Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-05-02

The long anticipated break in the chaiG
of levees in the Fifth Levee District Of
Louisiana occurred early last Sunday
morning, just below the Concordis- Tensas
line, resulting in disaster to several par
ishes, Concordia being the greatest suf-
ferer.
The Natchez Democrat issued most
creditable extra on Monday morning,
giving full details OF the crevasse. The
Gazette produces below excerpts from
that issue:
Owing to the great interest and import
ance of the break in the levee at Vau-
cluse, or lower Lake st. John, which was
reported as "Hole-in-the- WalP' yester-
day morning, the Democrat this morn
ing presents additional details, so that its
readers may have full and complete ac-
count of the work done by the relief
crews Of the various steamers, tugs, the
New Orleans 4 Northwestern Railway
and the Cumberland Telephone Co.
There were no laggards in any direc-
ton, every man in Natchez being willing
to lend helping hand.
The break being much lower down than
the one of last year, there is probability
that the water will run off faster than it
did last year. At least this is the hope
INDUCED by all.
Lower Lake st. John levee in Concor-
dia parish, ten miles above Ferriday, La,
was one of the strongest and soundest in
the Fifth Louisiana Levee District and
when it broke the Mississippi river poured
its food waters into Concordia parish
with roar that could be heard Tor miles.
The crevasse will food Concordia, the
lower part of Tensas, which lies Cd the
north, and parts of Franklin and Cata-
houla parishes, on the west. 1t will find
its way back into the Mississippi through
Black and Red Rivers.
Ferridsy, a Aourishing town of one
thousand, the junction point for the St.
Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Rail-
way, the New Orleans & Northwestern,
Memphis, Helena & Louisiana and the
Texas & Pacific Railroads, with the rail-
road shops of the former road, will be
; flooded this morning.
Lake st. John neighborhood is in the
richest agricultural part Of Concordia
parish, both sides of the lake being dotted
with larAe plantations and handsome
plantation homes. Some of these will be
swept away, as the gap in the levee has
widened to a half mile and is Is feet
deep Large trees Immediately in the
path of the crevasse water were uprooted,
cottages and barns and quarters for field
hands were swept away. A large rice
warehouse was lifted into the air and de-
stroyed. as though it were made of paper.
Although the people of the parish were
Expecting break somewhere in the levee
system, they were totally unprepared for
a crash at this spot, as the levee was 2s
feet high, with q strong, wide base, well
seasoned and covered with live grass.
In anticipation of break, on account
of the revised forecast predicting 54.5
feet at Natehez, planters In all parts OF
the parish had been sending their stock
to Natchez and what was not sent out,
was bearded, ready for shipment. Only
Friday night, the steamer Betsy Ann
made two special trips to Lake st. John
and brought full loads of cattle and mules
to this city. Saturday 1900 head of cat
tie and mules were brought over from
the parish, and the streets of Vidalis
look like well filed stock-yards. The
ferry-boat disregarded its schedule and
made trips as fast as the stock could be
loaded at Vidalia and unloaded at Nat
chez.