New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-09
VILLAGES DESERTED AS
FLOOD CREST APPROACHES
inhabitants. Fearing bikes viii
Yield to Final Pressure, Flee
Arkansas LoWIandS.
HUNDREDS ARE RESCUED
Memphis Citizens, Warned by
Passing Steamer, Seek Out
Sufferers and Bring
Them to Safety.

The crisis in the Mississippi Valleys
tremendous food is imminent. Chief
anxiety centres in the situation along the
rivers reaches south Of Memphis. If the
dfkes Of Arkansas, Mississippi and North
Louisiana hold for another thirty-SiX
hours. the fertile valleys of the Delta
and the YazoO. south Of Memphis, will
he SHARED. state and government officials
saw the bikes on the eastern bank will
withstand the tremendous pressure that
will be cxerted by the foods crest. New
ertheless they are apprehensive. and
fear of breaks along the western dikes
is shown by reports of the abandonment
Of the homes and villages in the lowlands,
from Helena TO the southwark.
Stirring stories of the rescue Of the
refugees in the flood-swept territory Of
upper Arkansas have reached Memphis.
one thousand or more persons marOoncd
In Wyanoke. Ark. were brought to Mem
phis late yesterday afternoon, rescued
through the initiative of Memphis
citizens committee. which made the haz-
ardous trip 10 Wyanoke to investigate
stories Of suffering. Reports We're amply
verified.
In a church were found scores of the
sufferers who had taken refuge there
when the flood descended. As the water
rose. the refugees built scaftoldinE with
pews and thus kept their heads alb .~e the
surface. ON high ground and in the at
tics Of houses near Wyanoke hundreds
more victims were found. All were
taken to Memphis yesterday afternoon.
Refugees from the Modoc flood district
south of Memphis, who were taken to
Helena and Memphis yesterday, say
there has been some loss Of life in that
section. These reports are unverlfed,
and the Mayor of Helena emphatically
denies shat there have been fatalities
from the breaks south of his city.
Varying Estimates Of Loss.
Unofficial estimates of the damage
vary widely. Many persons who know
every bend in the great river, from New
Orleans TO Cairo. say the pecuniary loss
will amount to $1O.0OO,OOO. Other per-
sons equally conversant with the situa-
ton modify this estimate. Probably the
heaviest specific loss must be estimated
in the destruction Of homes. the loss Of
livestock and the damage to manufact-
uring plants in the upper flood district
The number Of fatalities has been
small. Prompt warnings have preceded
the rivers rise, and residents Of the
threatened districts have been alert
Probably thirty fatalities would meet
the conservative total.
There has, however. been tremendous
suffering among the homeless. or the
thirty thousand or more persons who
have been driven forth by the raging
tide. hundreds have gone hungry and
without water for many hours before
succor reached them. Hundreds have
been imprisoned on housetops, in trees
and anchored on RATS for long periods
Despite the ample warnings many Of the
Arkansas and Tennessee homesteaders
remained by their property until the last
minute. and scores CT them were taken,
half naked from their places Of refuge.
In Memphis proper the situation is
rapidly becoming normal StTcctCars
have resumed service in the COMPARE
lively small flooded district OF the city's
loWlands.