fraction of 1873. os-
> eslIsAsens Of an irregular nature having
carried 1t as high as twenty feet during
fne Jay. All lnuicduoiis hOW punt W inc
fact that the crest of the flood has passed
Memphis, and there is a better feeling be-
cause it is possible to calculate the guam
fity of water that must be handled here
probably twenty-one feet. All advices re-
ceiveG during the dayo were favorable as
FAR as louisiana levees are concerned, with
the exception of those along Bayou La
Fourche where the water is in many places
flush with the top of the levees. More wa
ter Is now going into the La Fourche
from the Mississippi than the bayou Is able
TO handle, and there is considerable appre-
bension that breaks will occur. Many of
the finest sugar plantations in the State lie
along the banks of the stream There was
a cave-in at Gretna to-day. but ii was
promptly arrested No further danger is
feared from IT, The sacking of the city
will be kept constantly employed to-mor-
row.