New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-07
Hard Rains Add to the Difficult
Task of Saving the Re-
manning Levees.
MANY TOWNS UNDER WATER
Refugees Report Loss OF Life'
and Large Numbers of Citi-
zens Are Yet To
Be Rescued.

Kerr chief OF the Louisiana State Boaro
~ Engineers, sums up the principal
chanter of the story of the desperate
fight that is being waged day and nlght
to save Louisiana's remaining leVees
from the ravages of the MISSISSIPPI
River flood.
The situation continues threatening
but there we're TO reports To-Day OIL
breaks in the Mississippis levees, ana
the engineers who are directing 'he
thousands OF laborers again eXpresseu
hone Of final victory
Hard rains fell last night ana tniS
morning all along the river. as far hor'n
as Torras. and showers continued
throughout the day. In the face Of these
conditions. to-days labor did not count
rouch IN the big fight that is on against
an ever rising food stage Negroes re-
fused to work in the rain unless lur
nished A generous supply of WhlskeE'
and even then they could do little
reased forces of laborers were sent
,o-dsv IN the weak sections between
MorSanza and New Roads. Others were
sent to Plaquemine, and go addluoral
men were put to work on BAD s're'Oh
of 5000 feet at Amesvile hVe mics
north Of New Orleans, on the opposite
side of the river. The levees stil were
holding tonight at Baton Rouge ana
the citizens who have made such an
heroic fight there against great 'uus
feel more encouraged.
The situation in the Sd District u
New Orleans notwithstanding the heavy
handicap of the rains, was declared TO-
night 10 be more reassuring, though the
danger of levee trouble along stretches
lust above jackson Barracks and in the
vicinity Of the big plant of the American
sugar Refining Company is sufiicientlY
pronounced to demand the labor of hun
dreds of men for several days.
Further precautions were taken to-
day by the New orleans Levee Board
and city officials to guarantee the quick
closing Of gaps in the New Orleans pro-
lection levees above the city Enough
material has been placed at points where
the railroad tracks pass these protection
bikes IL assure the closing of the gaps
within six or eight hours, it is said
Water from the Torras crevasse
reached Morganza to-day. and tonight
it is a foot deep in some of the streets.
This water is slowly backing up against
the land side Of the big Morganza levee.
The levee or the west side Of the
Atchafalaya River. at Elba, five miles
north of Melville. in Saint Landry Parish.
broke this afternoon, turning loose the
flood waters Of that swollen stream on a
rich territory south of EIba and west
along the Texas & Pacific Railroad.
Along the Bayou des CLASSES the situa-
ton continued to become more alarming,
and at Simmesport. where this stream
empties into the Atchafalaya River. ciu-
zens are fighting hard to prevent break
In the levees protecting the towns
New Roads. La, May 6.-FlOod refu-
gees reaching here to-day declare there
has been loss Of life in that part of
Louisiana inundated by the waters of
the Mississippi rushing through the
breach in the levee at Torras. 1t is
known that motor boats sent to take
several persons frcm floating housetops
arrived too late.
How many persons persisted cannot be
determined. Refugees brought to the
concentration camps are hurried hither
and thither, sometimes families are sep
arated in the confusion and persons have
been reported missing" who simply have
been sent from one camp u another.
At least one thousand persons remain
to be rescued from the inundated coun-
try west If Lettsworth and Bachelor
Some If them are drifting about on
hastily constructed RATS.
Sections Of Pointe Coupee Parish
which have never before been reached
by overfows are inundated.
Plaquemine, La, May G-Water from
the Torras crevasse has topped the
Fordoche ridge and is coming down the
Maringou ard Crosse Tete bayous with
. a rush.
A protection leVee is being thrown
around the town Of Crosse Tete in an
effort 10 prevent the town from being
inundated The Texas & Pacific and
Southern Pacific railroads already have
been put out of commission at that
place.
The lumber towns of Morley and Hum
bert. in West Baton Rouge Parish. are
almost deserted The inhabitants of the
two places have moved away and the
big sawmills have closed down.
Washington. May Ga bill to appro-
nriate S3O.OOO.OO0 for maintaining, rails
ing and protecting the levees OF the Mis-
sissippi and it's tributary rivers was in
troduced to-day by Representative Dyer.
Republican, Of Missouri. and referred 10
the Rivers and Harbcrs Committee.
a bill to appropriate 100000 for the
purchase Of seed corn and other seeds
for the food devastated Mississippi Val
lev was introduced by Mr.. Russell, OF
Missouri, and referred TO the Committee
On Agriculture.
The Senate Appropriations Committee
faVorably reported to-day a joint reso.
luton appropriatng S1,239.119 for tenn
porary relief OF the food sufferers in the
Mississippi nd Ohio valleys. The COM
mittee increased the amount appropri-
ated In the House resolution. passed on
Saturday. by $4,000.
~