The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-09
Chief Anxiety Centers on Area South of
 Memphis
THE NEXT 36 HOURS
 WILL TELL STORY
River Exceeding at Memphis-Govern- ment Sends Food and Shelter to Those Made Homeless by Rag
 ing Waters of Mississippi

The crisis in the Mississippi valleys | tremendous flood is imminent Chief anxiety last night centers in the situation along the rivers reaches south of Memphis. If the diker of Arkansas Mississippi and north Louisiana hold for another 36 hours then the thous- ands of persons these entertainments protect, and thousands of workmen who have labored to strengthen the leyees for the supreme struggle against the yellow tides greatest stress. will breathe with relief
 The strife of the nesr 36 hours will decide whether scenes of suffering and distress along the upper Mississippi will be re- enacted in the fertile valleys. State and government officials say the dikes on the eastern bank will with stand the tremendous pressure that will be exerted by the floods crest. Never theless, they are apprehensive. and fear of breaks along the western dikes was shown last night by reports of the abandonment of homes and villages in the lowlands from Helena southward.
 Stirring Rescues
 Stirring stories of the rescue of ref ugees in the od-swept territory of upper Arkansas reached Memphis last night. One thousand or more persons marooned in Wyanoke, Ark, were brought to Memphis late yesterday aft ernoon. They were rescued through the initiative of a Memphis citizens com mittee which made the hazardous trip to WSanoke to investigate stories Of suffering received from that point. The reports were amply verified. Scores of sufferers were found. As the deluge in creased the water climbing to the promotory on which stood the church. the refugees built scaffolding with pc ws and thus kept their heads above the floods surface. On high ground and in the attics of houses near Wyanok e hundreds more victims were found. All were brought to Memphis yesterday afternoon. They will receive ample care.
 } Life Loss Reported
 Refugees from the Modoc flood dis trict south of Memphis. who were taken to Helena and Memphis yesterday, say there has been some life loss i'll that sec tion. These reports are .unverihcd tnd tie mayor of Helena tonight sent to the Associated presf an emphatic statcisHnl declaring there had been no fatalities | from the breaks south of his city. Unofficial estimates of the damage vary widely. Many persons who know every bend in the great Diver from New Orleans to Cairo say the pecuniary loss will amount to 900. Other persons equal ly conversant with the situation, modify this estimate. Probably the heaviest spe- ciic loss must be estimated in the de- struction of homes, the loss of livestock, and the damage to manufacturing plants in the upper flood district. The number of fatalities has been small as a matter of course. Prompt warnings have pre- ceded the river's rise. and residents of threatened districts have been more or less alert. Probably 90 fatalities would meet the conservative total
 Tremendous Suffering
 There has, however, been tremendous suffering among the homeless. Of the 30,- o0o or more persons who have been driven forth by the raging tide. hundreds have gone hungry and without water for many hours before suceor reached them. Hun dreds have been imprisoned on house. tops in trees and anchored on rafts for long periods. Despite the ample warnings given many of the Arkansas and Tennes- see homesteaders remained by their prop erty till the last minute, and then. scores of them were taken from their flood im- posed places of refuge half naked.
 The situation in Memphis proper last night was rapidly assuming it's normal as- pect Street cars have resumed service in the comparatively small flooded dis trict of the city's lowlands.
 River Exceeding
 Memphis April S-With the river north of here receding, the crisis in the Mississippi rivers flood situation as far south as Memphis is fast passing. The levees at Luxora. Golden Lake and Lam berthville, regarded as threatened stretches, are holding and advices to the headquarters of the St. Francis levce board tonight are more hopeful. f At Memphis tonight the river was sta tionary at 43 feet and seven-tenths, fall of one foot and seven-tenths from the highest stage reached. Water finding it's way back into the Mississippi from the break near Hickman, Ky, is held respon- sble for the temporary check in the fall here.
 | The gaps in the levee at St. Claire and Wyanoke, Ark, opposite Memphis, are widening slowly and the water is spread ing itself over the greater portion of Crittenden and a section of St. Francis county.
 Relief Measures
 Washington, April S.-Red Cross funds are not needed at present for relief work | in the flood zone. but may be used to | advantage later for medicine and sanita- ton purposes which will become a serious question according to a telegram from i Ernest F. Bickneii of New Madrid, Mo, the Red Cross agent who was dispatched to the flood regions to investigate. The agent reports the army is in the better position to take charge of relief measures