The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1912-04-26
FLOOD CLAIMS
HEAVY DEATH TOLL
ESTIMATES OF DROWNED FROM
FIFTY TO ONE HUNDRED.
DEATHS FROM EXPOSURE
Two Women Reported Dead-Relief
Work Retarded by Progress of the
Flood-River Falling Rapidly
at Points Above Memphis.

Memphis, Tenn.-With a death list
variously estimated at from so to 100
people, mostly negroes, the break in
the lower Yazoo delta at Beulah, Miss, |
rapidly widening, the beautiful Missis-
sippi delta, the most thickly inhabited
section yet visited by the flood; is being
rapidly converted into an inland sea.
Already it is estimated more than TWEEN
ty-fve square miles have been inun-
dated and the water is spreading with
greater rapidity than from any break
which has yet occurred. Thousands of
families are deprived of homes, hun
dreds have been rescued and many more
are awaiting rescue in remote parts the
limited number of rescuers have been
as yet unable to reach.
A score of small towns are now un-
| der water from three to fifteen feet deep
and relief of all the homeless is a
stupendous task. Deaths from exposure
are reported daily. So far most of the
fatalities have been among the ne
groes, but news was received of the
death of two white women at BenOit.
Relief work among the thousands Of
homeless people is being well conducted
under the supervision of state and fed
eral officials with headquarters at Vicks-
burg, where already about 5000 negroes
from Louisiana are quartered. Relief
stations have been established at a
dozen points in Northeastern louisiana
and at points in Mississippi throngs oil
detitute folks are being fed and giver
clothing, cooking utensils, medicine, etc
A number of levees were reported al
most at the breaking point, and the fed
eral and state engineers admitted they
may not be able to hold all of them i
heavy rains continue for another week.
The conditions will grow worse durin!
the next week in the Sunfower vale,
of Mississippi, which is rapidly beinI
inundated by the waters from tn
crevasse at Beulah, and II Northeaater'
Louisiana, where the flood waters ar
pouring through the Dog Tail crevass
near Alsathia, La, are slowly spreat
ing over portions of thirteen parishes
! Several thousand square miles OF ric
bottom lands will have been inundate
before the waters from these two grea
c~revasses finally return to the Missi
, sippi river through the Yazoo and Re
2 rivers.
I Except in The vicinity of the Beuld
crevasse. the floods in that section
A far have claimed no lives, at least new
v of such has not reached the towns
, the district which are yet in tel
a ora phic communication with the outsi'
d world.
d Governors Make Appeal.
The governors of Mississippi al
a. Louisiana and mayors of cities throug
d out these states have issued appeals I
IF relief funds and provisions are rapid
Of being rushed to the flood sufferers. L
flood waters will cover a vast area
f. the present inundated territory Tor p
re haps two months longer and 1T Will
necessary to raise many thousands
Id dollars vet to succor the homeless a
az destitute.
~ The river at and above Memphis CO
m tinues to fall ut a constantly increasi
rate. AT every point on the upper rlv'
W reporting to Memphis falls were
corded, with the exception OF Cine
natl, where a rise of IL feet was
ported. This, it is believed, will" /
ne materially affect the lower Mississippi
The upper Yazoo district is still
tn tact and stands we'll above the wal
No weaknesses worth mentioning hi
On developed in that line and none Is
pected to develop.