Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-02
De1uge at Hickman.

hiNhMAN, n.y., April Z.-DaWn this
morning revealed the awesome colors in
the scene Of deluge that obliterated the
Landscape here last night. when the food
waters Of the Mississippi river preached
the West HICKMAN levee and poured a
muddy current eight feet deep through
the business streets. the factory and the
tenement districts Of the town.
From hill to hill the river flows this
morning covering farms and flooding
stores and factories The railroad tracks
are on the bed Of the broad stream.
Two thousand persons are homeless.
With the coming of daylight the work
Of Systematically caring for the refugees
was taken up. They were temporarily
last night and the tents shipped by the
state military will arrive today.
Organization of the commissar:' is CIV
ing concern. Much of the food supply
was destroyed in the rush Of water. and
there are not enough provisions on hand
to last the refugees through the week.
The west end of the levee went out
about 9:3O o'clock last night at a point
where 1t was supposed to be strongest.
Workers in Bed When Crash Comes.
Men who had been working in relays
for four days to reinforce the levee. stood
by their posts all day In a driving rain.
They had built the levee up with sand
bags fully a foot above the surface of
the river. Some Of them had gone home
to rest. and most Of the Inhabitants were
in bed when the crash came
The patrol instantly sounded the warn
ing signal agreed upon. then sprang into
the boats. which had been moored for this
emergency since the fight against the
Mississippi began. and rowed across the
lowlands on the crest Of the flood. All
the workers and those whose homes were
endangered reached the hills in safety.
but there was much distress among the
women and children before they were
housed for the night
At midnight residents on the Missouri
shore opposite Hickman were warned to
fee, as the levee there was in imminent
danger Of going out. The water Is two
feet higher here than ever before re-
corded and Is expected to rise two feet
more.
than s250.OOO. the burden of which will
fall on the railroads. All the stores are
flooded and factories have sustained
great damage.
No Break at Memphis.
MEMPHIS. Tenn. April 2-While the
flood situation has been aggravated by
the continued rains Of yesterday and las,
night. there had been no break in the
Mississippi river levees this forenoon in
this district.
Although the strain is great against
the upper portion OF the ST. Francis
levee. in Arkansas, opposite Memphis
both the government and levee board
officials express confidence today they
will be able to hold all main line levees
in this district.
The water from the break of the
small levee along Bayou Gayose, which
protects the low lands of the CITY
continues to cause discomfort to resi-
dents of that section. On some of the
streets the water Is six feet deep.
The predicted rise of forty-four feel
announced Sy the weather bureau will
add greatly to the damage already
done in the city.
The gauge this morning registered Al o
showing a rise Of seven-tenths since the
last. reading. the highest mark ever
recorded.
St. Louis Reports Standstill.
ST. LOUIS. April 2-The rise of thu
Mississippi river at st. Louis apparently
has ceased temporarily. The gauge today
registered 29.S feet. the same as yester