Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-04

THOUSANDS OF ACRES INUNDATED.
On the Missouri side, opposite
Hickman, thousands of acres of fer
tile fields are under water and hun
dreds are homeless. The levees south |
of Memphis are holding, but the Miss
issippi is expanding every hour and
the menace is increasing. At every
river point in the state this noon sets
a new record. The tremendous value
of the government forecast has been
illustrated in this outburst of the riv-
ers. While hundreds of homes were
inundated or swept away the loss of
life stands at only eight. Many hun
dreds of men guarding levees have
had close calls during the five days
fight against the rivers, but no fatal
tiles have been reported.
NO LIVES LOST.
Cairo, H., April 4.-The Cairo drain
age district is gone. Two breaks late
last night and early today flooded a
territory nine miles square. The loss
. is estimated at $5,OOO,O0O. Twenty-Five
! lumber companies, Future City, a town
of 1000, and many farms are covered.
Cairo is now practically cut off from
the world by rail. Cairo is in no dan
ger. but supplies may have to be car
ried in by boat.
i No loss of life is reported. 1t is es-
timated a thousand homes, business
houses, and other structures are food
ed in the drainage district, where the
/ ltrya fe Aua 60
Urbandale, with white population of
about a hundred homes, is also located
in the drainage district. Future City is
a negro settlement.
Many people saved their personal
J property, as they were warned in time.
WORKMEN ARE RESCUED.
The first break came in the Mobile
& Ohio levee. Here 300 workmen
fought five hours to fill a depression
20 feet long, and feet deep, but their
, efforts were futile. Five hundred
men were fighting on the Big Four
levee, trying to stem the rise Of the
: Ohio. Fearing the levee would not
; hold, a tug was ordered out with a res
cue party. and succeeded in bringing
the men in. Shortly after the men
left the levee gave way a distance Of
nearly two hundred feet.
TWO MIRACULOUS ESCAPES.
Two levee patrolmen, who were di-
rectly in front Of the crevasse, escaped
death as If by a miracle. The waters
hurled them from their feet and it was
with great difficulty they reached the
: embankment.
, After the water broke through the
levee it rushed over the district with
; great rapidity, and in a short time
over the greater part was from 5 to Is
feet deep. The city of Cairo proper
-, is protected from the food section by
system Of cross levees, and big
force of men who were at work on
q the drainage levee has been thrown
4 around the Cairo levee.
T. MISSOURI Is FALLING.
q st. Louis, April At is predicted
t here the Mississippi will go TO 81 feet
4 by tonight Between Hannibal and St
e Louis the river is rising rapidly and
spreading over the lowlands. No great
g damage has been done. however, as
o the people were prepared. The Mis-
I souri, is reported falling.
= IN FAR SOUTH STATES.
d Memphis, Tenn, April Awhile
0 showing the effects of the water lashing
all main line levees in Arkansas. Ten
nessee and Mississippi are reported in
D. tact, but il is conceded a hard igh
20 must be made. especially in the uppeI
81. Francis district, TO save embank
& ments The Tennessee levee, west o
e Hickman, KY, which protects tn,
e Reelfoot lake region, is sloughing tC
> some extent and water is tapping tn,
crest, but it is thought the levee cal
e be saved
= RELIEF AT MEMPHIS.
d Near Memphis, at Star Landing. Il
ST Arkansas, the bank is caying and gov
s. ernment forces are being concentrates
h at that point. In Memphis the fioodet
b area in the northern section OF the cit,
v is steadily increasing in length an,
d. breadth. Organized relief for thos
driven from their homes or thrown ou
II Of employment was taken up today.
a MurphysborO. H., April 4.-Report
% that Fountain Bluff leve was broker
i have proven untrue.
,e SUPPLIES REACH HICKMAN.
.g Hickman, KY, April 4.-Two thous
ID and food refugees were cheered afte
u an all day and night vigil at the Ievees
a. by the announcement that a tram vii
ty reach Hickman this afternoon, bring
< ing supplies Of food and clothing. tn