The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-05-09
TOO late
Ion FLOOD SUFFERERS
forts From New Roads, La,
Tell of Many Deaths
Bodies On Housetops.

NSFFs " -
thousands Of anxious people in
e flood menaced districts of
bu tsisna were d~isheartened today
heavy rains that pelted the
wees, already strained almost to
g bursting point by the swollen
ississippi. All night long armies
workmen fought to strengthen
e dikes that held firm, while
her embankments gave way be-
Ire the flood that now covers por-
Dns Of 18 parishes. Reports of
e loss were received at several
bncentration camps today. While
hese have not been specifically
erifed, it is conceded that many
ersons persisted as the flood
aters rushed on their homes.
ew Rhoads. La, May Flood ref
cs reaching here early today declare
te has been loss of life in that part
louisiana inundated by the Missis-
river which rushed through the
bch in the levee at Torras.
is said that motorboats sent to
numerous persons from floating
setops arrived too late.
[ow many persons persisted cannot
determined. Refugees brought to
contraction camps are hurried
Ter and thither, sometimes families
separated and persons have been
Drted missing" who simply have
h sent from n camp to another.
kevertheless, large numbers of the
lugees claim they have seen entire
lilies swept from ~housetops. Lead
Of the escue corps admit that sew
times they have sent motorboats
POINTS where families had taken
Cge on the roof of a house and that
N the boat arrived, it's crew found
the building, buffeted about by
rents and half it's roof surface sub
kged. Appeals for help reached here
night from Lettsworth, directly In
path Of the Torras torrent. Half a
bdred people were reported to be In
ninent danger Of drowning. The
Use in which they had taken refuge
been dislodged from it's founda-
b. and a being tossed about in the
ternt.
Mad Run of Train.
Town after town is being swept by
muddy waters.
The last of the special trains which
ke been bringing refugees out Of the
bntry around Batcheler arrived here
night.
Nhen the two relief trains were about
Idly TO leave Batcheler word was re-
Ned there was a grave danger of be-
cut off by a threatened washout in
tracks several miles east of that
Ice. When the first train arrived at
J point of trouble water was flowing
er the tracks for a distance Of five
pes. But the train passed over
Jelly.
When the second section arrived, the
tier was rushing I'VE the track about
b feet deep. An attempt was made
reach the other side Of the washout,
/ about half way across the track
he way and the caboose and three
Failed cars were thrown into the wa
but escaped without injury. They
IRE transferred to other cars and
bught on to New Roads. When the
St section Of the relief special sped
rough the water which was running
Ter the tracks just north of Morganza,
pres of people e seen standing
list deep in water near the railroad
snaling the train to stop. The water
rs rising SO rapidly that those in
large of the train decided 1t would
bperil the lives of all those on board
delay the train.
THE train was not stopped.
En some instances force has to be
hployed in getting people out of the
niger zone. One family, consisting of
bn, wife and a 12-year-old boy, re-
|sed to leave their cabin, which was
6t becoming uninhabitable. They
Pre- picked up bodily and carried to
+ train. After being placed aboard
|e boy became so frightened he
|mped through an open window. He
bs recaptured.
Urgent appeals for boats to be used
rescue work have been sem to Gov
Nor Sanders at New Orleans. The
eamer City Of Shreveport and a ship
Fnt Of a dozen skiffs are due to arrive
Batcheler today.