El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-06
ADDS TO
HORROR Of
FLOOD
Whole Families Wiped Out;
Thousands in Imminent
Danger Water Rising.
ONLY MOTOR BOATS
CAN SAVE NARROWED

New Orleans. La, May 6.-Thous-
ands Of anxious people in the flood
menaced district Of Louisiana were
disheartened today by heavy rains
that pelted at levees already strained
almost to the bursting point b. the
swollen Mississippi. All night long
armies Of wOrkmen fought to strength
en- those bikes that held firm While
other entertainments gave way DeIOis
the flood that now covers portions OF
Reports OF life loss were received
at several concentration camps to-
day. While these have not been spe-
officially verified IL IS conceded tnaI
many persons persisted
Great numbers Of men were engaged
today in the rescue OF hundreds OF
persons who have been marOoned III
dangerous places. and the work o.
supplying with food and clothing the
thousands already gathered IN emer-
gency camps, continued
Want More Boats.
An urgent appeal for more motor
boats TO go after people imprisoned in
the flOOd-sWept country north 0f New
Roads reached New Orleans today
The situation here was unchanged
this noon. despite a rise in the river.
1t is felt that New Orleans Is in no
danger. The first levee breach re-
ported today occurred on the Atchafal-
ava river near Elba- This adds 10 the
Hundreds II Danger.
Water is now rushing over Polnte
COupee parish from two sources,
break in the Mississippi levee already
having inundated part Of the parish
Hundreds of persons who have remain
ed in this district are in imminent dan
Loss OF Life At New Roads.
New Roads La, May 6.-Flood ref
ugees reaching here today declare there
has been loss Of life in that part OF
Louisiana inundated by the Mississippi
river which rushed through the breach
in the levee at TOrras.
It is said that the motor boats sent
to take numerous persons from float
ing hOuSetOps arrived too late How
many persons persisted cannot be de
termined Refugees to the cOncentra-
tion camps are hurried Either and
uhither. Sometimes families are sep
arated and persons have been reported
missing who simply nave been sent
from one camp TO another
Entire Families.
Nevertheless. large numbers OF the
I refugees claim they have seen entire
/ families swept from hOusetOps. Leaders
I OF the rescue corps admit that several
| times they have sent motor boats to
points where families had taken ref
uge on the roof Of a house and that
/ when the boat arrived its crew only
/ found the building, buffeted about by
3 currents. and half its roof surface
/ submerged
Half Hundred In Danger.
Appeals for help reached here last
: night from LsttswOrth. directly in the
path of the TOrras torrent. Half a
! hundred people were reported TO be in
imminent danger Of drowning The
3 house i'm which they had taken shell
ter had been dislodged from its foun-
dalton and was being tossed about in
D the current
There are a. least 1000 persons who
! remain Co De rescued from the mum
. ~ NJ a nd
I Bachelor some Of the mare drif.ilg
/ about on hastily constructed RATS
Town After Town swept.
, The Crevasse water is spreading at
/ a rapid rate. inUndating sections OF
/ POinte COupee parish. which never be-
] fore have been reached by OverflOWs.
I Town after town is being swept BIZ
{ the muddy waters.
! The last Of the special trains which
! have been bringing refugees out OF the
{ country around Bachelor arrived here
! last night.
I When the two relief wagons vera
I about ready TO leave Bachelor word
/ was received that there was grave dan
/ ger Of being cut off by a threatened
J Washout in the tracks several miles
: east OF that place. When the first
I train arrived at the point Of trouble
water was flowing over the tracks for
Z a distance OF five miles But the train
passed over safely
/ When the second section arrived the
/ water was rushing over the track
/ about two feet deep. An attempt was
/ made to reach the other side o. the
WaShOur. but about half way across
the track gave way and the ca boOSe
| and three cars toppled over Occu-
/ pants OF the derailed cars We're thrown
/ into the water, but escaped without
/ injury.
/ They were transferred TO other cars
and brought on to New :ladz
People Waist Deep IN Watr-
When the first section Of the relief