The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-22

Memphis March 21.-Tonight there are
many hopeful features In the flood situa-
ton in the immediate territory about this
city and the officers of the levee board
and river men are expressing more salts
faction with the conditions that now pre-
vail than had been INDUCED at any ume
since the flood first assumed critical pro-
portions.
The guage tonight shows 1871 feet and
falling. which is a decline of a since
last night at o'clock. when the water
became stationary on the guage. IL Is
now believed that the fall is due TO
natural conditions rather than to the
drainage of water, from the Mississippi
bv the breaks in the Arkansas levees to
the north. Although the fall might have
been slower If these crevasses had not
occurred 1t is currently believed that the
fall will continue without check and that
the crisis Is passed
President Killough of the st. Francis
levee board this afternoon succeeded IN
sending large barge through the
crevasse at Trices landing for the rescue
of stock and property at Marion, Ark.
The steamer Hugo was dispatched TO the
crevasse later, with a commission to enter
the flooded territory and render assist
ance to such as might be found in need
Mayor Williams has been notified by
the government commissary officers at
Jeffersonville, Ind. that 500 tents were
today shipped to this city for the shelter
ing of the flood refugees.
Increasing Dependency.
yicksbtrg, Miss, March 2l.-Although
all levees in both Mississippi and Louis
lana are still intact, there Is an inereas-
ing feeling of dependency as to the out
look Heavy rains fell last night and TO-
day all along the line, interfering ma
terially with the work of the food-nsht-
ers and greatly complcating the situa-
tion.
J. T. McCleuand, president of the Fifth
Louisiana levee board, today stated that
the reports as to the situation at Leland
Ark, were greatly exaggerated, and that
the danger of a break there was not
great.
According to the same authority ten
mile stretch north of Lake Providence is
4 causing most concern, being below grade,
with insufficient forces at hand to raise
| it, 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 ter
ritory.
In the territory contiguous to fazoo
| river, serious state of affairs is said TO
exist. NAVIGATION there has been almost
entirely suspended for several weeks and
food for both man and beast is running
short Arrivals from that section today
report that unless quick relief is afforded
much suffering is bound to result.
The Queen and Crescent is the only rail-
road entering this city that Is maintain
ed any sort of service, the trains operat-
ing by the other roads running anywhere
from four to ten hours late.
During the past twenty-four hours, the
river here rose six-tenths, the gauge
reading tonight 30
Taking Precautions,
Natchez, Miss, March 21.-President J.
B. Pagan of the Concordia parish jury
did not wait for the special meeting be-
fore appointing a number of guards for
the levee in the parish, and additional
guards will be authorized by the jury on
Monday next. Mr.. Pagan has returned
from an inspection of the levees on Ten
sas river, and expressed the opinion that
they will hold. Heavy rains during the
early morning have proved setback for
the work on Sycamore levee, but with
the work of 125 men for the past ten
days and what was done this evening it
is believed that the levee will be brought
to grade. The greatest difficulty has
been experienced with this work ac-
count of the wet earth, which. with the
heavy rains of the past three months, Is
almost as much water as 1t is earth. To
provide against damaging by wave wash
Capt. H. s. Douglas of the United States
0in 10 otIf iCia
amount of cotton bagging to be stretched
along the levee front. While this levee
held in 1897 the fact that Captain Doug
las has ordered the use of the bagging
indicates that every conceivable precau-
ton is necessary to save the levee.
The river gauge at p. m. read AL a
rise of rs in the twenty-four hours end
ing at p. m. This is I below the maxi
mum in 1897.
Crest Past Memphis.
New Orleans, March 21.-The river to-
night was within fraction of 1873, os-
citations OF an irregular nature having
carried 1t as high as 20 feet during the
! day All the indications now point to
| the fact that the crest of the flood has
! passed Memphis and there is a better
feeling because it is possible to calculate
| the quantity of water that must be ham
| died here.
| The local weather bureau officials con-
| time to assert that a 2l-foot stage Is
probable If the levee holds. All advices
received during the day were favorable,
so far as the Louisiana levees were con-
| cerned, with the exception of those along
bayou Lafourche, where the water is in
many places flush with the tops Of the
levees.
More water is now going into the La
| fourche from the Mississippi than the
| bayou Is able to handle. and there Is,
/ therefore. considerable apprehension that
breaks will occur
Many of the finest sugar plantations in
the state lie along the banks Of the
stream. The cave reported during the
day at Gretna was promptly arrested.
No further damage Is feared from It.
The sacking of the city front was con-
tinued today and a force will be kept
constantly employed tomorrow.
Government Sends Aid.
Washington, March H.-Secretary Root
today received kilograms from the gov
ernors Of Tennessee and Arkansas in re-
Spouse to his telegraphic inquiry for in
formation as to the needs Of the people
of those states In the matter of tents ETC.,
in consequence of the river foods.
No time was lost In complying with
Patten, the quartermaster general, i'm
mediatey telegraphed instructions to the
quartermaster in charge of the depots
at st. Louis and Jacksonville. Ind, to
send with the utmost dispatch $50 COM
mon tents and twenty hospital tents to
Memphis. and ninety common tents and
ten hospsta, tents 20 Marion. Ark.