Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-03-19
MUCH SUFFERING
RESULT OF FLOOD
Every Effort Being Made To
Care For Refugees.
LOSS OF LIFE MAY BE HEAVY.
Believed that Highest Point of Water
Has Now Been Reached-Weathe
Conditions Are More Favorable and
the Worst Is Evidently over.

The worst is Evidently over.
Memphis, Tenn, March 18.-The
river stands at 1915 feet this morning
and is stationary. The levees contin-
ue to hold and only one break is re-
ported in the St. Francis system
that at Trice's Landing, 20 miles north
of here. The waters of the big
stream are rushing through this Gre
vase at a fearful rate and are food
ing the Arkansas basin south The
town of Marian, in Crittenden coun-
ty, is in desperate straits and it's in
habitants are greatly alarmed at the
rapid encroachments of the food.
Hundreds of refugees are in Marian
and every available building is being
used to house these unfortunates.
The Frisco railroad, which runs
through the town, is under water and
the people have no means of getting
out This fact was reported to Pres
ident HilIough, of the ST. Francis levee
board, and he announced that If the
situation warranted it he would cut
the Ievee near Mount City so as to
allow steamboats, to get through to
Marian.
Reports of loss of life in remote
sections are current, but only in two
cases it Is believed death occurred.
The body of an unknown white woman
was found in the water near Mound
City and the corspse of negro was
taken from the overflowed district.
All railroads entering the city from
the west are badly hampered by the
rising torrent and in many cases their
schedules have been annulled. From
every direction today Games reports
of rescuing parties. The levee here is
crowded with poor negroes who were
picked up by the steamboats, and
brought to this city. The city author
tiles have turned over several build
ings for their use and they are being
cared for by the Sunshine Society.
A meeting of prominent negro citi.
zens has been called for tonight and
steps will be taken to help take care
of the refugees.
A dispatch from Covington, Tenn,
states that Island So, which is consid-
cred one of the highest in the north
end of the river, is flooded for the first
time in its history. Sixty persons
were rescued from the island this
morning by a steamer
Reports from Helena state that the
people of North Helena are alarmed
over the food situation.
The Huntington levee in Bolivar
county, Mississippi, continues to hold
Hundreds of laborers are working day
and night in an effort to strengthen
the embankment.
The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley
railroad has opened lines again. The
tracks have been raised and regular
schedules We're resumed today. The
Illinois Central is running all trains,
and its officers do not anticipate any
further trouble.
The situation in North Memphis is
unchanged. People are transferred
in skiffs and many people are idle be
cause of the shutting down of several
lHuuSIIlGS.
The railroad situation west of the
river is probably the most serious ever
experienced by the lines. Not a train
Is moving in or out of Memphis on the
Frisco, Iron Mountain, Choctaw and
Cotton Belt lines. The latter road
uses the Iron Mountain tracks from
Fair Oaks to Memphis and has a pas.
senger train tied up at Blanton, s
miles west of Memphis Two pas.
senger trains are tied up on the 'Fris.
CO, one near Wynne, Ark, and the
other 3 miles west OF Bridge Junction
The officials of the lines are doing
everything possible to get these trains
into Memphis. superintendent Flick
niger, of the Frisco, announces that
the passengers are being cared for
and he hopes to move the trains be
fore night