Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1912-04-05
MISSISSIPPI ON
4 RAMPAGE
GREATEST VOLUME IN HISTORY
SMELLS BANKS OF FATHER
OF WATERS.
ALL SOUTH is ALARMED.
Thousands Homeless, Vast Areas Un-
der Water-Armies Of Men and
Teams Fight to Strengthen
LeVeeS.

ST. Louis, April 3.-The greatest vol
ume of water to the history Of the
Mississippi river is held between two
hundred miles Of levees. They have
broken in several places and flooded
large areas. Breaks at Hickman, KY,
opposite on the Missouri side and at
Memphis have made thousands home
less and done untold damage. Warn
ings have been given, however, and
to date only two lives have been re-
ported lost. Two thousand persons,
marooned at Hickman are suffering
privation while trains with food sup
plies cannot be run into the city.
From Cairo, ILL.,, to Helena, Ark,
persons living near the river are aban-
dOning their homes and moving their
effects and live stock to higher ground.
Further breaks in the Kentucky and
Tennessee levees are expected and it
is feared the water will force it's way
through those of Arkansas and Mis-
sissippi.
Big Rise Is Looked For.
In the district between Hickman
Ky, and Helena, Ark, an average
further rise of two feet is expected
Heavy rains fell on the watersheds of
the Ohio. Tennessee and Cumberland
rivers and predictions made so far
may fall short Of the mark.
AS far south as New Orleans pre-
cautionary work is being done. Gov
ernor Sanders of Louisiana has issued
special instructions to all state levee
board members to press every avail
able workman into immediate service
in strengthening the levees Of that
state Thousands of men and teams
are working all along the flooded
stream and special trains, wherever
available, are carrying supplies.
Traffic on the Mississippi is practi-
cally paralyzed. Government steam
ers and ferry boats are the only craft
in operation. Hundreds of thousands
of dollars damage has been done in
the towns along the streams which
are pouring their flood into the Mis-
sissippi. AS far away as MiddlesborO,
KY, the effect is felt. There a large
part of the city is under from one to
three feet of water and flooded mines
in the district will keep hundreds of
miners idle for several days.
Thousands of Acres Flooded.
Memphis.-In the Memphis district
the river front is giving the greatest
concern. This levee is below the stan
dard size and in many places new.
The water is near the crest Of the en-
bankment and before the highest stage
is reached it is probable the levee will
be topped Modoc, Ark, 80 miles
south of Helena sent in an alarming
report of sloughing banks and aid is
being hurried to that point. In Ten
nessee the levy in Obion county,
water, is already being topped and
sand bags are being stacked on the
levee in ali effort to hold back the
iood
Memphis proper is facing a serious
situation. In North Memphis back
water from Wolf river, tributary OF
the Mississippi, has overfioWed BAYOU
Gayoso. Several hundred families
have been driven from their homes
and a score Or more of industrial
plants have been forced to suspend
Along Wolf river only two of the nu
merous saw mills are in operation
The city's gas plant is surrounded by
water. Train service is demoralized
Wisconsin Streams Swollen.
Durand, Wis.-Turned from the
channel by the largest ice jam ever
experienced in the lower Chippewa
valley, the rushing, food-swollen wa
tiers swept all obstacles from their
path in a disastrous race across the
river flats and the right of way of the
Chicago, Milwaukee e st. Paul rail-
road. Six miles south of the city sew
eral hundred feet of track and road
! bed have been destroyed.
Nebraska Situation Better.
! Omaha.-The flood situation in east
ern Nebraska was greatly relieved
when 1000 passengers who had re
manned in Omaha for 40 hours were
able to continue their journey west
ward.
The Union Pacific railroad was able
| to start Is overland trains westward
and % trains held up in Fremont eas1
/ during the night. The Burlington
Missouri Pacific and Rock island
roads also were in better condition
| and were able to establish limited
service.
Floods inundate Kentucky Mines.
Middlesboro, KY. - Yellow creel
overlooked and inundated part OF the
city to a depth Of from one to three
feet. All business was suspended
The mines in Mingo and Stony Forl
hollows were flooded. The water re
coded after few hours.