The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-04-06

Memphis, April 6.-"The situation is
desperate, but we still are hopeful"
said President EaiIlough of the ST
Francis levee board.
The situation Is extremely serious,
hut If the weather continues favorable
we may be able to prevent crevasscs."
said Major Clark Smith of the T. $. A..
corps of engineers.
This is the Mississippi Hood situa-
ton as reviewed by men directing the
fight from the Missouri state line to
the mouth OF White river in Arkansas.
that stretch of the levee bearing the
brunt OF the battle with the waterway
today.
Except the Reel Foot empanlment,
which broke yesterday. all the main
levees were holding this morning, but
each hour the situation grows more
critical. The river Is rising faster than
superficial earthworlts can be con-
structeI.
Golden Lake, fifty miles north of
Memphis. Lambethville. Mound City.
HollyOush. Ark. and the White River
front are regarded as the points in
immediate peril.
Dispatches from Hickman, KY re-
port the bfeech i'm the Reel Foot lcvee
is growing wider. A mighty wall of
water is sweeping all before 1t in its
mad race through Fulton county I'm
Kentucky and Lake county, Tenn.
Reel Foot Lake. into which the food
Is pouring is going over its banks into
Obion county and in turn the Obion
river Is taking up the overflow and
carrying 1t back to the Mississippi.
People on House Tops.
Hickman, KY, April GA rescuing
party of twenty picked men WITH
twelve boats left here today to take
off many persons said to be marooned
on house tops or moored RATS and
tree tops in the Reel Foot section. No
definite news of loss Of life has been
received. The water now covers
country ten miles wide and fifty miles
in length. This IL is believed. Will be
greatly increased before night
Children Reported Drowned.
Tiptonvile. Tenn. AF'il 6.-fiun
dIeds Of refugees fIoode I'm the Reel
Foot lake territory, gathered at RidS-
ley this morning. Whether the racing
flood caught many persons in the low
lands as they scurried for high ground
last night has not been determined
II is reported two children of the refu-
gees lost their lives. Practically all
live stock In the low lands was drown
ed.
500 Miles Inundated.
II is estimated five hundred square
miles of territory In northwestern
Tennessee are wholly or in part sub
merged The villages of Hathaway
Reel Foot and Bessie, in Lake coun-
~, are entirely under water and de-
serted by the inhabitants. Compare
tlvely few houses were swept away
The first refugees arrived this morn
ing In boats riding on the crest OF th'
flood The number of homeless here
Is six hundred. There are four hun
dred refugees at Ridgeley Shelter mas
been provided by both towns.
Relief Reaches Hickman.
Hickman, April 5.-Flood reiuSee'
in this water burdened town had caus'
for cheer last night when the OUTSIDE
world began TO respond 10 appeals 10
help. one check for $4,000 came fron
Louisville: Mayneld sent several ca
loads Of bedding and clothing and thre
wagon loads of provisions: oeddin'
was received from Fulton. Union Cit
and Woodland Mrils. Tents have bee
stretched on the grounds OF the Carne
gle library and open fields for refugees
Strict order is maintained. All sup
plies have been apportioned systemati
Cally.
River Risher ct Cairo.
Cairo. April ga rise of four-tenth
OF foot during the night brought IN
river up TO fifty-four feet this morn
ing, the greatest height that was pre-
dicted for Cairo. The levees renal
firm.