Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-06
CLAIM TOLL
Loss of Life in Louisiana Is
Believed Heavy.
EXPECT CLOSE FIGHT STANDS ON RECORD FLOODS CT
MARYLAND Preference May Be Taft Reviews Achievements of Loss of Life
Long in Doubt His Administration. Believed
BOTH PARTIES VOTING PERFECTION NOT AIMED ENTIRE FAM
Fulfill Republican
Cnvento Pledges
the of a
Fun Ito
ENTIRE FAMILIES DROWNED
Rescuers in Motor Boats Find House
tops Unoccupied.
THOUSAND YET TO BE SAVED
Town Of Bachelor Cut Off by Rail.
Congress Increases Relief
Fund to 81 ,23e, ,17e.

Uuu co p ,So0,1l
NEW ORLEANS, May 6-The first
levee breach reported today occurred on
the Atchafalaya river near Elba The
flood pouring through this new break
adds to the menace about the town of
Melville. Water is now rushing over
Pointe Coupee parish from two sources. a
break in the Mississippi levee already
having inundated part Of the parish.
Hundreds of persons who have remained
in this district are in imminent danger.
NEW ROADS. La, May 6.-FIood refu-
gees reaching here early today declare
there has been loss of life in that part of
Louisiana inundated by the swift waters
of the Mississippi running through the
breach in the levee at Torras 1t is
known that motor boats sent to take nu-
merous persons from floating housetops
arrived too late.
How many persons perished as they
were overtaken by the flood cannot be
determined. Refugees brought to the
concentration camps are hurried hither
and thither, sometimes families are sep
arated In the confusion, and persons
have been reported missing who simply
have been sent from one camp to another
Entire Families Drowned.
Nevertheless. large numbers of the
refugees claim they have seen entire fam
lilies swept from housetops into the flood
waters. Leaders of the rescue corps ad-
init that several times they have sent
mn hno 70 70 ois,fc xrI4 foxv, ~ n
taken refuge on the roof of house and
that when the boat arrived its crew
found only the building buffeted about by
currents, and half its roof surface sub
merged. The flood had exacted its toll
Appeals for help reached here last night
from Lettsworth, directly in the path of
the Torras torrent. Half hundred peo-
pie were reported to be in imminent dan
ger of drowning; the house In which they
had taken shelter had been dislodged
from it's foundation and was being tossed
about In the current.
Thousand Yet to Be Saved.
There are at least one thousand people
who remain to be rescued from the in
undated country west of Lettsworth and
Bachelor. Some Of them are drifting
about on hastily constructed RATS. The
crevasse water is spreading at a rapid
rate, inundating sections of Pointe Coupee
parish which have never before been
reached by overf1ows. Town after town
is being buried beneath the muddy
waters. The last Of the special trains
which have been bringing refugees out of
the country around Bachelor arrived here
last night When the two relief trains
were about ready to leave Bachelor word
was received that there was grave danger
of being cut off by a threatened washout
in the tracks several miles east Of that
place. When the first train arrived at
the point of trouble water was flowing
over the tracks for a distance of five
miles. But the train passed over in
safety.
Second Section Stalled.
When the second section arrived the
water was gushing over the track about
two feet deep. An attempt was made to
reach the other side of the washout,
but about half way across the track gave
way and the caboose and three cars
toppled over. Occupants of the derailed
cars were thrown into the water, but es-
capped without injury. They were trans
ferred to other cars and brought on to
New Roads. When the first section OF
the relief special sped through the water,
which was running over the tracks just
north of Morganza, scores OF people were
seen standing waist deep in water near
the railroad embankment signaling the
train to stop. The water was rising
rapidly that those in charge of the train
decided it would imperil the lives of all
those on board to delay. The train was
not stopped.
Rescuers Have to Use Force.
ployed in getting people out of the dam
ger zone. One family consisting of man.
wife and a twelve-year-old boy refused
4;- lob frc ho-
coming uninhabitable. They were picked
up bodily and carried to the train. After
being placed aboard the boy became so
frightened he jumped through an open
window. He was recaptured.
Urgent appeals for boats to be used in
rescue work have been sent to Gov. Sand
ers at New Orleans. The steamer City of
Shreveport and shipment Of a dozen
skifYs are due to arrive in Bachelor this
morning.
Water Over Fordoche Ridge.
PLAQUEMINE, La, May 6.-Water
from the Torras crevasse has topped the
Fordoche ridge. and today is coming
down the Maringon and Cross Tete bay
ou with a rush. 1t is said to be rising
from three to four inches an hour.
A protection levee is being thrown
around the town of Gross Tete in an
effort to prevent the town from being
Inundated. The Texas and Pacific and
Southern Pacific railroads already have
been put out Of commission at that place.
The lumber towns of Morley and Hum
bert in West Baton Rouge parish. are al
most deserted. The inhabitants of the
two places have moved away and the big
sawmills have closed down. Both of
them will be inundated by tonight.
The Mississippi levee in front of
Plaauemine while requiring constant at
tention, was reported by the engineers
today to be in good condition. Two hum
dred and fifty carloads of dirt were placed
on the stretch yesterday.
All Rail Connections Gone.
BATCHELOR. La. May 6-The last
link binding this town with the outside
world by rail was severed late last night,
when the swift waters from the Torras
creyasse swept away a long stretch OF
the Texas and Pacific railroad tracks, q
short distance east of<here.
Bachelor had been a sort OF concentra-
ton point for the flood sufferers In the
surrounding country. Hundreds Of them
were brought here and later taken to
New Roads to be distributed among the
various relief camps at Baton Rouge and
other places.
With the last means of rail communica-
tion cut off and with the scarcity of
boats, so imperatively needed in the work
of rescuing the homeless. the situation
here has grown extremely serious.
Twenty on Barn Roof.
There are still hundreds Of others who
must Ae rescued Immediately. Reports