Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-05
Two LeveeS Are Crushed
By TumuItuouS Flood

k6T Associated EreSSsl
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April Interest
in the flood situation this morning CEN
tiers about Cairo, ILL.,, where the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers converge and
where, to show their mightiness as il
were they crushed two Ievees during
the night. Today nine square miles
of the Cairo drainage district is sub
merged.
Future City. a town which housed
500 persons. is inundated and a score of
industrial plants, principally saw mills
are out of commission. Except for one
line, the Illinois Central, Cairo, is cut
off from railroad communication The
city proper. however, is in no greater
danger than on yesterday. The main
levees are still intact and those direcf-
ing the fight are confident that it viii
hold.
The Mobile and Ohio leyee on the
west side of the district was first TO GO
late last night. A gap zoo feet wide
was torn in the embankment. Several
hours later the Big Four levee on the
Ohio river broke Four hundred labor.
ers were marooned on this levee, but
we're rescued without loss of life by thu
steamer Marquard.
HARD FIGHT EXPECTED.
While showing the effects of the wa
ters flashing, ali the main levees in
Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi
are reported intact early today, but
it is conceded that a hard fight must be
made, especially in the upper st. Fran
els district, to save the entertainments.
The Tennessee levee west of Hick.
man, KY, which protects the Reel Foot
Lake region, is sloughing to some ex-
tent and the water is tapping the crest,
but it is thought that the levee can be
saved. Near Memphis, at Star Landing,
in Arkansas, opposite Lake Cormorant,
Miss, the bank is caying near the base
of the levee and government forces are
being concentrated at that point. South
of Memphis the flood has not reached
the acute stage.
The levees in both the upper and
lower Yazoo and Tensas districts are
reported strong Inland streams are
bank full, but so far no breaks of con-
sequence has been reported.
Gov George w. Donagheya came to
Memphis last night to confer with gov
eminent engineers and representatives
Of Arkansas counties AUDITING on the
Mississippi today.
MEMPHIS FLOOD GROWS.
In Memphis the flooded area in the
northern section of the city is steadily
increasing in length and breadth.
Organized relief for those driven from
their homes or thrown out of employ
ment was taken up today. Dispatches
have been received from several cities
proffering aid, but local charitable or
CARNATIONS are well equipped to cope
with the situation and outside assist
ance will not be necessary.
At Hickman and Columbus, KY, and
New Madrid, No, and other food towns
the situation is serious. Refugees are
focking into these and other shelters
from the lowlands and the little towns
are being sorely tried in caring for
their unexpected guests.
At Memphis this morning the river
showed a stage of 43.4 feet, rise of
fve-tenths since z o'clock last night, or
1.6 feet short of the maximum stage
predicted. The crest of the flood is not
expected to reach this city before the
middle of next week at the earliest.
1t is estimated that the number Of
homes, business houses and other struc-
lures flooded in the drainage district
number of nearly 1000.
Future City, a negro settlement in
the flooded territory, has a population
of more than 1000. Urbanville. with
a white population of about 100. had
many well-built homes. No loss of life
is reported thus far.
The city of Cairo proper is protected
from the flooded sections by a system
of cross levees and the big force Of men
at work on the drainage levee have
been thrown around the Cairo levee.
These men are raising and strengthen
ing the dyke so that it will be safe
against any stage OF flood.
The gauge this morning registered
53.9 feet, IRE same as last night. This
made a rise of feet in "a hours