Arizona republican., 1912-04-06
Government Levee at Hick- man Breaks and Hundred and Fifty Square Miles of Territory Are Sub merged.
HEAVY LOSS OF
 LIFE IS FEARED
River Still Rising at Lower ints-Eighteen Lives Sacrificed - Property Loss Is Million and Half.
1 AsSociatcd Press DiSPatcil

WASHINGTON, April ,. - The weather bureau issued this special river bulletin tonight
 The flood situation in the Ohio and Mississippi rivers continues as previously indicated No additional forecasts have been issued. except for Evansville. Inc. where there will be another rise ot 1.5 or two feet in jour or five days. The flood wave IS ROW in the Cincinnati districts.
 The break in the levee at Hickman will flood territory 45 to 50 miles long and five to thirty miles wide The break will relieve the situation at Cairo and New Madrid before morning The situation within the Cairo district is considered safe. At Memphis the river will reach about 45 feet in 4S hours unless break occurs in some part of the Arkansas levee. At Helena the river will reach 5:. feet in two days.
 HICKMAN. Ky. April 5.-With q roar heard for miles the Mississippi flood burst through the government 3evee three miles west, late today. and tonight is racing over the Reel foot district. Bv tomorrow hun cred and fifty square miles Of lands will be an inland sea Grave appre- hension is felt for the safety of far mers in remote sections of the coun try. The water tore gap 60 feet vide in the levee and the current is fast widening the breach. The Reel foot levee, as generally known. has been regarded as a danger point for a week. When the collapse came the workers were compelled to run for their lives. number making their way to Hickman on foot, while others marooned, where rescued in launches. When the crash came ef- fcrts were made to communicate with scattered villages bv telephone. but with little success Property damage will be great.
 CAIRO, April 5.-Cario, surrounded by water for two days, remained dry tonight. aud. it is believed. secure from the flood Citizens recovered quickly from the scare received to- clay when. it was reported. the Tenth street level had given way. Invesu-
  drainage pump had risen more than usual.
 The river reached a stage of 53.9 tonight It is expected to remain there several days. Breaking of the levee at Hickman will relieve tlre strain on the levees at Cairo and other points north of Hickman. The scene at the drainage district i'm mediately north of Cairo is appalling. Houses which were partially sub merged yesterday were torn from their foundations today and tonight are upside down. big church is on its side Factories are submerged to their roofs in some places and the Hood entirely covered other buildings. Not one pile of lumber in the great mill section ;s standing. Families driven from Urbana. a factory city, have remained the greater part of the time on top of the levee protecting Cairo. They have not wanted for food.
 The city is entirely cut off from railroad communication. Many per- sons went on tugs to Mound City from which the;- took trains north.
 
 the north has been discontinued. Only one telegraph company is working directly from Cairo.
 MEMPHIS. April 5.-The flood area in the Mississippi valley was widened and heightened today. The big gov ernment levee at West Hickman, Ky. protecting the Reelfoot lake district m Kentucky and Tennessee. broke late this afternoon and. it is be- lieved. 3 hundred and fifty square miles will be inundated This sec ton is well populated and loss of life is expected.
 The Mississippi had reached the flood stage almost as far down as Natchez tonight and hundreds of men were at work on the levees in newly menaced territory. stopping small breaks and strengthening spots weak ened by the terrific strain. AS the river is still rising at Cairo and the Ohio is slowly mounting higher as far up as Louisville. with the smaller streams all down the line pouring unprecedented volumes of water into the Mississippi. the lower river dis trict is facing 2, crisis
 For six hundred and thirty-eight miles the Mississippi seriously threat ems, that being the distance between Columbus and Vicksburg. The great