The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-04-05
HUNDREDS ARE
MADE HOMELESS
Flood at Hickman, KY,
Causes Destruction.
Appeal Made to Governor to
Send Assistance to
Refugees.

! Hickman, KY, April 2-With 2
900 persons homeless. property DANA,
estimated at s25O,OOc, railroad traffi
at standstill and two of the larges
manufacturing plants in the city closed
West Hickman and Hickman face tn
gravest situation in the history of tn
two towns. Added peril is ahead as .
rise of another foot in the Mississippi
River, which broke over the levee las
night and flooded wide area 4
predicted
With the exception of one telegraph
and one telephone wire, Hickman is GU
off from the outside world except b,
way of river. The telegraph office
Is swamped with business, and the
operator is fatigued from many hours ol
continuous work.
APPEAL TO GOVERNOR.
Gov. McCreary was requested by
telegraph today to take steps to send
provisions to residents of West Hickman
who have been forced from their homes,
who at present are being cared for in
private homes and by means made
possible by tile city authorities. Judge
Naylor made the request of the Governor
Tents have been ordered sent to the
refugees both of the United States
Government officials and by the State
authorities but these have not arrived.
and 1t Is expected that it will be at lea st
another day and possibly two more befor
it WIN be possible for the railroads to
resume operations.
BIG PLANT CLOSED. I
The Mengel Box Company.the largest
points, has suffered the
heaviest loss and when this plant was
closed down today $50 persons were
thrown out Of employment. Water
to depth Of ten and twelve feet covers
the plantand twenty inches of water
stands in the offices. 1t is said that the
loss suffered by this plant alone will be
The Hickman Wagon Company also
was forced to close its plant today
and the seventy-five persons in the
employ of the company are out of work
West Hickman is one sheet of water.
Eight hundred homes in this section are
and dozen stores are
reaches the second story of the buildings
and In lot of the homes the water stan
10 depth of from halfway to the
telling of the first floor to the ceiling
Itself.
GOVERNMENT LEvEE
Taking steps to prevent a great
urther damage to property and loss INF
livestock, 400 men left Hickman today
o aid In the work of strengthening tile
Government levee four miles beloIw
hickman. Late tonight 1t was declared
hat this wall is apparently strong
nough to withstand the increased
PRESSURE Of water due to.the rise in the
liver.
Not a wheel of a railroad train has
moved near Hickman In the past thirty
lours. The tracks are covered by four
eet Of water and the station Of the Chi
ago. Mexico & Gulf railroad is mum
ated. The Nashville. Chattanooga n
i. Louis depot will be under water by
morning.
BREAK 100 FEET LONG.
When train operations are resumed It
tll be impossible for the trains to enter
he city. and at present 1t Is declared
hat they will be unable to come closer
han mile to the city proper.
The break in the levee extends about
" feet and is In part Of the wall con-
tructed by the c.. n. & q. railroad.
he break Is In the center Of the levee.
As the waters flooded West Hickman
ersons were forced to rush from their
ONES to save themselves. and clothing,
'inkets. furniture. and everything
se WAS left behind. Thus. the poorer
tizens who are without food and shelter
ow are forced out IL work through
le closing of the largest manufacturing
ANTS have nothing except the clothing
4 their backs.
ENTIRE FAMILY SAVED.
One man. John Allison. nor the men,
ire OF his family. heard the alarm that
az sounded ~ the levee gave way. and
Was a mere chance thai they escaDed