Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-02-18
TIE men vAIER.

AuOut OsOV SioSn on
morning the levee at Limerick plant
alton. in the first ward, of Tensas
parish gave way without warning
and in an unlocked for location,
the crevasse rapidly widening until
now it is possibly 800 feet in width.
The waters rushed through the
opening with terrific speed and soon
had inundated all Of Lake St. Joseph
country, and filling up Lake st: Jo-
seph. overflowed its hanks and en-
tered the town Of Newellton. By
Thursday morning the water had
reached stand at Newellton, hav-
ing attained depth Of from one to
seven feet in that town and covering
the railroad tracks for some dis
lance. On Thursday morning the
water was within sight Of St. Joseph
and BY noon was entering the town.
filling all bitches and covering the
plank road far up into the residen-
tial section. Down ut the depot the
water is possibly 3 feet deep on the
plank road near the railroad tracks
and has filled up the Price field and
school section and is rapidly ap-
preaching the Court House square.
It is not thought, however, the
water will enter the Court House
yard proper. since this yard is pos
sibly q foot higher than the neigh
boring streets. but it is probable
that most Of the yards in the rear OF
the Court House square will 60 I'M
der water to various depths, but
whether deep enough to enter the
houses or not is entirely speculative
and on which there is a variety Of
opinion and which only time can tell.
Tho steamers Uncle Oliver. Sena-
tor Cordill and ]. H. Menge have
been busy doing relief work and the
very unusual spectacle Of having
three large boats landed at the levee
in front Of St. Joseph was enjoyed
BY our people this week. Several
thousand head OF live stock have
been cent away by river and rail.
We understand an effort will be
made to tie the ends Of the crevasse
but reports from the break are that
same are not crumbling fast, hence
it may not be necessary to make
this attempt.
The crevasse is great disaster to
the parish and will affect many of
our people, who have lost heavily.
in some instances their all. Fortu-
nately the loss Of life is reduced
to the minimum and only several
deaths from drowning among the
colored. population have been re-
ported. The suffering, however,
among the strickened ones by reason
Of the cold has been great and they
will yet have much to endure before
the water recedes, unless provision
for their care can be made. Many
have been taken to Natchez and
vicksburg.
Al We 90 to press we are glad to
he able to announce that the situa-
tion is rapidly improving and our
people are becoming more optimis.
tic. Good reports come from Ash.
wod, Claggett. Botany Bay and
Kempe levees, which have given US
more or less uneasiness, and now we
feel satisfied no further break is an.
ticimted. The water is not entering
St. Joseph as fast as expected and
will not attain any very respectable
depth. In fact, from present out
look the water will not get up on the
streets as far as the Court House.
though Of course the bitches in this
vicinity are filing. All Of the town
: is high and dry east OF a line drawn
from the Court House north to the
plank road and it is not deemed
probable that water will get this fal
up. The levee ahout Pamela has
kept the bulk ~ the water out OF st.
Joseph, and which explains why We
have been On mnch more fortunate
than expected. With a continuance
Of good weather We will yet be able
TO pass the water by without in.
creased trouble.