The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-03-31
100000 ACRES IN DANGER.
Delta Land.-IntereSt In the Mis-
SiSSippi Flood.

New Orleans. La, March q In
terest in the food situation here to
day centred in the break at Hy
melia, near Lucy, La, forty mile.
above the oity, and the disastrous
crevasse reported south of Greenville
Cotton men felt especial concern
with respect to the latter and the an.
nouncement in private dispatches
which we're circulated on the floor OF
the Cotton Exchange, that 100000
acres of the richest delta land would
probably 60 under water, created a
feeling of depression. While this
break will doubtless cause decline
in the river in the vicinity of
Greenville and for considerable
distance south, relieving the strain
on the Louisiana levees in the 5th
district, it is further unfortunate in
that water which goes through must
inevitably return to the Mississippi
through the Yazoo, thus prolonging
the period of high water south of
that point.
SEVEN HUNDRED MEN AT WORK.
The days developments at Hyme-
liza gave much encouragement.
Through the co operation of the La
fourchee levee board the railroads
affected, the Government engineers
and the planters, large quantities Of
material and forces of men were got
ten to the scene soon after daylight.
Under experienced orevasse fighters
seven hundred laborers were put to
work early in the forenoon and a
line of cribblng begun from either
side of the break. To-night's ad-
vices we're to the effect that all the
oribbing that had been driven during
the day was holding, owning to the
excellent batture, and that if the
work is not interrupted by wind and
rain, sacking is likely to begin to-
morrow and the break be closed by
Sunday. The upper end of the
break is holding and the wash from
the lower end is slow. The width of
tho crevasse is between $50 and 200
feet. A large area of land is already
submerged, but if the effects Of the
forcee at work are successful the
water will quickly drain off. The
crevasse ls in the heart of one of the
richest sugar districts of Louisiana.
1t is expected at the Illinois Cen
; tral Office that through traffic over
the Mississippi Valley will be sus
pended IA result of the disaster
south Of Greenvile.
WAS THERE FOUL PLAYp
The belief that the Hymelia levce
was cut in order to relieve other sec
tions is strong. 1t has resulted in in
creased vigilance along the levees in
both the Lafourche and Ponchartrain
districts and any attempt to repeat
the action at Hymelia is likely to be-
followed by bloodsbed if the perpe
= traitors are caught. The river has
, fallen considerably in the Immediate
vicinity of Hymelia and the strain
has been materially lessened on tho
leveps on the east bank Of tho river.
The effect here, however, is only
slightly appreciable. Weather OBJ
server Cline, however, expects de-
cline by morning if the volume of
water going through at Hymelia is
as large a. reported. AT one time to
day tho gaugr marked ~ high as
20 5 feet, but TO night tho river had
gone back to 20 fea', u net decline
of one tenth from yesterday. The
weather bureau expects the upwarc
movement to he resumed if the worl
at Hymelia is successful and undel
. those circumstances sticks to it's pro
dictions Of 81 feet.
The New Orleans levce board con
Times it's patrol Of the local front
The work of strengthening move for
ward without abatement
DiSpcnSary Lieutcnants.