The Van Buren press., 1912-04-20
AN INLAND SEA
COVERS VALLEY
Waters Of the Mississippi Cover
Many Miles, Making Thous-
ands Homeless.
NO RELIEF EXPECTED SOON
With Further Rise Of River Expected
Gloom PreVails-No Loss OF Life
Hse Yet Been Reported.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Little Rock.--An inland sea IS rag
ing up and down the course Of the
Mississippi Many people are maroon
ed In trees and in the upper stories
OF houses and on roofs The water
lies from a few inches deep to many
feet and completely submerging
houses and trees Boats are at pre-
MUM and hard to obtain. In tho
neighborhood of small towns and cities
It is now a familiar sight to see heav-
lily laden boats and RATS coming out
Of the surrounding country.
Thousands of refugees are being
cared for by the charity OF others.
Many are in destitute circumstances,
having only a few clothes to keep
them warm and protect them from
the rains.
Organized aid Is being given
throughout the state, The U. 5. gov
ernment has army officers in charge
Of camps and food distributing points
where many people are being taken
care Of
Public subscriptions are being raised
in every city and town and being used
TO relieve the suffering Several
thousand dollars have been raised and
more are needed Armed men are pa
trolling the leyees. watching them for
weak points and keeping them from
being cut. Others are fighting night
and day at weak and breaking points
TO keep back the destructive tide.
Northeast and Southeast Arkansas
and Northeast Louisiana Is suffering
the brunt OF the floods as levees have
broken In the districts submerging the
country for miles around.
In places as far as the eye can reach
nothing Ia to be seen but water ana
tue water gradually rising and the
crest OF the flood not expected 10
PASS for some time. Some idea OF
the immensty OF the flood may be
obtained when II ls considered that
in Louisiana alone there Is l3 parishes
under water, which is q considerable
portion OF the state.
Since the first breaks about two
weeks ago at Hickman. Kentucky,
and opposite Memphis, the situation
has been gradually growing worse A
great number Of the refugees IN the
camps are negroes and they are be-
coming hard TO control and In some
instances troops have been asked for
10 keep order or prevent outbreaks.
A demoralized condition exists In
many places as there IL no business
being carried on. Railroads have can
celed trains because Of the impossl'
blIty OF operating them. Mall serv'
ice has been interrupted and In some
cases discontinued
The heaviest loss caused by the
floods will be live stock, as many head
pershed. Household goods comes
next. n houses are not strongly built
and on n firm foundation they are
being swept away by the current
Practically all fences are destroyed.
About the only comfort to be found
is that only In few cases has any
powlng or planting been done 80 there
is no wasted labor and seed.
Places where the leyees are stu
holding people are living In hope that
the levoes have held 70 long against
odds which they were not built to
stand.
The most amazing feature OF the
flood N that up to this time not a
single life has been lost by drowning.
When In former times heavy death
toll always resulted from flood This
IA all due 10 the wellbullt government
loyeos and the method OF organization
IN rescue Cork.
Steamboats, plying up and down the
river are all warned 10 stay In the
middle OF the stream 80 that the wave
wash will not do any damage In
some cases whore a pilot has ncercd
leveo armed men have fired on the
steamer as grim warning 10 keep
In the center OF the stream
Congress has appropriated 100000
more for the relief OF the sufferers
and 10 repair the damage 10 levces
before the June high watcr Ia due 30
as TO avoid reptltlon OF the present
conditions
Rains have been falling In some OF
the oyerflowod sections causing ad'
dItlonal suffering and discomfort TO
ALL
Al Little Rock the Arkansas river
has been gradually falling but the
NIaaiaHippl IA Getting higher