The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-21
Reports Continue to Tell of Much Suffering in the
 Flooded Area
THE RELIEF WORK
 IS WELL IN HAND
Levee Protecting Greenville Expected to Be Flooded Within Few Hours. 10000 Are Homeless-Twen- ty Square Miles Flooded

With the flood waters of the Mississippi river rushing through crevasses in the levees of the big stream in southeast Arkansas. northwest Mississippi and northeast Louisiana, slowly finding their way oyer towns and plantations, re- ports yesterday continued to tell of much suffering In the vast flooded area
 Niblett Leyee Safe
 A telephone message from Benoit, Mlss.' late tonight reports the levee at Nib'ett' regarded as in immi lent eaaScr of col lapse this afternoon, as holding and 1t Is believed safe for the present at least. A force of eonvicts was hurried to Nib lett from the camp at Mllers Bend and the weak points bolsteied.
 Relief work among the thousands Of homeless people is being we'll conducted under the supervision of state and fed eral officials, with headquarters at Vicks- burg, Miss. where already about SoO negroes from Louisiana are quartered Relief stations have been establlshta at a dozen points in northeastern Louis iana and at points in Mississippi thronss of destitute folk are being fed and given clothing cooking utensils. medicines, etc.
 Number of Levees in Danger
 number of levees were reported al- most at the breaking point last night and the federal and state engineers admitted they may not be able to hold all of them if heavy rains continue for another week.
 The conditions will grow worse during the rcxt week in the Suniower valley or Mississippi, which is rapidly being ln- undated by the waters from the creyasse at Beulah, and in northeastern louls- jana, whete the flood waters are pour ing through the Dog Tail ereVasse, near Alsatia, La, are slowly spreading over portions of l8 parishes. Several thousand square miles of rich bottom lands will have been inundated before the waters from these tNo great creyasseS fnally re- ttnn to the Mississippi river through the Yazoo and the Red rivers.
 Except ia the aeinitv of the Reulslt cfevasse. where 10 negroes were reported drowned. the floods in that section thus far have claimed no lives. at least, news or Slltn lfdS Hol IfdNltu iHt iohhH UT the district which yet are in telegraphic communication with the outside world.
 Governors Ask for Funds
 The governors of Mississippi and Louis iana and mayors of cities throughout these states have issued appeals during the past few days for relief funds and provisions are rapidly being rushed to the flood sufferers. The flood waters will pf la iutf1- dated territory for perhaps two months longer and 1t will be necessary 10 raise many thousands of dollars yet to suecor the homeless and destitute.
 The rains have not only been general over a considerable portion of Louisiana. Mississippi and Arkansas during the past week. but Saturday one of the heaviest hail storms ever experienced in southern Louisiana added 10 the alarm of the people whose property is endangered.
 If the rains continue the final result cannot he estimated.
 Fifty Negroes Drown
 Greenyllle, Miss, Arii 20- Near Benoit 50 negroes were drowned during the plight b. the flooding of their homes near Beu- lah. Miss. Reports of more extensive less or life were received today. Because Of theeAtent of the 1912 flood inhabitants express he fear that the loss of life in the extent of the 1912 flood inhabitants years.
 Twelve prosperous villages are inun- dated, at least 20o00 persons are hofaciess, destitute and in need of food beyond the present supply; raging food covers 20 square miles: the water Is pouring Into two baYous end is expected to ;eacn he leVeo protecting Grecnyille within iew hours. Estimates or the dead today .aty. IGdfg INr If sons that the death list will total iaany hundreds. The towns of Scott, Avondale, Wilszlnski, Whteryile, Gnoctaw, Dun leiih, IIollyknowe, Helm, Elizabeth, Nap anee, Stoneville and Leland. The OIeen- vile lcvee has been strengthened 'a an tieipation of the severe test 10 which it will be put