Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
Although Reports From Up,
per Mississippi and Ohio
Indicate Declines, No Re
lief is in Sight.
DEATH LIST is NOW
PLACED AT EIGHTEEN
Early Reports Today Said
Levee at Cairo Had Bro
ken But 1t Was Found
Flood Was Back Water.

While reports today from upper
stretches Of river territory We're on
the whole, encouraging to thousands of
high water refugees in towns along the
Mississippi, nevertheless indications
continued to point to the development
of an even more serious food situa-
tiOn in the lower valley than now ex-
lists. Today was marked by the usual
number Of alarming rumors of serious
disasters, many proving erroneous up
on investigation. The back water
from drainage pump at Cairo ILL.,.
led to the report that the levee which
protects Cairo from the Ohio river,
had broken and that the city was
doomed. A prompt denial of this re-
port was made by the United States
weather observer at Cairo, who said
no serious danger was apprehended.
The crest Of the flood will not be
reached in the st. Louis-Memphis
stretch Of the Mississippi for a day or
two and, even In the event of con-
tinuous fair weather, the immense
volume OF water now pouring into the
Mississippi from it's numerous tribu-
taries threatens critically high stages
at lower river points.
The crest OF the present food wave
in the Ohio Is expected Ats- -I,ouisville
during Saturday night or Sunday,
The death list throughout the food
area today reached eighteen. "A
family of five was drowned In the same
neighborhood and logger In eastern
Kentucky lost his life..
Fear For Levee Works.
Hickman, KY, April 5.--Workers
are toiling this morning to strength
en- the levee, close the breaks and
beat back the flood. The climax or
the catastrophe may come at any mo-
ment with the Reel Foot levee below
here. Hundreds Of men are trying to
strengthen it and should it go out
unexpectedly 1t is feared many lives
would be lost, as the means Of escape
for the workers is limited. The river
already is washing over the top OF
the levee in many places and several
ominous leaks have been discovered
and stopped In the last twenty-four
hours.
Thieves are becoming active in the
flooded section of West Hickman and
county authorities are discussing the
advisability of asking for company
of militia to protect property.
Many Have Narrow Escape.
Refugees continue to arrive in great
number. Mrs. William Venters OF
Island No. 8, who was rescued by a
launch is almost distracted because
her husband and children were left be.
hind, having taken refuge in the attic
of their home. To such retreats she
says the inhabitants OF the island were
driven several days ago.
One woman walked twelve miles in
eight hours with six children. She
carried the youngest.
A family from Missouri spent half
day In rowing across the river in a
skif and the men were nearly ex-
hausted before they got to the gulf
current. A steamer is plying along
the river below here picking UP ma.
rooned residents. Scores have been
rescued in this manner.
Three hundred are quartered at
Tiptonville, Tenn. Organized relief
work is being successfully carried on
here with the means at hand and as
funds arrive the refugees will at least
be spared hardship Of hunger Wagons,
trains to East Hickman mile away,
arrived from Fulton, KY, and Union
City, Tenn. The Nashville, Chatta-
nooga & ST. Louis railroad is running
trains to East Hickman mile away,
where temporary station has been
erected.
On the hill where tents have been
put up the women of Hickman assisted
in preparing the camp for the refugees,
distributing food, clothing and bed
ding.
The Situation in Cairo.
Cairo, ILL.,, April 5.-The drainage
district north of Cairo this morning
presented desolate scene. The lum-
Der from houses and sheds under the
debris floats about the district in wa
ter probably ten feet deep while here
and there the tops of houses may be
seen floating about.
The water went into the eastern part
Of the district last night with rush
and roar. The lumber piles at the
lumber yards were turned over and
tossed about like toothpicks. Water
reached the subway under the Illinois
Central bridge approach shortly before
dark and at midnight had almost
reached the top Of the bulkhead when
1T reached it's level. All Of the work