Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-04-08
THREE STRIKING PICTURES
IN GREAT FLOOD AREA.

1
| Memphis. Tenn, April I'm the
| wide stretches of the Mississippi's
flooded areas tonight there are three
striking pictures. The northern most
| is the five hundred square miles of
the Reelfoot Lake country of Tennes
| see. where two thousand or more per-
| sons have been driven from their
homes by the bursting of Mississippi
levee in southwestern Kentucky.
In this district thousands of acres
of fertile fields are under water.
Scores of persons who have refused
to desert their homes now are impri-,
scned in upper floors and on roofs of
flood menaced houses.
A few milas south in Arkansas,
three counties are under water. From
this rich bottom" country hundreds
of farmers and villagers have been
driven. Flood waters swept over the
fields and villages last night with the
breaking of the levee on the Arkansas
side. north of Memphis.
Today great numbers of persons
marooned on roofs of houses and in
trees, have been taken out of the
flooded districts in boats Probably
many more are in peril. There are not
boats enough to perform the rescue
work. Three counties flooded are
ICrittenden, Poinsett and Cross. The
scene south of these points impresses
one with the power of the river.
Homes that once marked the center
of rich bottom farms, now float in Il
torrent that cannot be stayed. Bits
of wreckage carried along in the tide,
reflect the extent Of the damage in
the valley above.
TO the small farmer and settler, the
coming of the flood means flight.
Hundreds of such persons have re-
fused, however, to leave their homes;
and in many instances they have been
removed by force. There have been
rcrorts of fatalities among poo
whites" and negroes who risked their
lives to save their mules.
Attempts to f'cover' the story along
the stretch of levees from south Mis-
souri, and Illinois to Arkansas, have
involved many personal risks on The
part of newspaper correspondents.
one of the most daring exploits was
successfully cssayed by young cor
respondent wac floated on a log "il
ihe crest of the tide when the iefC%
! ruke at Hickman. He made his way
to Tiptonville. Tenn., then telephoneu
ms story of the flight from the Reel
foot country II Memphis.
Another newspaper writer, young
woman of Hickman, Ky, half swan, !
half waded in imminent peru to get
from her home to the long distance
telephone in order that the first defl- |
mite story of the rescue of a thousand
persons at Dorena. Mo-, might reach |
the outside world.
or the striking feats of bravery, |
possibly the most conspicuous mas
been that of the courier who rode in |
advance of the tide to warn villagers
and farmers of the raging stream.
A farmer who watched for the |
breach in the st. Francis levee yes
terday afternoon, mounted his horse /
when the tide broke through the em-
ba nknent. As he started to ride away
his wife grasped the bride of his
horse.
where are you going" she called,
struggling with the horse.
"To warn my neighbors, replied
the planter.
you must get to the boats
The woman managed to get her
{ hildren away in safety. while her
husband raced with the flood, warn
ing farmers. The warning probably
saved scores of lives.
A peddlar who travels in the couh-
Lrv surrounding Memphis, lived In
small frame house. Water entered MS
dwelling. He moved to the attic ana
made his rounds in a boat that ne
r,,oored to a tree at night. The lasl
night he slept in his attic he awoke
tp find the water around his bed. Inc
-nly implement available was can
.rener. With this he cut out an open
ng i'm the roof and finding his boat
;nd stores safe, escaped.
Crocers, butchers and other small
n Merchants. as Well as saloon Keepers
IRE doing business in North Memphis
with from two to four feet OF wafer
m their stores. When the water tops
ho counters they give up ana leave
several blocks in the poorer section
f North Memphis have been flood"''