The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-05-09
REsCuERs TOO LATE
FOR FLOOD SUFFERERS
Reports From New Roads, La.
Tell Of Many Deaths
Bodies On Housetops.

"oo mehaceo districts of
Louisiana were disheartened TODAY
by heavy rains that pelted the
'evees, already strained almost to
the bursting point by the swollen
Mississippi. Ali nigh. long armies
'of workmen fought to strengthen
the dikes that held firm, while
other entertainments gave way be-
tore the flood that now covers por-
tons OF 10 parishes. Reports of
IRE loss were received al several
concentration camps today. While
these have not been specifically
ver.nsa' It IS conceded that many
persons persisted as the flood
waters rushed on their homes.
New tthoads, La, May 7.--Flood ref.
ugecs reaching here early today declare
tnere mas been loss of life in tina part
sippi river which rushed through the
preach III the levee at Torras.
II is said that motorboats sent to
take numerous persons from floating
housetops arrived too late.
How many persons persisted cannot
be determined. Refugees brought to
contraction camps are hurried
hlther and thither, sometimes families
are separated and persons have been
reported missing who simply have
oSSi SSAl liOHl OiLe camp TO another.
nevertheless, large numbers of the
refugees claim they have seen entire
famlileS swept from housetops. Lead
ers OF the rescue corps admit tina sew
eral times they nave sent motorboats
to points where families had taken
refuge on the roof of a house and thai
when the boat arrived, it's crew found
only the building, buffeted about by
currents and half it's roof surface SUBJ
merged. Appeals for help reached here
last night from Lettsworth, directly in
the path Of the Torras torrent. Half a
hundred people were reported to be in
Imminent danger Of drowning. The
house in which they had taken refuge
had been dislodged from its founda-
lions and was being tossed about in the
current.
Mad Run of Train.
Town after town is being swept by
the muddy waters.
The last of the special trains which
have been bringing refugees out of the
country around Batcheler arrived here
last night.
When the two relief trains were about
ready to leave Batcheler word was re-
'cefved there was a grave danger of be-
ing cut off by a threatened washout in
the tracks several miles east of tina
place. When the first train arrived at
the point of trouble water was flowing
over the tracks for 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 of the washout,
but about half way across the track
gave way and the caboose and three
cars toppled over. Occupants Of the
'derailed cars were thrown into the wa
ter, but escaped without injury. They
We're transferred to other cars n
brought on to New Roads. When the
first section of the relief special sped
through the water which was running
over the tracks just north of Morganza,
scores Of people were seen standing
waist deep in water lea the railroad
signaling the train to stop. The water
was rising so rapidly that those in
charge of the train decided 1t would
imperil the lives of all those on board
to delay the train.
The train was not stopped.
In some instances force has to be
employed in getting people out of the
danger zone One family, consisting of
man. wife and a 1~2-year-old boy, re-
fused to leave their cabin, which was
fast becoming ~uninhabitable. They
We're picked up bodily and carried to
the train. After being placed aboard
the boy became so frightened he
jumped through ar open window. He
was recaptured.
Urgent appeals for boats to be used
in rescue work have been sent to Gov
ernor Sanders at New Orleans. The
steamer City of Shreveport and a ship
ment of a dozen skiffs are due to arrive
in Batcheler TODAY