The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-21
Strong LeVees Are Beginning to
Give Way Under the
Powerful Strain
MANY DAYS WILL ELAPSE
BEFORE DAMAGE IS KNOWN
Miles Of Fine Territory In Arkansas
Completely Submerged and the
River Continues to RIse-u. S.
VIII Help Care for Sufferers.

Memphis, Tenn, March 20.-The feel
ing of hope that was produced yesterday
and last night by the Mississippi river
coming to a stand at this point with forty
feet on the gauge, was dispelled TO-DAY
by the occurrence of two additional
breaks in the st. Francis levees, north OF
the first crevasse at Trice's Landing
Arkansas, and the grave reports that are
being received from Mississippi points,
as well as by a rise of one-tenth here
Today the st. Francis levees gave way
at Random Spot and Shawnee Village,
Ark, the first about forty-two miles from
Memphis and the second about thirty-hve
miles Both crevasses are reported to be
serious the one at Shawnee being the
worst of the three. The two bretks today
will probably slightly increase the water
in the territory of Arkansas, which was
flooded by the break at Trice's and in ad-
dition they are flooding a vast scope OF
country which has thus far been free
of any considerable amount of water.
The situation therefore in Arkansas. is
much complicated and made more grave
than at any time during the flood Just
what will be the extent of the damage
and suffering will not be known for sew
eral days. The calamities have come SO
thick and fast that relief measures have
been and must be for several days COM
pletely inadequate.
Levees Are Weakening.
The long line of leyees that guard the
river front of Mississippi and protect the
vast and fertile delta region of that state
and which have thus far stood nrm
against the great flood. are reported to
be in a critical condition at many points
and news of disasters from that county
will not be surprising. At points, the
water.is siping through the embankments'
flooding villages and plantations, and at
other places the embankment Is over
topped by the flood and enormous guam
titles of water are being discharged INTO
the country behind the earthworks. Ihe
most encouraging feature tonight Is the
fact that the river here has renamed
stationary all day and falling stage Is
reported from ST. Louis, Cairo and other
points on the Mississippi and its tribu-
taries. The stage this morning was 4o.l
feet a rise of i in twelve hours. Inc
stage has not changed during the day.
This is the greatest ever recorded ana
sets a new maximum. 1t is hoped that
the fall will b, gin tonight or tomorrow.
The two new breaks on the Arkansas
shore are thought to be having con-
siderable influence on the stage, and the
water being discharged through them and
ilxF
river in check here, and for this reason
the standing stage Is not received with
the satisfaction that it would otherwise
give.
Refugees Arriving.
Refugees are continuing to arrive in
great numbers and the facilities are too
limited to care for them. In response to
a telegram asking for aid from Mayor
Williams of this city, Secretary of war
Root has answered that he will supply all
needed tents as we'll provions for the
flood sufferers.
This offer will be accepted and 1t will
be of great assistance to the authorities
in handling the proposition for caring Tor
the needy. These tents will be pitched on
vacant lots and commissaries will be es-
tablished so that all the destitute may
be cared for Secretary Root was au-
thorized today by the cabinet to give
the aid sought and the prompt action
of the secretary and the cabinet has
eiven the greatest satisfaction to the peo-
pie of the city, as well as to those OF
the surrounding territory who have been
attempting to cope with the grave situa-
ton that confronts them.
out of the refugee situation there is
growing a great hardship on the city and
the planters of the regions that are not
as yet Hooded.
Impositions Practiced.
From the protected sections able-bodied
negro men and their entire families are
coming to the city In large numbers, os-
tensibly as flood refugees. but 1t Is claim
ed their real purpose is to escape work
and be cared for by the city and chari-
table organizations. This is not only
increasing the city's burden, but Is work.
ing great hardships upon the planters,
as they cannot secure laborers who are
SO adly needed just at present. There
is practically no way to set apart the
imposters from the genuine and destitute
refugees AM there seems no way OF re-
lief from the imposition
The railroad situation west of Memphis
shows no Improvement although the
various systems that have mad tneir
tracks washed away by the food are maxi
ing strenuous efforts and sparlng no
money to open their tracks. 1t is re-
ported tonight that traffic is still com
pletely suspended and no predictions OF
the time for relief can yet be made The
two crevasses of today may tend to COM
plicate the situation and 1t is highly prob
able that this new in-pouring of water
will destroy tracks at other points in
Arkansas to the west of the present gaps
Railroads Handling Passengers.
BY roundabout ways the railroads are
carrying westbound passengers to their
destinations. The Yazoo and Mississippi
Valley railroad opened its transfer sys-
tenn to Lakeview, Miss, this morning. 1t
Is announced that the Choctaw will en-
deavor to send its passengers west over
the Yazoo and Mississippi transfer boat
and tracks to Helena. Ark. thence to For
est City over the Iron Mountain tracks
where its own system will be encountered
and thence over its own tracks to the
west This announcement was made today
by General Passenger Agent George Lee
through District Passenger Agent Good
rich here.
In the city the situation is about the
same. Much Of the manufacturing dis