The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-03-21
ST. FRANCISLEVEE GAVE WAY
TwENTY-FoUR MILES NORTH OF
MEMPHIS, TENN.
The Waters Of the Mississippi Rush
ing Through q crevasss Nearly
Mile Long-First Break in That VI
einity-H0me and Business Houses
In the City are Flooded.

Memphis, Tenn, March 16.-The ST.
rraIcIs IeSee gave way at 1Ilce .
Landing, ARK, "a miles norm OF Lne
city ana the waters VI the MlsslssIp,I,
river are rushing through a three Quaf-
YER mile creyasse In the emDankment
with a roar that can be heard IoI
miles. This Is the trst break that mas
been made in The vicinity OF Memphis,
but the water is still rising at a rapi1
rate and three other points on the
Arkansas levee north OF Memphis are
in a precarious condition.
Sunday nIgnt the water was on a
level with the crest OF the IeVee a.
holybush ana the recent rise carrier
It over a foot higher, sweeping away
the temporary entertainments At Irice .
Landing and tearing the leVee itself
from It's foundations. giving a new
channel for the food The break was
Of such extent that the engineers real
lied the hopelessness OF attempting
70 repair the break and II was aban-
doned after the side Of the crevasse
had been riveted with the sand sacks
and stones to prevent further cutting
away Of the embankment The situa-
ton in the meantime had become crit
cal at other points and now IL is con-
sidered doubtful IL these places can
be held in the face of the rising food.
At Pecan Point, Fogleam's landing.
the food is abreast of the crowd on the
leyees and hundreds Of men are al
each place working by lantern light.
The engineers Of the levee board say
that the damage from the break al
Holybush will not be as serious az
would have been the case had the
creTasse occurred at any other point
on the embankment. From this point
through several bayous and lakes and
this will hold the water to n great ex.
tent and prevent it's spreading out.
Flood in Memphls.
In the city the situation is the wors,
that so far has been reported. IN
North and south Memphis many homes
and business houses have been flood
ed.
Appeals are pouring into the city
from all directions by those who have
taken refuge on high points along the
river. and who are now surrounded BY
water. All local packets have gone
strictly into the rescue business, but
their capacity is overtaxed. and they
are unable TO respond to all demands
that are received. All day cargoes Of
refugees and their property have been
discharging at the wharf here. ana
tonight there are several hundred per.
sons in the city. who are being cared
for by charity.
Situation Critical.
Memphis, Tenn, March 1S.-The
food situation in the portion OF the
Mississippi valley contiguous TO Mem
phis is extremely critical. and reports
OF loss OF life are at hand. 1t was
thought at first that the break in the
levee at Holybush. near Trice's land.
ing. would help matters by relieving
the pressure of the water and causing
fall at this point instead Of this the
break has complicated conditions by
flooding q vast area in Arkansas,
across the Mississippi from Memphis.
and now q veritable sea exists in the
st. Francis and Mississippi river
basins, extending from the basin TO
the other, a distance Of many miles.
From this territory a call for help
has gone up from persons who have
been surrounded in their homes, but
thus far it has been an impossibility
to send them assistance.
A few floating bodies have been
found at various points by the rescu.
ing boats, but the number has not yet
been alarming.
The town OF Marion is almost total.
ly flooded, and citizens are using skiffs
as their only means Of travel Ne
groes and white persons from the ad
jacent territory are pouring into Mar
ion every hour asking that boats be
sent to rescue their families. There
are no means OF reaching them.
The negroes at Marion have given
way to fright. and almost a panic
exists. They have copyrighted at the
railroad station and cabins in the VII
lage and retuse TO work.
Memphis. Tenn, March 1s.-The
food situation tonight shows a mum
Der OF new and serious developments
and there is scarcely a ray Of hope fol
improved conditions except in the fact
that tributaries of the Mississippi tc
the north OF Memphis are reported &c
be falling, One OF the most serious
developments Of the last "a hours Il
the washing out Of all lines Of railroad
entering the city from the west ant
the complete tying up Of the railroad
trafic through the Memphis gatewa,
to that section. There have been nj
trains into or out OF the city owe
the Memphis bridge and there Is ever
indication that trafic can not be re
.,aNaN 49, Aa,A kAe gwhCtAgA o.