Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-09
TUESDAY APRIL 9, 1919.
THE MISSISSIPPI FLOOD.
Alarming Devastation In the Low
Lands AIono the River.


Memphis, Tenn, April Tn the
wide stretches Of the Mississippi
flooded acres tonight there are three
striking pictures. The northermost
is In the 500 square miles Of the Reel
Foot Lake country of Tennessee,
where two thousand or more persons
have been driven from their homes by
the smashing Of the Mississippi levee
in southwestern Kentucky. In this
district thousands Of acres Of fertile
fields are under water. Scores OF per-
sons who have refused to desert their
homes now are imprisoned In upper
floors and on roofs Of flooded houses.
A few miles south in Arkansas three
counties are under water. From this
rich bottom" country hundreds OF
farmers and villagers have been drtv-
en-. Flood water swept over the fer
tile fields and thriving villages last
night, with the breaking Of the levee
on the Arkansas side north Of Men,
phis. Today great numbers Of persons
marooned on roofs Of houses and In
trees have been taken out Of the flood
ed district in boats. Probably many
more water imprisoned are In inn
minent peril. There are not boats
enough to perform the rescue work
required. Three counties, Crittenden.
Poinsett and Cross, are flooded.
The scene south Of these points
|impresses one with the might Of q
giant stream on the rampage. Homes
that once marked the centre OF rich
bottom" farms now float In torrent
that cannot be stayed. Bits Of wreck
age floating along In the tawny tide
reflect the extent OF the damage In
the valley above.
Irny,. fha ofo M y,ni,,f ~ tho 0tffafha
dweller, q picture Of q Mississippi val
ley food Is best expressed In figures Of
possible life loss and statistics telling
| Of the number Of square miles inun-
dated. To the valley plantation own
er a different picture presents ITSELF.
With him inundation Of his farm by
/ q torrent from the river overflow
means erosion Of his acres, setback Of
his crop and loss Of labor.
To the smaller farmer and settler
the coming Of the flood means fight.
Hundreds Of such persons have re-
fused, however, to leave their homes
and In many instances such cases
have been dealt with through force.
There have been reports Of fatalities
among poor whites" and negroes
mules.
Attempts to "cover" this story along
the stretch of levees from south Mis-
souri, and Illinois to Arkansas have I'm
lvolved many personal risks by news
paper correspondents.
One Of the most daring exploits was
successfully essayed by young cor
respondent who floated on q log on
the crest Of the tide when the levee
broke at Hickman. He made his way
to Tiptonville, Tenn, then telephoned
the story of the flight from the Reel
Foot country to Memphis.
Another news writer, pretty young
woman,of Hickman, KY, half swan,
half waded in imminent peril to get
from her home to the long distance
Telephone In order that the first def
mite story Of the rescue of thousand
persons at Dorena, Mo-. might reach
the outside world.
OF the striking features Of bravery
which stand out In the fight AGAINST
the flood, possibly the most conspicu-
Gus has been that Of the couriers who
rode in advance of the tide to warn
villagers and farmers out of the path
Of the raging storm.
The telephone has been brought
largely into play. Patrols stationed
at menacing points have watched for
crevasses night and day. The moment
break occurred the patrols, hurried
to telephone stations and warned the
people.
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-
bankment. AS he started to ride away
his wife grasped the bride Of the
Eorse.
1xryt, - -. 49,, ,~,s.. :. %, .,.o ..,,.s
struggling with the horse.
ITO warn my neighbors." replied
the planter you must get to the
boats"
The planters wife managed to get
her children away In safety while her
husband raced with the flood warning
farmers out of the tides path. The
warning probably saved scores Of
lives.