Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-05-31

tons which are outside OF levee pro-
lection Negroes leave their cabins on
RATS. and float out chickens. hogs.
mules and all sorts OF plumber. They
crowd upon the levees. waiting for
boat 70 take them Off Planters send
their stock away TO safer pasturage.
u they are able The river swarms
with craft Men are brought 20 the
levee 90 special trains for emergency
work lumber r. shipped 70 build up
uulkheads and prevent the Gavin
away OF the dirt Trains bring in
thousands ~ sacks % be- filled with
earth and raise the top OF the leveo
above the flood Steam boats carry
lumber wheelbarroWs skffs sacks
aud materials Of every kind up and
down The river 10 threatened places
every one must do hts utmost In the
time Of high water
Watching the Crevassc.
n IL almost a time OF martial ia0
The danger Is too great 10 allow the
ordinary force Of the local authorities
70 suffice for the protection OF the
lcyee Up and down the bank Of dir,
which must be held walk armed
guards. sworn In as the leyee patrol
Their horses are hltched at a tree be.
hind te bank. saddled and ready
Day and night these men patrol up
and down. their rifles unslung Per
haps one man viii guard a half mile
OF icvee rarely more. and when
there Is danger Of some one cutting
the bank. they arc posted every two
hundred Yards or less
Standing on the levee by the side
OF a guard the thin strip Of earth
perhaps only a few inches above the
crest of the stream. seems pitiful',
weak defense against the river floods
\ small boy might cut a small trough
across the top and start the crevasso
that would destroy property over
miles OF country Again. there have
been cases where men rowed across
and cut the leyee on fhc other side
10 save the bank on their own \
half dozen strokes OF tho SADIE and
the damage might be done. which
none could stop Timber thieves. too.
might find II profitable 10 flood the
swamps and steal the RATS Their"
while the owners were trying 10 save
other property
No Time for Pooling.
Because Of an this. the armed
guard shoots and shoots 10 kill His
idea Of his task is 10 make a job for
the coroner and not for the doctor
n is enough 10 ask questions after
ward Of the man who comes with
spade othc levee
Besides this danger. there is an
other that the waves may begin to
overlap the top Steamboat captains
rewarned 10 keep away from the
shore when they are standing mp or
do the river al full speed A guard
viii walk with watchful eye along
with boat n Il threatens the bsnHs
and comes within the prescribed limit
he tries 10 pick off the pilot Those
are not times for a shot across the
bows
After the flood waters have been
nj the river for some DAYS tapping
against the leyee. water will begin 10
sccp through the earthen bank on the
land side n the water that come
Is clear there need be no
fear. as that indicates that II is only
The secpagc But IL II comes through
In q muddy flow. then there must 30
a uuic kand effective effort 10 stop
the leaking. muddy flow shows
that there is break IN the bank.
md that the water is strong enough
10 carry away material Men and
mules and lumber and sacks OF dirt
are rushed 10 the spot. In the case
of a muddy flow. there Is only one
way 10 stop II and that is by adding
material on the river side. 10 stop M
the holes al the point OF inflow
The Break at Holly Bush.
Perhaps the efforts Of the men will
be- successful But sometimes nature
and fate are against them A. the
Holly Bush crevasse In Arkansas in
pos thousands Of men worked night F.
md day 10 strengthen the bank. aud
managed 10 keep Il Just an inch
,bove the flood tide Reports from
lp tho river indicated higher and
higher stages the floodcrest had no,
passed on March / = the crest passed /
Cairo. and the men near Holly Bush |
knew that the next day would be the |
'risis The river was rising az the /
rate Of a foot day The next day |
lawned with the weary men fighting |
still 10 raise the bank most Of them
had been without sleep for forty |
light hours But with the early day
here came a high wind from the east
md little waves began 10 dash over
he levee II was the last misfor. !
une Streams few inches wide |
Iegan 10 make small channels in the |
op Of the bank In dozens 81 places
There was no hope now. and the men
abandoned their work az the danger |
POINTS. and waited for the flood 20
weep away in a few minutes their /
work OF days. and TO food an the |
owlands behind.