The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-30
Back Water from Lagrange crsVasse is Slowly Sub-
 merging the ci4
RUMORS OF THE LOSS OF
 LIFE ARE EXAGGERATED
Relief Parties With Boats Have Been At Work Rescuing People, and Many Refugees Are Being 
 Well Cared For.

Greenville, Miss, March 2s.-The back water from the Lagrange crevasse is slowly rising and nearly all of the city is submerged Business is paralyzed and people are moving about the streets in the southern section in skiffs. The rise in the last twenty-four hours is two inches. The sensational reports sent out from here that the city is in danger Of de- struction, are highly exaggerated, and the facts do not warrant any such statement. Rumors of great loss of life are absolute ly without foundation, so far as Is known here.
 Relief parties with boats have been at work reseuing people in the path of the flood, and the refugees are brought here.
 It was said this afternoon that the mayor had ina7 ucted the city engineer to cut the protection levee in the northern part of the city, as it is believed 1t will be the means of letting the water out through Fish lake. The country beyond the lake is much lower than the city and if the levee is cut it will stop the rise in Greenville and carry off much of the water now in the city.
 Trains Leave on Time.
 All trains left here this afternoon promptly on schedule time. The shut down of the electric light plant is a seri- ous inconvenience to the people and lan- terms in skiffs may be seen throughout the town at night
 The flood situation outside of Greenville remains practically unchanged. The waters have covered thousands of acres of the finest delta farms and are sweep ing south to Yicksburg Inc loss will be heavy, but it Is impossible to give any thing like correct estimate of the dam age wrought by the flood.
 It was said by some of the relief par1 ties that since Friday many of the ne- groes have been on the tops of houses waiting for boats to get out, and during that time they have not had anything to eat. The places whre the boats have been at work are Montgomerys, Wortham and Sillers, and all report the same state of affairs existing The mules on these places have been taken out, but the cat tie stane around, on knolls and scaffolds. The county superyisors have made ar rangem ents to ! snd a barge and men out tomorrl }, to bring the cattle in out of the water. They are suffering for want of food.
 Levees Are Holding.
 Today Arcola and Hollandale had their first sight of the water Rumors have been coming in all day of breaks in the levee both above and below the city, but tonight none were confirmed at the levee board office, and the president stated all are holding and everything reported fa- yorable.
 A singular phenomenon at Leland, Ark, is puzzling every one. The news was brought to the city this afternoon by of ha government boats. He said that last night the water up against the levee and dike in the pocket was a foot deep, and this morning he went there and found the water off and stock the ground. from which the water had reeeded He turther said the water was not turbulent a the end of the dike, which but day before washing away most of the stone pieces there to protect it. Further out in the stream the water was very rough and the current swift. The change of the current, some think, is due to the break above 1t on this side, while others say that the river there is making a channel. The phenomenal features of the mighty stream at this point will be close ly watched, and if the new channel is formed 1t will leave Greenville on beau- tiful lake
 Situation at New Orleans.
 New Orleans, March 29.-The second at- tempt to close the crevasse at Lucy failed, the upper end again giving way. Instead of being discouraged the levee and Texas and Pacific forces have resumed work with larger force than ever, and there is still hope of success. The creyasse is now 450 feet wide and Its water Is inun- dating a large territory. The water will likely spread as far Bayou Lafourche and do untold damage. Several more rail- roads will feel the effects if the flow is not checked. Governor Heard visited the break today and is also hopeful that the place can be closed. The trouble is with the sandy soil which has washed away beneath the mammoth lines of crib work being erected. As soon as these hold the space between the immense fences will be filled in with sacks of earth and the river checked.
 The river gauge here today Is 203 show ing a rise despite the crevasses. The Mississippi river commission Is expected tomorrow on it's inspection tour.
 At vicksburg.
 Vicksburg Miss, March 29.-The flood situation in this immediate vicinity Is un- changed. but Yazoo City is beginning to feet the effects of water from the Ia- Grange crevasse. The back water is ris- ing at the rate of two inches day and the eastern portion of the town is partial ly submerged One fatality occurred there today, negro by the name or stephens losing his life by the capsizing of a skiff.
 The river here has again come to a stand after dropping two-tenths yester- day. The gauge tonight registers 51.6.
 Situation Around Natchez.
 Natchez, Miss, March 29.-The report that the Arnolia levee, two miles below vidalia, the parish site of Concorda parish, Louisiana was boiling and in im- minent danger of breaking attracted hundreds of sght-seers from Natchez. The water was siping through the break and fifty men were put to work to save he levee President J. H. Pagan of the police jury has charge of the working orce and is confident that the prompt ,recaution taken will hold the levee.. ,The officials of the Natchez Red River x. nd Texas railroad. running from Jones' ' file to vidalia, have given notice of