The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-06
The SITUATION
IS DESPERATE

| IS DESPERATE
CContirued from Page One.l
Reelfoot lake territory have gathered
| at Ridgley, where there is high ground.
Practically all the live stock on the
lowlands of Lake county has been
drowned and it is reported two chill
dren of refugees lost their lives as they
fled last night.
The Ohio LIS Failing.
Cincinnati, April 6.-After reaching
height of 52.S feet, or 2.S feet above
the flood stage, the Ohio river began
falling here toady. Further danger of
a serious flood is believed to have
passed.
No Mail for Seven Days.
Tiptonville, April 6.-An appeal
has been sent to Governor Hooper
asking that the state help feed the
refugees and that supplies be sent to
the highlands, where hundreds of cat
tie were driven before the Hickman
Ievee broke.
The gradual spread of the water in
Lake county is seen in a recorded rise
of not more than four inches in the
Reelfoot lake last night at Upton
VILE. The highest point, it is expect
ed. will be reached today.
All of Dwyer county between Lake
and Dyer, Tenn, is submerged, but
the people escaped, most of them, it
is said, with their livestock.
Three villages in Lake county are
entirely under water and have been
deserted by their inhabitants. They
are Hathaway, Reelfoot and Bessie.
No mail has been received at Tip
tonville for seven days.
Stationary at Kansas City.
Kansas City, April 6.-After reach
ing a depth of 1926 feet above low
water mark, the Missouri river be-
came stationary today. All other
streams near here were falling and II
was believed the Missouri would begin
to reCede tonight.
Rescue Party Goes Out.
Hickman, KY, April "a rescuing
party of 20 men, with 2 boats, de-
parted today on a relief train to take
off many persons said TO be marooneo
On house tops, mcored RATS and tree
, tops in the Ree1foOt section. No de-
finite news of loss of life has been re-
ceived. The water covers a country
10 miles wide and SO miles long. This
greatly will be increased, it is De-
lieved, within "a hours.
Still Going Up at ST. Louis.
st. Louis, April 6.-The Mississippi
river gauge registered 30.7 feet here
today. The river is expected to re-
main between 30.5 feet and 81 feet
, for several days. The MISSISSIPPI Is
rising from Keokuk, Ia, and the Mis-
souri,, which empties into the Missis-
sippi north of here, also showed d
slight rise today. Although both riv~
ers are above the danger mark, no
great damage has been DONE
Taft on Relief Measures.
Washington, April 6.-President Taft
today sent letters to Chairman Fftz-
gerald, of the house appropriations
committee, and Senator-elect James
(Kyl, bearing on relief measures for
the Mississippi flood sufferers.
Il - 1frtIr fn II a "
appropriation for the purpose of buying
! food and other supplies until officers
reach the ground and give US some idea
| of the amount needed and the extent Of
the suffering and destitution,' said Mr..
Taft in his letter to Mr.. Fitzgerald.
Meantime, before any appropriation
| is made he continued, 'the secretary
of war will not hesitate to use the army
, supplies whatever is Immediately need
ed and 1 have no doubt that he has
near at hand a sufficient amount to re-
| lieve such suffering as can be relieved
| in that way"
| The letter to Senator-elect James
| contained practically the same infor-
| nation.
IT beg to assure you,'' it read, that
SO far as action of congress is concern
| ed, whatever action is taken the fur
nishing of supplies by the war depart
ment will not be for a moment delayed
| as soon as it is learned what is needed
| TO rel1oV0 the people II6r0. we nave
| supplies on hand for immediate use and
we shall expect to be reimbursed by
congressional appropriations for what
is used"
| Senator James said the president
probably later would send a special
message to congress asking the reim-
bursement spoken of in his letter.
When the Levee Broke.
Tiptonville, Tenn, April 6.-when
| the levee near Hickman, KY, broke
| yesterday afternoon letting the flood
waters of the Mississippi into the Reel
| foot lake country, the warning was
/ flashed by telephone and, where wires
| did not reach, couriers were dis
| patched.
Farmers and villagers who pre-
! viously had declined to abandon their
homes were anxiously awaiting word
| of the result of the fight to hold the
| Ievee.
They were ready to flee for the
| highlands as soon as the warning
| reached them.
| Because of the break in the 1evee
at Hickman, the Mississippi here is
not rising this morning, the flood wat
| ers running through the lake coun-
| try, east of here.
Now it is faered there may be a
| break in the Mississippi levee on the
state line. If this occurs, water will
| rush through the northwestern coun-
| ties from two sources.