The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-06

New Orleans La. May 5.-Large
sections of fifteen Louisiana parishes
west of the Mississippi River are
under water, four other parishes have
some flood water. and are bound to
get more this week; approximately
100000 persons III that territory HAYS
peen driven from their homes: trains
are taking out hundreds of familie,,
daily. fleets Of motor boats and skirs
arc being used to rescue marooned
people; about dozen lives all told
nave been sacrificed. principally be-
cause the people refused to heed tho
warnings; several hundred dollars
worth OF rations have been distri-
buted among the refugees who are
sheltefed in all manner of house.
from cabins to churches and lodge
buildings
Every day brings stories OF suf-
fering and of heroic rescues. of new,
sections inundated by the waters from
the crevasses already recorded in the
ievees of the Mississippi River. Tho
funds that will be required to take
care of the flood victims cannot he
expressed in II few hundred thousands
of dollars.
Millions at stake.
The still bigger question of pru-
tectinS the remaining levces along the
mississippi river from the mouth of
the Red River south, is causing deep
er concern for the moment. Millions
OF dollars worth OF property is at
stake, and thousands OF lives would
be jeopnrd!zed if some OF the biggest
OF the levees should give way.
Federal engineers, State and parish
oihcials. and an army of men scatter
ed along the river from a point sixty
miles below New Orleans to the Red
River, are bending every energy to
prove themselves equal to the task.
reports today were more reassur-
ing than on yesterday. and the Federal
and State engineers declared they had
tir..i faith in their ability to hold
every remaining levco on the Missis-
sippi.
Lack OF labor. due largely to the
unconcern OF negroes who have been
drawing government rations. has beoa
the most serious drawback. Stringent
tactics have been forced upon tho
officials and planters. however. ana
to-day Governor Sanders ordered the
Louisiana militia TO round ND 500
negroes and make them do work on
the levees at the point of rifles, If
necessary.
At Baton Rouge. reports came in
that planters in several instances were
compelled to corral negro laborers az
the pOht OF snOtSnnS.
Thousands Of paid laborers and con-
victs are working, IN some instances
day and night. IN the weak stretches
of the Mississippi levees from the Red
River junction TO the mouth OF the
river.
AT New Orleans and Baton Rouge,
Louisana's State capital. gangs Of la
borers are working at night under the
glare of electric lights strung along
the levees. and aided by searchlights
OF steamers. AT Baton Rouge the stu
alton is critical. and equally so along
the Atchafalaya and Bayou Des
Glaizes.
There is alarm among some OF the
residents OF New Orleans though the
daily reassuring statements of the
city officials and Levee Board engineers
others. who feel not the slightest ap-
prehension
Prepare for Emergency.
Extreme precautions have been taken
to meet any emergency. and at points
all along the river barges and fiat cars
are loaded with timber, sand sacks.
wheeloarrows, shoveis and othar mate
rial necessary in stopping wash holes,
arresting crawish and muskrat. depre-
dations and closing small breaks ard
threatened crevasses. At New Orleans
the railroads whose lines pierce tho
protection levees above the city we're
ordered to place pile drivers and all
necessary material right at the gaYs
and keep ready at all hours sufficient
CONTINUED on Third ,PaGe.)