The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1903-04-08
MORE LEVEES BREAK
City of GreenviIIe, Mississippi,
at Mercy Of Flood.
WA1ERY AVALANCHE LOOSENED
An Enormous Crevasse Threatens
Widespread Destruction-SeV-
eral Minor Breaks are Re-
ported at Various Points.

Breaks in the leyees along the Mis-
sissippi are reported as follows: Cd
About 40 miles above New Orleans.
CD a few miles below Greenville, and
go at Duvalls Landing, Miss. The
stages at lower river points, however,
have not materially changed.
Advices from Greenville, Miss,
state that volume of water 16 feet
deep and over coo fec in length is
pouring steadily through cTcvasse in
the levee five miles south OF the city
and is flooding thousands Of acres OF
the finest farming land in the cele-
brated Yazoo delta, regarded by many
to be the most fertile in the world.
The break in the levee occurred at
II O'Clock Friday morning and the
roar of the rushing waters could cas-
lily be heard in GreenVille. Only 200
feet of the embanKment gave way al
first and mighty effort was made by
hundreds of laborers in charge OF the
government engineers to check the
rushing flood by cribbing and sacking,
but it was soon apparent that it was
beyond human power to successfully
combat the restless fury Of the cur
rent. An hour later it was seen that
the ends of the levec on either side OF
the crevasse were melting fast, the
force Of the current cutting the en-
bankment away as though it were
built of sand.
When the first report of the break
reached the city the excitement was
intense and many people began to col
lect their valuables and held them
selves in readiness to move away at
moments notice. Shortly after night
fall the backwater reached the city.
Major John N. Sears. who has
charge of the government office in
Greenvile, in the absence of Captain
Potter, in an interview stated that
the break is unquestionGbly the worst
in the history of the ievee system. He
says the entire delta south as far as
Vicksburg will be inundated and the
fine farming lands in Washington.
Bolivar and Sharkey counties will be
under water for more than two weeks
This is the first break to be report
ed on the Mississippi side since the
present rise began.
The situation at midnight grew rap
idly worse Work on the protection
levee through Main street was soon
abandoned and water reached Wash
ington avenue the highest point in
the city. Appeals for help began com
ing in from the Tuxedo and race track
additions and relief boats were hur-
ried to their relief
The news came from these addi-
tons that people were seen clinging
to roofs Of houses and RATS to escape
! the rising waters. Many lives have
been reported lost woman and five
children perishing in one house.
The southern part Of the city is en-
| tirely under water. Houses even as
high as Central avenue began filing
up and their inmates were forced to
upper floors for safety.
The city was in total darkness, wa
ter putting out the fires in the cleo
! trio light plants.
People Cut LeVces.
Interest in the flood situation at
New Orleans Friday conferred in the
break at Hymelia, near Lucy, La, 40
miles above the city, and the disas-
trous crevasse reported south Of
| Greenville Cotton men felt especial
concern with respect 10 the latter and
the announcement il private dis
patches, which were circulated on the
floor of the cotton exchange that 100
900 acres of the richest delta land
would probably go under water, crea-
ted feeling of depression.
Crevasse Cut Near Vickehurg.
A Vicksburg special says: The sec
ond crevasse OF tho day on the Mis-
sissippi occurred at Albemarle levee
/ in lower IssaQuena county at o'clock
/ Friday afternoon. Backwater from
/ Steeles bayou had already spread ali
over that section and was within five
feet Of the loyee's crown. consequent
/ ly not much damage viii result Re
ports from there state that the gap is
/ several hundred feet wide, but as the
water is running through with very
/ little force it can probably be closed.
/ The AIbemarle levee was an old piece
| of work and had been displaying dan
/ ger signals for week past
! The breaks in Washington and Issa-
quena counties will cause 9 suspen-
sion of traffic on the Yazoo and Mis-
sissippi Valley railroad north Of Ficks-
burg. the tracks for 10 miles or more
having already been covered ny water
to a depth Of 20 inches.