The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-04-12
THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN THE
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ARE
SWEPT CLEAN.
MORE LEvEEs BROKEN
Tide Swiriin9 Toward Gulf-WaIIs Of
Water Surround cairo-sym-
pathixers Donate to
Refugees.


stretches Of the Mississippi's flooded
acres there are three striking pic
lures. The northernmost is the 500
square miles Of the Reelfoot lake
country Of Tennessee where more
than 1000 persons have been driven
from their homes by the smashing Of
a Mississippi levee in southwestern
Kentucky. In this district thousands
Of acres of fertile fields are under
water. Scores OF persons who have
refused to desert their homes now
are imprisoned in upper floors and on
roofs of hood-menaced houses.
A few miles south in Arkansas
three counties are under water. From
this rich bottom country hundreds
Of farmers and villagers have been
driven. Flood waters swept over the
fertile fields and thriving villages with
the breaking of the levee on the Ar
Kansas side, north of Memphis.
Sunday great numbers of persons,
marooned on roofs and houses and in
trees. were taken out Of the flooded
districts In boats. Probably many
more water-imprisoned are in immi-
nent peril There are not boats
enough to perform the rescue work
required. Three counties-Critten
den, Poinsett and Cross-are flooded
Homes Swept Away.
The scene south of these points I'm
press one with the might OF q giant
stream on a rampage. Homes that
once marked the center of rich bot
tom farms now float in a torrent that
cannot be stayed. Bits of wreckage
carried along in the tawny tide re-
fleet the extent OF the damage in the
valley above.
Reporters Risk Lives.
Attempts to cover the story along
the stretch of levees from southern
Missouri and Illinois to Arkansas
have involved many personal risks on
the part Of newspaper correspond
ents.
A daring exploit was successfully
tried by reporter who rode a log
on the crest of the tide when the
levee broke at Hickman. He made
his way to Tiptonville, Tenn, then
telephoned his story of the flight from
the Reelfoot country to Memphis.
The telephone has been brought
largely into play. Patrols stationed
at menaced points have watched for
crevasses night and day. The mo-
ment that break occurred the pa
trolls hurried to telephone stations and
warned the countryside.
Cairo an Island City.
Cairo, Ill.-Cairo Is an island city
surrounded by an ocean OF water, the
crest of which is 10 feet higher than
the average level of the city. In many
places. this wall of water stands 20
feet higher than the streets.
With a bright sun after the severe
rain and wind storm Saturday night,
hope returned to the fighting Ieyee
protectors. For the first time in a
week, the workers got much needed
rest. although the watchfulness along
the levee was not relaxed and the
men were ready at all times to an
swer calls to points Of trouble. Two
thousands levee workers were scat
tered about the great levee section
at shutdown to renew their patrol.
Generous donations from all parts
OF Kentucky are being sent to Hick-
man to aid the $500 flood refugees
who have struggled into that city.
A large number of steamboats, are
lying between this city and flooded
towns below in search Of stock which
Ia being landed on the hills near
Ky. Express companies are
carrying supplies to refugees free of
charge.
Wheat Under Water.
Several thousand acres of wheat
are under water in Mississippi coun-
ty, Mo. Many thousand dollars worth
Of stock have persisted and farmers
are living in their attics.
For Ave days, Cairo has been an
island city. When the levees pro-
tecting the drainage district went out
and rail communication was
stopped. and the only entrance to the
city now is by boat from Mounds,
nine miles away.
Mounds nominally is an inland |
town. three miles from the Ohio river, |
but there is now water five feet deep |
at the Big Four depot
Almost 100000 has been spent in |
the city and three railroad companies |
in fighting the flood at Cairo and the |
drainage district. Five thousand men |
have been paid an average Of $3.50 q
day for more than a week.
Cairo Is protected by three main
levees and several small ones.