Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-05-03
MOTOR TRIP THROUGH FLOODED AREA
Reporter for Monroe Paper Makes
Trip Through 0verflowed country
and Describes the Situation.

Il
The following description of the flood
.wept country Of Madison and East Car
roll ON the north of us was published IN
tho Monroe News-Star several days ago,
and gives one only slight idea OF the
distress prevailing in the oyerfiowed Sec
t;on and the great disaster the flood is to
this State. The story cannot fail to in
terest our readers:
A representative of the New-Star, IN
comnanv with Mr.. Guy P. Stubs, spent
three days this week in the overtiowed
section of Richland, Madison and East
Carroll parishes, the trip being made In
Mr.. Stubs small open motor-boat. From
the start at Delhi Tuesday morning until
the arrival back there Thursday afternoon
no land was sighted except at Thomas
town and Delta Point. The trip was q
hard one and not without its dangemsa
for several times the little motor boat was
Given severe tests and had it failed it
would probably have meant the death OF
the occupants of the boat. Neither tine
News-star representative nor Mr.. Stuhhs
would make the trip again. Both had
enough. With all Of the hardships and
dangers they were well repaid in the
sights that few in the outside world viii
ever see.
The imagination Of those who have not
been through the flooded section OF North
east Louisiana cannot picture the desola-
ton and destruction everywhere. Look,
as yon may, in every direction as far as
the eye can carry and there is nothing
but wstaewhich is sweeping across thou
sands OF acres of fertile farm land and
through dense swamps with terrific force,
at depth of from eight to eighteen feet.
It seems almost impossible that such a
vast sea Of water could be pouring thro'
a gap mile and half wide.
The trip was started from Delhi about
9 o'clock Tuesday morning. Shortly at
ter noon Tallulah was reached. Except
at one or two trestles where the tracks
were elevated, the water is running across
the ", S. & P. road the entire distance.
The trestles are being held down by long
strings of loaded coal cars. At Tallulah
one Of the first men met was Captain
Holmes, and fine dinner was enjoyed
1t his home. Later the trip was made
10 Thomastown. All of the ", S. x P.
track from Taliplsh to that place is under
water. At Fhomastoa train was taken
and ten mile run was made oFsr to
Delta Point. The water is fast spreading
east and at Mounds hundreds of acres Of
Col. F. L. MaxwelPs place are already
under. Several hundred acres of cotton
with three leaves had been inundated
Tuesday. The water will very probably
sprasd All the way to Delta Point as it il
rapidly running in that direction.
The return trip from Delta 70 Thomas
town was made on railroad motor car
The trip back to Tallulah was made BY
moonlight over rugged sea, that towr
lbe,pg reached about 10 clock. The boa
was tied to the front Of the Commercial
Hotel where the night was spent.
During the trip Tuesday the metal hui
of the boat was punetured and beforI
starting out Wednesday the services OF I
timer were required to solder the leak
Shortly before noon Wednesday star
was made up the Iron Mountain Railroad
for Roosevelt, Alsatia and the crevasse il
the pogtail leyee. Mr.. Stubs and tn
News-staf representative were joined OF
this trip by Messrs, VIII Holmes and G
w. Moffat. Up to this time the boat ha'
the current broad side but on the trip ~
the Iron Mountain it was met head on
The farther north the swifter the curren
d until near the break the water came witt
such rush that the little boat coul'
e scarcely move against 1t. Roosevelt wa
a reached about O'Clock and splendil
IS dinner was served the party by Mr.. LIE
N Shields, who is the greatest single lose
j. by the food. Mr.. Shields is living in th
e upper story Of bis gin house, The dinin
D. table was part of the cotton press; sack
of cotton seed and boxes were used 70
d chairs. In spite Of these Inconvenience
y Mr.. Shields had prepared dinner tha
ID would have done credit TO much NOR
At pretentious surroundings. Four feet {
IN water is standing in Mr.. Shields elegan
re home. Mrs. Shields and her little dapgh
ID ter are living in the Court House at Tai
Y. lulah.
II Most OF the property in the direct swee
,t of the water from the crevasse is owne
it by the Nicholson Planting Company, {
p which Johp ". Parker Of New Orleans
" Is the principal 0XQer. and Mr.. Shield
is manager and part owner, They ow
q 1900 acres Of land; 1000 In cultivation an
II the balance in pasture and woodland
lr Employed on this place are 165 negr
10 families. The break in the Dogtail leve
occurred about 7:90 p. M, April 18th
% The next morning holes were chopped i
ir the roofs Of the tenant houses and the ne
l. groes taken from the lofts where they Ia
:. climbed during the night. 4 remarkabl
y thing was that not q single life was 10:
d out of the 165 families rescued. MI
se Shields states that the company's loi