The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-14
Montgomery and Selma Are Threatened With Dark
 ness By Night TRAFFIC IS CRIPPLED OVER THE ENTIRE STATE The Alabama Reaches 5o-Foot Stage at Montgomery and Is Still Rising. Danger Warnings Sent
 Ahead.

Montgomery, March 13.-Montgomery is threatened with the greatest flood in the history of the city. The Alabama river tonight is nearing the 50-foot flood stage and is still rising. The weather bureau predicts 55-foot stage by tomorrow morning, and by tomorrow night it may go still higher. There is danger tonight of the city being thrown into darkness, as 1t Is feared that the waters may reach the steam plants of both the electric light companies and the plant of the gas works. People living in North Montgomery were warned today to move immediately, and that part of the city has been a scene of activity all day, the police aiding the fam flies fin getting away to places of safety.
 Across the river from Montgomery there is a sea of water, extending as far as the eye can sec The tops of trees which formerly stood high on the banks are barely discernable. The water is under the tracks of the Louisville and Nashville railroad at the foot of Commerce street and the Union railway station is in dan ger of being flooded
 So far no fatalities have occurred. There was one or two narrow escapes to-
  swollen stream.
 Today a force of laborers began a barri- cade against the probability of the gas plant being crippled. A stage near 60 feet would cut off the, gas service, and a brick wall is being constructed to keep the waters out of the building. The greatest alarm is felt here over the fact that all industries which use motor power may have to suspend. This would include the three newspaper plants.
 The lowiands in Scotts' Bend are threat :. ened, and this will include the big fertil- izer plants north of the city.
 Much uneasiness prevails here about the condition of families living along the course of the river on the Fillmore county side. Vague reports are being received about persons being cut off by the high water on isolated highlands that are only a few feet above the flood. The United States government boat Twining is now steaming up and expects to start soon on six-mile trip up the river to rescue a party which is reported marooned on an island. During Sunday the Twining will visit negro settlements in the vicinity of Jackson's lake, the LeGrand place and other plantations along the river to aid those who are in danger.
 Drivers Row, a negro quarter that intersects McDonough street, is inundated by the high water, the river being above the floors of the negro cabins Mayor Teague tonight ordered the city teams to that section of the city to move the ne- groes and their furniture from the danger zone.
 Information reached the city this after noon that the Tallapoosa river had broken over its retaining banks near the eignt- mile post on the lower Wetumpka road, and that several plantations are being flooded The state farm is completely iso- lated. and it Is predicted that serious tro,,ble will be experienced. Roads are balna submerged, making traffic extreme iy dangerous from washouts
 At noon today the merchants or We- tumpka began moving their goods from stores and business Is practically sus- pended. s.. .,,.. If was reported late this afternoon that Tallassee dam had been swept away, but ,nvestigation showed this report to be an error. The telephone line to Tallassee Is down tonight but 1t was learned that the water was roaring over the dam with crest of IA feet. and that the r1ver was still rising.
 Tolectric power here is supplied from Ii is still raining here tonight.
 Lights May Go Out.
 Selma. March 13.-(Special. .)-Tonight the Selma Lighting company announces that a rise of about six feet in the river here will put the city in total darkness, no sar as electricity is concerned. A rise oS ten feet will put out of business both eiectr,c and gas plants and will entail tha greatest inconvenience and the shut t,ng down of many plants that depend unon this source for power. At p. m. inc auage shows 46.3 feet but the warning received here this morning tnat .no sa ..sea vo,ld 20 to 57 feet by Monday mas caused tha widest apprehension. The rise during tba dav has been about an Inch an hour ana if is at 10 oclock tonight raining hard. with reports from all over the watershed the same.
 The raging waters are ominous ana citizens in the eastern portion or the citv where the back waters will come are making preparations to move out In 1888 the water went to about 50 feet. If this stage is reached there will De great loss to the manufacturing interests and to practically all of the eastern DOT ton of the city. A higher rise than in 1886 will likely sweep away the county free bridge and perhaps the Louisville and Nashville railroad bridge.
 This morning the water overfiowed the baseball park on the south side of the river, and is within two three feet of roipR over the road leading to south Dal- las. Thousands of people have visited the river bank and as they turn away they express the hope that the scenes of 1ss8 will not be repeated. There were many lives lost and hundreds of heads of cattle in the flood of that year.
 Damaue at Anniston.
 Admission, March 13.--(gpecial)-In a telephone conversation with the Lathrop- Hatton Lumber company this afternoon if was stated that the Coosa river at Riverside is higher than it has been in