The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-23
MORE OPTIMISTIC
 REPORT FROMF FLOOD
Slight Fall Noted at Nearly
 all Stages
HARD FIGHT AHEAD
When Waters From Crevasses Begin to Find Their Way Back Into the Mississippi the Levees Will
 Again Be in Danger

New Orleans April 22.-Reassuring re- ports concerning the leyees of the Mis- ssaippi river which still remain intact were received at the office of the United states army engineers here todag from inspectors stationed at all weak points south of vicksburg
 Another hard fight against increased high waters Is ahead and today Captain sAerrill. chief of the government engi- neers, began concentrating his forces in the vicinity of the Red River landing, about 40 miles south of Natchez, at which point the flood waters which have been pouring through the creyasses on the west side of the river in Arkansas and northeast Louisiana for the past 10 days, soon will begin to re-enter the Missis- sippi.
 Slight Falls Recorded
 Slight falls were recorded today at nearly all Mississippi river gauges, but another rise will begin when the crevasse waters begin to come back to the big stream and from one to three feet above the previous high record is predicted for all points south of Terrell La.
 With the exception of the three negroes who are reported Co have drowned yes terday when the steamer concordia sank in field 35 miles below Natchez while engaged in rescue work in Cocordia par sh there have been no reports of loss of life in Louisiana Including 200 head of stock aboard the Concordla. the loss through the sinking of this vessel is estimated at S32.00O.
 ... total cash funds for flood sufferers today passed the sl5,00O mark. Clothing. cook ing utensils, slSffs etc, almost equallng in value the amount of the cash subscrip- tions have been received by the com mittee. Cash and supplies are being for warded as rapidly as possible to the re- lief camps in Louisiana and Mississippi. Funds collected by relief committees in the smaller cities and towns in Louisiana and Mississippi probably will total S55.OOO.
 Many Are Rescued
 Today gasoline launches and skiffs are plying the flood in almost every section of the parish of East and West Carroll, Madison Tensas. Catahona, Richland aud concorda. Already several thousand ptOVie. nave DftH i'rihfil ili tils 1GNlipi of northeastern Louisiana and removed to high points. but there are yet many more marooned. some of them without food
 On the Mississippi side of the river there has been even greater devastation resulting from the crevasse near Beulaa. The suffering Is intense in the Boghe Phalia valley. where a dozen small towns and numerous large plantations are un- der from four to IS feet of water. This creyasse eventually will inundate more than 2eoo.0o0 acres of fine farming lands and it is estimated not less than l2oe0 per- sons in that territory will be made home less Already about 3J00 have been res- cued and moved to federal and state re- lief camps. but as the waters gradually make their way toward the sunnower basin still others are driven from their homes,
 The relief work amongst the sufferers on both sides of the river. victims of tho Dogtail and Beulah crevasses, Is well or- sani2ed Mai F. II. I.awton of the United States army, with headauarters al YIcks- burg. is directing the work and perfect harmony prevails between the state anil federal forces engaged in the humane i work.