The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-04-09
If Levees in Lower Valley Hold,
Danger Expected to be Over
Rises Reported at Vicka-
burg and New Orleans
ARKANSAS TOWN OF
5000 IS MENACED
Estimated Damage Now Reaches
Ten Million = Homeless Peo-
pie Rescued Many in
Military Camp
Telegram Oy United Press.

Telegram Dy United Press.
Memphis, Tenn, April Off tho
Yazoo levees in Louisiana and Missis.
sippi hold today, it is believed that the
flood crisis will be past
The river fell tenth Of foot al
Memphis, but has risen six tenths at
yicksburg, and four tenths at New Or
leans. The levees below Memphis are
reported holding this morning and the
work Of Strengthening them is being
rushed to prevent a break.
No further breaks in the ST. Fran
CTS system are reported but work will
not be suspended for several days, un.
til all danger is past The work Of
lrescujng is continued, steamers bring
ing hundreds to Memphis and here
they are taken to the military camp
which has been established.
The river has fallen slightly at ali
points north Of Memphis
II is reported here that Osceola,
Ark a city Of five thousand people. is
in grave danger of beink swept away
owing to two threatened breaks in the
leyee Gangs Of men are working
feserlshiy foavs7 sta asasts
Stirring stories OF the rescue Of rsfd.
gees in the floodswept territory Of up.
per Arkansas have reached Memphis
Monday night One thousand or more
persons marooned in Wyanoke. Ark,
were brought to Memphis late Mon
day afternoon. They were rescued
through the initiative Of a Memphis
citizens committee, which made the
hazardous trip to Wyanoke to inves.
tigate stories Of suffering from that
point The stories OF suffering were
amply verified In a church weer found
scores OF sufferers who had taken
refuge there when the flood descend
ed. AS the deluge Increased, the wa
ter climbing to the promontory on
which stood the church, the refugees
built seaffoldlng with pews and thus
kept their heads above the floods sur
lace. On high ground and ia the al.
f tics Of houses near Wyanoke hundreds
or more victims were found. All we're
brought to Memphis Monday. They
/ will receive ample care.
Refugees from the Modoc flood dis.
lrlct south Of Memphis, who we're
taken to Helena and Memphis Mon.
day, say there has been some life loss
in that section These reports are un-
verified and the mayor Of Helena Mon
day night sent the newspapers
an emphatic statement declaring there
have been no fatalities from the
breaks south Of Helena.
Unofficial estimates Of the damage
vary widely. Many persons who know
every bend in the great river from
New Orleans to Cairo say the pecun-
iary loss viii amount to sl0,000.00
+ Other persons equally conversant with
the situation modify this estImata.
Probably the heaviest specific loss
must be estimated in the destruction
Of homes. the loss Of livestock and tho
damage to manufacturing plants in
1 the upper flood district The number
OF fatalities has been small as mat.
ter Of course. Prompt warnings have
preceded the rivers rise, aud resi-.
dents ef the threatened districts have
been more or less alert Probably
thirty fatalities would meet the con
servative total.
There has however, been tremen-
dous suffering amoag the homeless.
OF the thirty thousand or more per.
sons who have been driven forth BY
tbs raging tide hundreds have gone
hungry and without water for many
hours before succor reached them.
Hundreds have been imprisoned on
houset tops. In trees and on anchored
rafts for long periods Despite the
ample warnings given. many gf the
Arkansas and Tennessee homestea1t
ers remained by their property an
the last minute, and then scores of
] them were taken from their flood.lm.
posed places OF refuge half naked.