The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-06
Mississippi River Is Rising
Faster Than the Workers
Can Construct Superficial
EarthwOrks for Protection.
A MIGHTY WALL OF WATER
Sweeping All Before 1t i'm Reel
foot Lake Country.
Overflow Is Carried Back to
River Farther Down.

The danger zone in the Mississippi
flood district moved southwark today,
but keenest attention was directed to-
ward the Reelfoot lake country in
Tennessee, which was inundated last
night when the levee at Hickman,
KY, was preached. Greatest anxiety
centered in the question of life loss
In the 500 square miles of mum
dated country in northwest Tennessee,
hundreds of persons were forced to
flee before the foods rush and two
children are said to have been drown
ed in Lake county. Advices received
from several points TIE afflicted dis
trict indicate that practically all the
farmers and villagers escaped.
Two thousand Reelfoot refugees are
at Tiptonville and Ridgely. They have
been provided with shelter and the
state has been asked to send them
food and clothing.
Rescue parties have set out in boats
to bring in persons who are marooned
on house tops and RATS.
The greatest pecuniary loss has
been sustained in the drowning of cat
tie. Many farm houses are under
water but the loss from this source
will not mount high. There were no
GEOpS III lA6 1S1NS an PAeAAAlAAA5 AAcO AAOI
been begun.
The situation in the lower Mississip-
pi valley continues serious. The flood
strain was relieved somewhat by the
levee's break at Hickman, but much
of the water now flooding the Reelfoot
country eventually will get back into
the river.
Memphis, Tenn. April 6.-"The situ-
fuL''-O. N. Killough, president of the
St Francis levee board.
Extremely serious but if the wealth
er continues favorable we may be able
to prevent crevasses. Major Clarke
S. Smith, U. S. A, corps of engineers.
This is the Mississippi river flood sit |
uaticn as reviewed by men directing |
the fight from the Missouri state line |
to the mouth of White river, in Arkan-
sas, that stretch of -levee bearing the |
brunt of the battle with the waterway |
today.
Except for the Reelfoot embankment, |
which went out late yesterday, all main
Ievees are holding this morning, but /
each hour the situation grows more /
critical The river is rising faster than /
the superficial earthworks can be con-
structed. Golden lake, so miles north
of Memphis, Pecan Point, in the same
vicinity, LambethVille, Mound City,
Holly Bush, Ark, and the White river
front are regarded as points in imme-
diate peril
At Memphis the stage this morning
was 449 feet a rise of three-tenths dur
ing the preceding II hours.
Dispatches from Hickman, KY, tell +
of the widening of the breach in the
Reelfoot levee, five miles west of that
city Early today the gap was about
200 yards wide. A mighty wall of wa
fer is sweeping all before it in its mad
race through Fulton county, in Ken
lucky, and Lake county, Tenn. Rect
foot lake into which the flood is pour
ing. is going over its banks into Obion
county and in turn the Obion river is
taking up the overflow and carrying it
back to the Mississippi. While the
break will relieve the situation north
OF. Hickman to some extent, it will not
have an appreciable effect to the south.
In the flooded section of North Mem
phis the overflow is gradually spread
ing.
Several pitiable experiences have been
reported One woman was found seri-
ously i'll in the second story of het
home. The water is gradually nearing
the window of her apartment, but her
condition is such that she will not be
removed except as a last resort.
Still Rising at Cairo. Z
Cairo Ill, April 6.-The river gauge
registered "a feet here this morning, )
a rise of 4 feet in "A hours. and
the greatest height that is predicted
that the rivers, the Ohio and Missis- !
sippi, will reach here. Although the I
city is surrounded by water no alarm 7
is felt by the residents. The levees 7
semain firm each foot of them being 7
watched by paid and volunteer work I
ers. Z
Find Cause for Cheer. +
Hickman, Ky. April 6.-Flood refu- I
gees in this town had cause for cheer
last night when the outside world be- +
gan to respond to appeals for help. I
one check for s2,20O came from /
Louisville; Mayfield sent several car 7
loads of bedding and clothing and I
three wagon loads of provisions and I
bedding were received from Fulton, I
two more from Union City and one /
from Woodland Mills \
Tents have been stretched on the i \
grounds of the Carnegie library and in | \
open fields in the southern part of the \
city for the white people, and the ne \
groes are Quartered in another tent \
settlement in the eastern outskirts \
Refugees range in ages from a few 9
weeks to 80 years. Health conditions Q
are uniformly good.
Two of the latest acquisitions of the T
refugee camp are a mother and child +
rescued yesterday from a log fIoatinr ?
in the river. The last family to leave 2
Doreno. Mo. was taken from the sec :
ond story window. 6
Opposite Craig's Landing seven per- 8
sons have erected a tent on a raft and 8
declare they will live in it until the s
waters subside. T
Nearly All Live stock Drown.
Tfptonville, Tenn, April 6.-Hun- y
dreds of refugees from the flooded v