The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-04-05
STAGE OF A FEET
SURE At MEMPHIS
IN THE MISSISSIPPI
SITUATION GROWS MORE sERl-
GUS EACH HOUR AND END
NOT IN SIGHT.


NOT IN SIGHT.
GOV. OBSERVER SAYS CAUTION
Desotation, Distress and Disaster
Have Followed the Wake Of the
Flosd ard Thousands Have Been
Rendered home@sss.
MEMPHIS, Apr. 3.-WHh . stays
of n feet certain and forecasts fof
even a foot more within the next few
days. the food situation has assun-
ed the graysst aspect in the history
of the river. Tens Of thousands OF
homes along either side Of the lcyees
above and below Memphis are me-
naced while fear Is felt up and down
the river that break may occur mo-
|mentaritly.
| s. c. Emery, government weather
observer, said Tuesday morning that
he would advise persons living be-
yond the levees to prepare for flight.
The end of the food was believed to
have been in sight Monday, but gen.
eral rains through the Mississippi
valley and continuous rises in the
tributaries above have combined in
adding to the gravity Of the situa-
ton. Experts Tuesday confessed that
they do not know when the crest will
be reached
Reports are current in Memphis
that the leyee at New Madred, Mo-,
had broken and that there had been a
frightful loss of life and property.
These rumors, however, lack confirm
alton. but color is added to the re-
port by tho fact that the government
weather bureau has had no word
from there since Monday night.
The pressure is greater now, say
engineers and others, than the pres
ent levees were intended to stand.
The food, even at this stage, ia I'M
precedented, nd with fully three feet
more in sight few dare to predict the
outcome.
Desolation, distress and disaster
have followed In the wake Of the
food Reports Of suffering and
heavy losses come from every quar-
ter. while thousands of refugees
whose homes and crops have been
ruined are praying for relief.
In North Memphis the overlooking
of the Bayou Gayoso is growing more
serious each moment. Main street
from Mill avenue to the l.. \ N.
tracks, is from eight to eighteen
inches under water. Scores Of fami.
lies have been driven from their
homes and an area extending from
the river to Third street, and, from
Greenlaw avenue to the l. & N.
tracks. and along either side OF the
bayou beyond Jackson avenue, IL IN
undated at various depths.
All night long an army Of city en-
ployes battled with the rapidly rising
waters. Sand bags and hastily built
levees failed, however, to stay the
progress Of the food.
At l o'clock Commissioner Love, |
who has been in active charge If the
local situation, believed the worst |
had been passed. Constant seepage
and overlooking of the banks pro-
crossed during the night, and day
light found conditions far more So
"ious than had ever been anticipated. |
Firemen, policemen and volunteers,
led by Mayor Crump, spent several |
busy hours Monday night in rescuins |
residents from homes in the inundat-
ed district.
Railroad traffic in and out of Mem. |
phis has been seriously impaired.
Trains are running from 30 minutes |
10 10 hours late. Schedules are de-
moralized and all traffic is maintain
ID with the greatest care. From ev-
cry section comes reports of under.
mined tracks and bridges.
Memphis gas supply continues TO
be threatened. AS long as the levee
iolds, according to a statement Tues.
lay morning, the gas plant of the
Memphis Consolidated Gas and Elec.
&c Company, will continue in opera.
ion. The situation, however, Is said
% depend entirely upon the protec-
ion of the levee.
Writ J. Wills, superintendent of
he Memphis water department. savs
nat there is as yet no cause for I'M
easiness over the city's supply ana
that four or FIVE feet more can be