Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-08
Steamers and Trains Pick
Up Refugees in Missis-
sippi Valley.
CLINGING TO TREETOPS
One Woman Refuses to be TAX.
en- Aboard Unless Body of
Dead Babe is Cared for.

Memphis, April s.-Flood condi-
tions in the Mississippi valley showed
some improvement this morning,
when a sunny day gave further en-
oouragement to those conducting the
work of rescue among the hundreds
driven from their homes by the high
water.
All levees in the food menaced dis
trict are holding strong. Two hun
dIed levee workers had a narrow es-
cape from being swept away when the
embankment caved at Mile Post "a,
10 miles south OF Helena, Ark, yes
terday.
TRAIN RESCUES 100.
The relief train sent from Forest
City, Ark, yesterday to rescue farm
ers in the overfiowed sections of St.
Francis and Crittenden counties, re-
turned last night with 100 refugees
aboard. but with its mission only half
completed. The train could not pro-
ceed further than the town of Heth,
20 miles east of this city. Beyond
that point, where many persons are
believed marooned, only boats can be
OF service.
STEAMERS CARRYING HOMELESS.
Three river steamers reached Men,
phis today carrying hundreds of
homeless from the flood-swept lands
OF Arkansas, in the Modoc locality.
Many of these report loss of life in
several small towns that were inun-
4. 4,
eu There is no chance to verify such
reports. but il Is generally believed
there have been fatalities in Phillips
county, Ark Refugees who came this
morning saved none of their personal
belongings.
MANY ALMOST NAKED.
Many we're almost naked when they
reached the boats. Boat captains anC
the more fortunate divided clothing
with the needy. The steamer Kate
Adams. which was near Modoc wheI
the crevasses occurred there, prob
ably saved hundreds of lives by TAX
ing refugees from RATS and house
tops. In the midst of the rescue worl
the steamer put out a stan 10 a wo
man who sat on the roof of a float
ing house. She sent word back tc
the captain that she would not leav,
unless he would consent 10 take he
dead baby aboard the steamer.
BODY IN SOAP BOX.
Accordingly a soap box was sen
10 the floating house. The womal
brought out the babes corpse, place.
II in the box and was rowed TO tn
steamer. The little body was bIrie,
at Memphis.
One of the Lee line steamers frou
Arkansas county that reached here tC
day told OF a desperate fight with
regro who refused to leave a raft o.
which he fioated unless he was a
loved TO bring his mule. AS a las
resort the captain of the boat tie
the raft bearing the mule behind tn
steamer and towed the raft, mule an
negro all into Memphis.
WET TOWN GOES DRY.
New Madrid. Mo. overfiowed TO
depth OF several feet, is nevertheless
dry" At least the "drys" won /
the local option election Saturda,
The voters came 10 the polls in skim
launches and RATS. When the rul
ber-booted election clerks complete
the count Il was shown the "wets
were beaten by 500.
"a FEET AT CAIRO.
Cairo. ILL.,. April S.-The river
stationary at 81 feet The city
surrounded by water. but the leve,
are holding firm. Refugees fro
other flooded districts were brougl
here today in half starved condition
500 TONS OF SUPPLIES.
st. Louis. April S.-The Unite
States engineers department steam,
Nokomis. towing a steel barge loa,
ed with 500 tons OF provisions. foral
and tents for food sufferers in Mi
souri,. Kentucky and Tennessee, d
parted to-day