New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-10
BREAK IN MAIN [EVEE
SUBMERCES VAST AREA
Flood Tears Through Dixie Near
Golden Lake, Ark, and 1000
Square Miles Lie in Its Path.
LOSS WILL REACH MILLIONS
Populous Towns in Rich Basin
Under Water-Exposure and
Hunger Menace the
bitants.

Memphis. Tenn. April 9.-Between IL"
and 1000 square miles. including more thar
! O,O00 acres OF rich farming land, in North
eastern Arkansas in the st. Francis Basin
are affected by break in the main line OF
the levee system about fifty miles north Of
Memphis. near Golden Lake, Ark. to-day
dated and many other villages are threat
ened No loss of life has occurred so far
as Is known here tonight. Telephone lines
TO Marked Tree and Wilson are down.
The damage Will run into millions. Thou
sands Of head OF livestock persisted. Boats
bearing rescue parties already are in the
parts OF the flooded area nearest Memphis
Relief parties also have been dispatched
from Osceola, Ark. and other towns.
News from the other sections of the
northern river district tonight is cheering.
Supplies of tents, bedding and clothing ar
rived In the Reelfoot Lake territory OF
| Tennessee. Refugees brought from Wyan-
| oke. Ark, yesterday have been made com
Portable in Memphis. The diversion OF a
vast quantity OF water into the st. Francis
Basin because Of to-day's break should af-
ford relief between MARRIED. and Helena,
Towns which experienced engineers say
are certainly under water from three to ten
feet In depth are: Marked Tree, about
200 persons Wilson, about 500; Big Lake
200; Deckervile, 900. and Tyronza, $50. Be
sides these. many minor settlements PROB
ably are inundated. Indications are also
that Charlottesville. a town OF 400. In Crit
tenden County. Will be invaded by the
water.
At Wilson and Marked Tree there are
large sawmills. The loss TO these possibly
will reach a million dollars. Tho territory
is much more extensive and the dcvasta-
ton and loss OF property. as well az eX-
pCsure and hunger. Will be on a larger scare
than has been recorded in the recent raw
ages OF the river.
Vicksburg Miss. April 9.-Dong lines Of
reinforced dikes guarding the delta coun-
try's rich shores and numerous villages
from the stress OF the Mississippi flood held
strong tonight. The days hardest strife
came at Miller's Bend. a few miles above
Greenvlle. where the yellow tide topped
the crown OF the levee several times
Hundreds OF men are lighting the flood in
the reaches above Greenvile tonight Tho
battle has been under way for the last
three days. A breach IN the levee at this
point means the inundation OF the central
and southern portions OF the worlds most
fertile cotton country
Some distance below Greenvlle farmers
and villagers have made arrangements to
make their way out OF the food path In
case OF a breach Much OF the livestock
Of the territory has been sent to higher
ground There has been slight general
rise I'm the river all DAY in this district
In the twelve hours ended AT 7 o'clock to-
night the rise at Vicksburg has been three
tenths OF a foot.
The break near Golden Lake, Ark.' VIII
tend 10 hold back the crest In the delta
and Yazoo districts. but eventually all this
water must come down the valley.
The situation along the river stretches
south OF Vicksburg tonight practically is
unchanged Armed patrols march up ana
down the levecs at intervals. prepared TO
head of any attempt to cut the dikes.