The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-03-20
FROM ARKANSAS.

The Herald prints below a very en-
tertaining letter from one Of its best
correspondents, "Rippling Waves.
written from Luxora. Ark, which Is
now under water:
Luxora Ark. Mar. 10, 1908.
Editor Columbia Herald -
The long continued rains have caused
our people to look forward with fear
and trembling 10 an overflow, which
IL fully upon us now.
Last Thursday night the little levee
that projected Luxora from the river
I during an ordinary rise, gave way,
and by Friday night the water was
several feet deep in the streets. The
river has continued to rise with re-
markable rapidity and today would
/ have been running over the big State
levee that runs through the towns, II
tue Government levee men had not
Kept such vigilant watch over 1t and
kept force of hands at hard work
! putting sacks of dirt on the levee in
weak places, night and day. All day
| today people of all ages, sizes and
color thropged the side walks leading
to the levee crossing, to witness the
steady stream of workers and to view
the half submerged city. Nearly every
man in town has a skitf which con-
trlbuted much to the pleasure of those
who enjoy sailing on the bosom OF
the great river. Some of the people
abandoned their houses, while others
moved up stairs and seem to be con-
tented there. feeling much safer than
their neighbors back of the levee,
whose homes would be destroyed, If
the levee should give way. Most of
them though, feel perfectly safe, as
they have great faith in the levee
standing the great pressure OF water,
while some have sought refuge in other
towns The latest news from Cairo
today was that the river had ceased to
rise there and was now on stand, so
it will continue to rise here until
Tuesday. Up to noon today 1T had
risen one inch an hour fer the past
two days, but is not expected to rise 50
rapidly any more The levee at
Charlottesville is not expected to hold
longer than tonight, which, ii 1T does
break, will entirely relieve us from
any furtherv danger OF a break, as 80
II UGH water Will flow through it that
the pressure here will be greatly de-
creased. Though it seems so frightful
to see so much water surrounding the
houses, many are still above the water
and the merchants are still conducting
their business, while others have had
to scaffold up their goods ana close
doors. People walk the floating side
walks without fear. but occasionally a
careless boy slips off into the water
but manages to catch and crawl back
amid loud cheers of his comrades To
break the monotonv, few men, have
turned over their boats amid much
excitement. So far no accidents have
been serlous, fortunately occurring in
water three or four feet deep only.
The farmers are distressed at the
gloomy prospect for crop, as not
a thing has been done toward it yet,
and while the rains continue.
Two weeks ago today we witnessed
a solemn and impressive scene. A
Baptist minister baptized twelve of
his converts in the back water of the
Mississippi, and truly there was much
water there.
AS parties on the opposite side have
threatened to cut the levee over there,
it is now being patroled at night, each
man having beat of one mile and
one solitary horseman beat OF ten,
to see that his ten men are at their
posts of duty.
There is so much water about one
mile from town, backed up from the |
smaller rivers that large fish abound |
there, furnishing fine sport TO men who
enjoy shooting and gigging the finny |
tribe. They wear gum boots when |
going out on such tours and always |
come back finely pleasing with this
unique way of catching them.
RIPPLlNG WAVES.