Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-05-11
MANY Streets FLOODED
PEOPLE FEARED THE STRAINED
LENElGS WERE ABOUT TO
GIVE WAY.
The SITUATION IS Critical
High Winds and Heavy Rains Have
Made II Almost impossible 10
Hold the Flood Waters.

NEW ORLEANS, May 1O,-New or
leans tonight withstood the seyerest
rain storm in her history All of the
lower half OF Louisiana was affected
and thousands Of the people who live
behind the already terribly strained
leyees that hold back the Mississippis
flood waters were panicky.
The wind ranged from 27 miles an
hour at New Orleans to 40 miles at
Baton Rouge and at many points
along the river it swept the waves of
the swollen stream over the levees.
At New Orleans five and one halt
inches Of rain fell from noon until 10
o'clock tonight and about four INCHES
fell between and 3 o'clock. The
Mississippi river here was banked up
by the high winds and rose eighl
inches in two hours between s and ~
o'clock, forcing the waters over the
levees at several points.
AT 10 O'Clock the river gauge at the
head of Canal street registered 21,s
feet or Il Of foot higher than the
predicted maximum stage by the
weather bureau. At III O'Clock tho
gauge showed a drop of Il Of foot
for the day, but the rain continued to
pour down in torrents at intervals.
Little Hope at Baton Rouge
Dozens of messages poured into the
office Of the United states army en-
gineers here, telling Of rumored
breaks in the levees above New Or
leans. None of them had been VERT
fled up to midnight. although little
hope was expressed Of saving the levee
at Baton Rouge, and at Morganza.
SCOTS aLnding, Donaldsonvile and
Plaquemine the situation was declared
to be critical
AT . o'clock Superintendent Pearsall
of the Texas & Pacific railroad order
ed two relief trains made ready to |
send to Donaldsonville and Plaque
mine. but the orders were counter
manded few minutes later when 1t
was established that reports Of breaks |
in the leVees near those cities We're
not true.
Thirty-five thousand sandbags were
dispatched from New Orleans to Baton
Rouge on a special train tonight. The
situation was declared most critical at
the capital city, with prospects of saw
ing the front levee almost hopeless.
Water Over the Lcvees.
At New Orleans the water poured
over the sandbag topping at the foot
hands was rushed there to stop the
holes and pile the embankment stin
higher.
Guards were placed along the en-.
tire river front and precautions were
aiken to close every spot where there
was an overflow.
The streets of New Orleans were
Hooded as never before in the city's
In the Carrollton section the
upper part of the ety. the water was
six to seven inches deep on the side.
walks. In the downtown business sec
ion Canal and all intersecting streets
\ ere flooded over the sidewalks AMI !
he water entered stores on a num-
Der of streets. There was such
strong current in some Of the citys
streets, from the rainfall. that many
persons We're alarmed and feared
here had been an overflow from tho
liver. Telephones were kept busy for
several hours by people who were not
prepared to believe that tn rainfall
llon was responsible for the depth and
,wiftness of the water in the streets.
AT midnight the rain was not heavy
)ut many Of the streets were still
iooded to depth of six to eight
nches.
Swept Down the River. ,
From reports obtainable tonight the !
torm swept down across the state (
rom near ShreVepOrt moving s.uth-