The Cairo bulletin., 1912-06-12
when the attention Of The Sui
etia il sailed to any mimtatemeni
II fact or to any error concerning
sny man or thing, corrections viii
,heerfully DO mads.)
Camnairning For Lives

An unexpected backyard VISIT Dy
the Father of Waters" 10 the farms
and cities of half a dozen States
means more of human suffering than
freak picture in metropolitan
daily of Mississippi sidewheeler
moored between a farmers house and
his barn conveys. Rowboat rescueS
from second story windows and
house tops sound interesting and ro-
mantle in stories, but the Intensity
of the situation high water condi-
tons cause is realized by few, judg-
ing by the slow response to the APP
peals of the Red Cross for the Mis-
slssippi flood victims. Hundreds OF
houses are so deeply submerged that
they are on the point of floating
away They are so lightly poised
that the waves caused by this relief
steamers are likely to start them
moving. In some instances when
steamers seem careless, householders
bring out their guns and threaten to
shoot the pilot. This generally has
the desired effect of reducing speed
to minimum.
Frequently frightened women
and children clinging to roofs" de-
clared Ernest P. Bicknell, director
Of the American Red Cross, in a tele
gram to New York. fear TO try to
enter the boats and must be seized
and lifted by the rescuers. A boat
on which the writer spent some time,
one night between midnight ana
daylight rescued from house tops
and scaffolds, ninety-three persons
and over twenty mules, cows and
pigs. The crazed cattle had to be
drawn struggling to the side of the
barge and hoisted. half drowned, to
safety amid great splashing and
kicking. In the pickering light of
lanterns the scene was one never to
be forgotten The grief of the refu-
gees gave touch of pathos which
saddened all"
After the army distribution of
ratfoffs," says the Survey, land be
fore the flood victims have had time
to produce any kind of growing erop
there will come an interval which
all are anticipating with dread
After the water goes, when the far
mer reaches his home he finds the
house in bad condition, outbuildings
carried away, fences destroyed anl
not pound or bushel Of grain fol
his live stock. He Is almost as help
less as when in the refugees camps
and Is cut off from the support h
received in camp. The army viii
soon have completed its part anc
now the public must assume the bur
den"
All of the sorrow and misery Or
casioned by the food Is entirely for
Senate amendments, simply becaus,
OF a few technical points. The gov
eminent has neglected the rivers a
long as nature will permit and /
something is not done in the i'm
mediate future, there will be NOR
misery and suffering among the PEG
pie Of the Valley.
Unless special appropriation /
made for the rebuilding Of Cairo
levees. there is little hope of tn
city receiving aid from any othe
governmental source, The chief G
engineers already has ruled that hi
department cannot repair, or rebuilt
levees unless as an aid to naviga
ton. This rule doubtless would ar
ply to Cairo and other adjacer
points, for the rivers are Away
navigable in this vicinity.
To the humble citizen, it appeal
as If the Democratic House is M
going to give the Republican Senat
an opportunity to gain any laure
through river legislation. and If tn
is true, 1t, will in time becon
known. Then the Democratic par
will be punished for the greedine
of its representatives.
The levee appropriations shou
not be permitted to become polit
cal issues. 1t Is very well to ma
political capital out of legislati,
that does not affect human life, b
never should 1t be thought Of VIII
tens of thousands Of human bein
are threatened.
The House will BE- guilty Of t
III q &
y 1 4 al