The Irish standard., 1912-04-06
MISSISSIPPI RIVER EXTENDED
TO ALMOST UNPREcEDENT.
ED VOLUME.
DEATH LIST REACHES 8.
Three More Levees Broken.-Hick.
man, KY, Worst Sufferer With
Food Supply
Short.

NAPA>>SNShNSu koluIle VI water Ill lQe
Mississippi river is not extended a
great deal. but the situation at the
+, deluged centers continues to become
more menacng. But two more levce
breaks were reported. These were
near Chester, ILL.,, where 10000 acres
OF farming land was inundated.
Twelve hours OF sunshine and
slight check in the rivers rise have
combined to give the general situation
a more optimistic outlook in the opin-
ion OF government engineers, who said
if the stage at Memphis does not 20
over As feet the government levees
will hold.
The weather forecaster at Memphis.
however, urged managers of railroads
entering that city from the west to
warn inhabitants of those districts to
move to higher ground Immediately.
The number of lives lost wae
brought to eight when the death OF
three railroad men near Fulton, Ky.
was reported and two more were
drowned near Clarksville, Tenn.
AT Columbus, KY, which was the
hrst town to be inundated, the sitla-
ton is grave. Residents are leaving
rapidly and there is much suffering in
outlying districts. The damage in that
vicinity is estimated at 100000.
Damage at Memphis is conservative.
ly estimated at $250OO0 About 1900
persons have been driven from homes.
Charitable organizations are taxed to
their capacity. The gas plant was put
out of commission, and this adds to
the distress.
The seriousness of the situation is
not limited to river towns. Small trib-
utarles have overlooked their banks
and it is estimated that fully 100000
acres of farm lands in Kentucky, Ten
nessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Mis-
sissippi are flooded and probably 9OO,-
600 more are untitled because of fear
that the levees protecting them may
break.
Levee Out at Cairo.
Paducah, KY, April 4.-Yelephone
messages from Cairo say the Mobile
and Ohio levee there has gone out
and that many houses and factories
are inundated. The Illinois Central
levee is holding and it protects the
main part Of the town. 1t is reported
many persons were made homeless.
The break is said to be so yards long,
Between $50 and 200 houses are said
lives were lost.
Government Aid Is Sought.
Washington. Senator-elect Ollie
James Of Kentucky and Representa-
tive Russell of Missouri will confer
with President Taft to urge him to
send special message to congress
asking for an appropriation to buy
food and supplies for Mi ;issppi river
flood sufferers.
The appropriation of $35O,OOO all
thorized Tuesday was for repairing
and strengthening the levees of the
swollen rivers and cannot be used to
buy food
A special meeting Of the house COM
mittee on appropriations has been
called for this morning to hear the
arguments of Representatives James
and Russell for government appro-
priation to relieve the food sufferers
in the vicinity of Hickman, KY. Both
members have introduced resolutions
appropriating $250,O00.
, Refunees Flock to Hickman.
Hickman, Ky.-Hope of relief when
, resumption of train service is prom.
Used, buoyed up the residents The
/ food supply is running low. The bust
ness section has been abandoned and
the hilltop residences and barns are
crowded with refugees.
| Persons from the flooded district
, flocked into Hickman. Boats made
, frequent trips to the Missouri shore
and returned laden with humanity.
Persons were rescued from house tops
) and the branches of trees and brought
| to share in the provisions.
7 One passenger train ventured with
} ing eight miles Of Hickman, where
} the express matter, including 1000
> loaves Of bread, was transferred to
. wagons and brought into the city.
Only peaks of cottages in the sub.
| ecu pau VI IO"A oIo INK
t above water. Merchants moved what
Y they could Of their goods to the hill
top and opened improvised stores.
Governor Asks Aid.
Jefferson City, Mo-. April Gov.
ernor Hadley issued statement call.
}. ing on the people of Missouri to raise
funds for the relief of the flood suf
q ferers in southeast Missouri, especial.
i ly in New Madrid county The gov.
l. ernor has received $500 from the Ma,
l. tional Red Cross association for the
relief of the sufferers.
J. Supplies Sent Sufferers.
Nashville, Tenn.-Appeals for tents
s and rations reached Governor Hoop
Q er from flood sufferers from Upton
and Union counties.