The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-04
Flood Conditions in Lower Mis-
sissippi Unprecedented.
Greatest Volume of Water Ever
Recorded Is Passing.
TOWNS DEEP UNDER WATER
The Situation at Baton Rouge
Grows More Menacing.
Water Is 10 to 25 Feet Deep
Over Bayou Sara.

New Orleans, May 4.-Flood con-
| ditions in the lower Mississippi valley
continue today to grow worse. No
one. not even those who have dealt
with similar problems, will forecast
the outcome of the passing of the
greatest volume of water ever re-
corded in the great stream. At New
Orleans today the former record was
buried by almost a foot.
The water at Torras, La, is pour
ing through that levee crevasse with
an ever-widening gap and another
breach is threatened there.
Reports from the inundated section
north of New Roads are of a gloomy
character. The flood water is travel
ing at a rapid rate toward the Atcha-
falaya river and is nearing the main
line of the Texas and Pacific railway.
A telephone message from Let's
worth early today said the town was
deep under water and hundreds OF per-
sons in the surrounding country are
marooned in their homes, in cotton
gin houses and on house tops. Motor
boats have been sent to Lettsworth
for rescue work.
A special train arrived at New
Roads last night with several hun
dred refugees from the deluged coun-
try. Most of them were women and
children.
A relief expedition arrived at Bach
night with large number of victims
who were on the verge of starvation.
Conditions at Baton Rouge are
hourly growing more menacing. A
force of one thousand men worked all
night aided by searchlights on steam
boats, trying to prevent break di-
rectly in front of that city. Another
large force was engaged in closing up
the gaps in the protection embank-
ment just south of Baton Rouge,
where it is hoped to prevent the wat
ers from finding their way to the rich
sugar lands in the Pontchartrain dis
trict in the event the fight to save the
main levee is lost. Baton Rouge is
built on a bluff and a crevasse there
would not do serious damage except
to the wholesale section.
Bayou Sara where a break occurred
yesterday is today under water ten to
twenty-five feet deep.
Four White Men Shot by Negro.
Vicksburg, May 4.-There has been
much suffering among the flood refu-
gees of the Black river district IN
Louisiana. Reports say that of the
hundreds of persons who have gone to
the concentration camps at Harrison
burg, many were at the point of star
vation and were almost naked. UP
to this time there has been compara-
tiyelv little disorder in the concentra-
ton camps, but last night there was a
row in a white refugee camp here.
Four white men got into a dispute
with a passing negro and he shot all
four. Probably they will survive.
No Flood in June.
Washington, May 4.-Conditions in
the flooded regions of the lower Missis-
sippi are serious according to reports
today to General Bixby, chief of en-
gineers AS a result of the Torras
break two parishes are certain to be
flooded. The water was reported to be
within two feet of the top of the levees
in Plaquimine Parish.
General Bixby pointed out there was
one redeeming feature about the situa-
ton which was that it probably dis
posed of the dreaded June floods as
this year the Missouri flood has come
down earlier than usual. In General
Bixby's opinion there will be no June
floods
Commissary Is Exhausted.
Washington, May 4.-The army has
reached its limit in the distribution of
relief to the Mississippi flood sufferers,
the entire appropriation for the com
missary department having been used
by Major Normoile, in charge of the
relief work He was instructed by the
government to contract for no more
supplies, as to do so would make him
subject to prosecution under the law.
Congress has been asked for an ap-
preparation to reimburse the commits
sary department and it is expected the
present order will have the effect of
immediate action.