The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-03
STILL GOING UP
A Rise of g of a Foot Last
Night at Memphis.
A Stage of As Feet Is Now Pre-
dicted.
CAIRO HAS Been RELIEVED
By the Breaking of Levees
Farther Down the River.
Water Is 15 to 20 Feet Deep in
Hickman, Ky.
CAIRO HAS BEEN RELIEVED

Places most seriously affected by
Mississippi river flood: Hickman. KY,
Memphis, Tenn, New Madrid. Mo-,
Columbus, Ky.
Total lives lost, A.
Total damage to date, estimated,
$1,000, 600.
Number driven from homes. 5000
to 5000.
Volume of water: Six to ten feet
above danger line between Cairo, ILL.,,
and Arkansas City, Ark.
Crest of flood possibly will be
reached I'm district affected between
April A and April 8.
With four Mississippi river towns
seriously affected invading waters
caused by the greatest rise recorded
In river history, the flood situation to-
day assumed more serious aspects In
widespread distress, heavy financ1aI
loss and impairment of business IA
cilities.
Two thousand persons driven from
the factory district of Hickman, KY,
are being cared for by toWnspeople
at great personal sacrifice.
The levee broke opposite hickman
yesterday at Dorena, Mo. tnou-
sand residents of the community were
rescued, many from the tops OIL tnelr
homes, and taken to Hickman
Hickman's food supply IS own
ding. Trains bearing tents and pro-
visions cannot reach the flooded town
because of railway washouts-
From IA to 20 blocks is the area
covered by the flood in the northern
section of Memphis. From 700 to
1900 persons have been driven from
their homes The water continues TO
rise in the bayou Gayoso, a smaIl
levee protecting which gave way Mon
4 heroic fight of two days and
nights was made by laborers to save
the Memphis gas plant, but the force
of the flood was too great ana the
protecting levee gave way last night
Today Memphis is without gast
Near Vicksburg, Miss, the water IS
rising Farmers are leaving ioWiano
homes. taking their goods and I'VE
stock after the example set by thou
sands of persons in Missouri, rem
tuckv. Tennessee and Arkansas.
The war department Will SEND Soo
army tents to New Madrid for per
'sons made homeless by the flood, ac-
cording to orders issued by PRESIDENT
Taft at Washington today
Memphis, Tenn, April S.-With water
pouring over the lowlands throusn nsllf ne
a dozen gaps in private leVeeS SCUM u
Cairo and washing the main empanK-
ments at several points, the flood sltua-
ton along the Mississippi river TINS
morning is grave
Officially it is predicted that the stage
at Memphis will reach 45 feet Yester-
dav A feet was the forecast as the
probable maximum but today the pre-
diction was revised. At o'clock TINS
morning the gauge showed 40 Ieet'
a rise of g since o'clock last night
Government officials are still optlm-
istic that they will hold the river with
in bounds. So far all the main levees
arc intact although several points are
regarded as dangerous. The govern
ment embankment Immediately west OF
Hickman, KY. which protects the Reel
foot lake basin and several west Ken
lucky counties, the White river front at
Modoc Ark and the levee near Linda,
Mo. are giving the greatest concern
Breaks in private levees at Birds
Point and near Commerce. Mo. and at
Hickman. KY, have relieved the situa-5
ton at Cairo and the flooding of thatA
CITY which was threatened yesterday
probably will be averted.
At Hickman, the factory district
where the levee broke Monday night, .
Inundated to a depth of from Is to 20
fee. this morning and the business dis
trict is almost covered with water. New
Madrid, Mo, and Columbus, Ky, also
are flooded
The gas plant and the sewerage
pumping station in North Memphis
went out of commission last night
Early today the supply of gas was cut
off Until the water recedes Memphis
will be without that commodity The
flooded area in the northern section Of
the city is rapidly increasing. 1t is es-
timated that 500 or more families have
been driven from their homes and prac-
tically every industrial plant in that
district has suspended operations.
Government Forecast.
Washington. April 3.-The weather
bureau today announced it was prob
able the Mississippi river crest stage
at Cairo would be little if any above
"a feet. The stage at Vicksburg, Miss. ,
was 46.5 feet at a. m. today, rise of
A since yesterday morning.
Near Danger Line.
st. Louis, April 3.-With the Missis-
sippi river gauge here registering 29s
feet the weather bureau today in a
special forecast predicted a further rise
of 12 feet On the St. Louis side of
the river 80 feet is considered the dan
ger line. Since recent improvements
in the levee system of East St Louis
the danger line there is 80 feet. !
The special forecast issued by the :
weather bureau is as follows:
The river at st. Louis will begin to :
rise Wednesday night and Will reacr .
a stage of 81 feet by Thursday night. /
The effect of the Missouri river rise
will have passed by Saturday morning
The Mississippi at Dubuque has open {
ed, causing increased rises above Han
nibal. The stage at st. Louis Will re
main at or slightly above 81 feet for
several days
Rivers Falling at Kansas City.
Kansas City. April 3.-Both the Mis-
souri, and Kansas rivers were falling