The Mena weekly star., 1912-04-11
Town People Fleeinq.

Town People Fleeing.
 Baton Rouge, La, April 8.-Citi- zens of Little and Elliott City be- gan moving out of their homes late yesterday as a result of the cre- vase in the west bank of the Atch- afalya river about the Frisco rail- road bridge. Last night the water had reached Elliott City, the first station on the Frisco road from the river and is slowly inundating the lowlands.
 The water is creeping upon Lot tie, situated between Baton Rouge and the Atchafalya river on the Frisco railroad. There are large lumber interests located at Lottie and the water is now tapping the edges of the lumber yards. It is predicted that by tonight the entire town as well as the surrounding country will be flooded.
 Loss of Life Is Certain.
 Three Mississippi river steamers reached Memphis this morning car- rying hundreds of homeless persons from the flood-swept lands of Ar kansas i'll the Modoc territory. Many of those persons tell of life loss in several of the small towns that were inundated when the em- bankment was preached. There is no chance to verify the reports, but it is accepted as certain that there have been fatalities in Phillips county, Arkansas.
 The refugees who came this morning had saved none of their personal belongings. Many of them were almost naked when they reached the river boats. The cap- tains and more fortunate of the sufferers divided clothing with the needy.
 Woman and Dead Baby.
 The steamer Kate Adams, which was near Modoc Saturday when the creyasse occurred there, probably saved hundreds of lives by taking refugees from rafts and house tops. In the midst of the rescue work the steamer put out a skin to a woman who sat on the roof of her floating house. She sent word back to the captain that she would not leave unless he would consent to take her dead baby aboard the boat Ac- cordingly a soap box was sent to the floating house, the woman reached behind the chimney and brought out the baby's corpse and placed it in the box. Then she was rowed to the steamer. The baby was brought to Memphis and bur- jed here today.
 Negro and His Mule.
 One of the Lee line steamers from the Arkansas country that reached here today told of a des- perate fight with a negro who re- fused to leave a raft on which he hoated unless he was allowed to bring his mule aboard the boat.
 As last resort the captain of the boat tied the raft bearing the mule behind the boat. By some chance the mule kept his bearing and the raft was lowed safely into Mem phis.
 Train Rescues Hundreds.
 Refugees arriving at Helena from flooded districts south, today told of narrowing experiences before they heard the welcome whistle of the Memphis, Helena x Louisiana railroads special rescue train sent out yesterday. The railway IS a part of the Missouri paeific-Iron Mountain system. Parts of terri tory through which it passes are rather thickly settled. It was this section that the train frequently to pick up sur Vivors. Running slowly. and with it's locomotive blasts repeated at in- tervals of a few seconds, the train bore men whose trained sense Of hearing would detect calls, cries and shouts from points on either side of the track. Refugees waded for hundreds of yards, often swimming, to gain the em- IfdilklIltlt Ut1Vlt liit IT dlA H0ToNNs Some would founder in water up 10 their waists and these were aid ed by the reseuing party on the train.
 Perched ea house tops, on roofs of barns-sonse floating-of cling ing to trees in perilous places, the refugees in some sections south Of Helena had about abandoned hope when they heard the whistle of the Ifaln.
 Steer Saves its Master.
 Ia portions of Crilienden county, l where lhe flood spread when the st. Clair loop broke Saturday, few persons arc believed to remain hy Inc flood. Refugees ,IilI arrived today ai Marion. some 1 sf them told of narrow escapes. One farmer probably owes his life .e a slecr. His v'ife and children l ae Bad ant se h.esNr ground In