The Sentinel=record., 1912-05-11
NEW ORLEANS
 THREATENED
WATERS OF THE STORM SWEPT RIVER DASHED OVER LEvEE
 AT EsPLANADE STREET.
Flood Also Tops Levee at Baton Rouge and Both Cities Are in Danger. Torrential Rain Storm En.
 sues for Hours.

New Orleans, May 10.-New Orlean. tonight withstood the severest rain storm in her history. All of the lowei half of Louisiana was affected anC thousands of the people who live be hind the already terribly straino, leyees that hold back the Mississippi flood waters were panicky.
 The wind ranged from 27 miles al hour at New Orleans to 40 miles al Baton Rouge and at many points along the river it swept the waves oi the swollen stream over the leyees.
 At New Orleans five and one-hali inches of rain fell from noon until 10 o'clock tonight and about four inches fell between ' and 9 o'clock The Mis-. sissippi river here was banked up by the high winds and rose eight inches in two hours, between and 10 o'clock forcing the waters over the levees at several points.
 At 10 o'clock the river gauges at the heal of Canal street registered 21.9 feet of one-tenth of foot higher than the predicted maximum stage by the weather bureau. At II o'clock the gauge showed drop Of one-tenth of a foot for the hours. but the rains con- tinued to pour down in torrents at intervals.
 Dozens of messages poured into the office of the United States army en- gineers here, telling of rumored breaks in the leyees above New Orleans None of them had been verified up to mid night although little hope was express ell Of saving the leyee at Baton Rouge and at Morganza, Scots Landing, Don aldsonville and Plaquemine, the stua. ton was deelafed to be critical
 At o'clock Superintendent Pear. sal of the Texas and Pacific railroad, ordered two relief trains made ready to send to Donaldsonyille and Plaque mine. but the orders were counter manded a few minutes later when it was established that reports of breaks in the levees near those cities were not true.
 Thirty-fiye thousand sandbags were dispatchd from New Orleans to Baton Rouge on a special train tonight The situation was declared most critical at the capital city. with prospects of saving the front levee almost hopeless
 At New Orleans the water poured over the sandbags, topping at the foot of Esplanade street, and a force of hands was rnshed there to stop the holes and pile the embankment still higher.
 Guards were placed along the en tire river front and precautions were taken to quickly close every spot where there was an overflow.
 The streets of New Orleans were flooded as never before in the city, history In the Carrollton section, the upper part of the city the water was six to seven inches deep on the side walks. In the downtown business sec ton. Canal and all intersecting streets were flooded over the sidewalks and the water entered stores on number of streets.
 There was such strong current II some of the citys streets, due to the excessive rainfall. that many persons were alarmed and feared an overflow from the river. Telephones were kep busy for several hours by people whC were not prepared to believe that th' rainfall alone was responsible for th' depth and swiftness of the water il The streets.
 At midnight the railfall was no heavy, but many of the streets were still flooded 10 a depth of six to eigh inches.
 AAtii iSBANto tohi5hA tN storm swept down across the stat from near Shreveport, moving south east, struck the Mississippi river nea the Big Morganza Bend and coatinne' down the river past New Orleans Tn velocity apparently was greatest il the territory between New Roads am Gardee. point nine miles south c Baton Rouge. where reports receive here stated that the velocity was al proximately 10 miles aa hour Raj and hail accompanied the wind an meager reports late tonight show tha the lower hall of the state experience a deluge such as never was before rs corder. From New Roads report g