Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-06

anxious people In the food menaced
district OF Louisiana were disheartened
Today BY heavy rains that pounded at
ievees already strained to the bursting
point by the swollen Mississippi. All
night long armies Of workmen sought
to strengthen those dikes that held
hrm, while other embankments gave
way before the flood that now covers
portions Of eighteen parishes.
Reports Of life loss were received at
several concentration camps today.
While these have not been specifically
verified 1t II conceded that many per-
ed on their homes.
New Roads, La, May 6.-Flood refu-
gees reaching here early today declare
there has been loss Of life in that part
II Louisiana Inundated by the Missis-
.ippi river which rushed thru the
breach In the lSyee st Torras.
i 1t II said that motor boats sent to
S.ake numeyous persons from floating
house tops arrived too late.
I How many persons perished can not
.2be determined d Refugees brought to
me concentration camp are hurried
hithef and thithsr. sometimes families
Ire separated and persons have been
reported missing" who simply have
been sent from one camp to another.
Say Entire Families Lost.
Nevertheless large numbers OF the
refugees claim they have seen entire
families swept from house tops. Lead
ers Of the rescue corps admit that sew
eraI times they have sent motor boats
TO points where families had taken
refuge on the roof Of a house and
when the boats arrived the crews
found only the building buffeted about
in the current and half its roof sub
merged.
& Appeals for help reached here last
9night from Lettsworth. Fifty people
<were in danger Of drowning. The
house in which they had taken shelter
had been dislodged from its founda-
lItior and was being tossed about in the
.eurrent.
Thousand Persons Afaoat.
y There are at least !, 1000 persons who
4remain to he rescued fro mthe mum
dated country west Of Lettsworth and
bachelor. Some Of them are drifting
about on hastily constructed RATS.
The crevasse water Is spreading
rapidly, inundating Pointe Coupece
parish. which has never before been
reached by overfiows. Town after town
il being swept by the muddy waters.
The last Of the special trains which
have been bringing refugees out Of the
country around Bachelor arrived here
last night.
when the two relief trains were
about ready to leave Bachelor word
was received that there was grave
danger os5being cut of by threatened
(vashouts in the tracks several miles
east of that place. When the first
'train arrived at the point Of trouble
4waesr waa hoWing over the tracks for
Ia distancesof dve miles. but the train
lpassed over safely.
Rsosus Train Wrecked.
when the second section arrived the
water was rushing over the tracks
Abouf two feet deep. An attempt was
made to reach the other side OF the
washout but about half way across
/ the track gave way and the caboose
Al three cars toppled over. Occupants
Il the derailed cars were thrown into
fI.a water but escaped injury. They
wero transferred to other cars and
brought on to New Roads.
Many left to Fate.
when the first section Of the RELIEF
.recia1 sped thru the water which was
running over the tracks just noren OF
Norxanza scores Of people were seen
stanfing waist deep in water near the
railroads signalling the train TO stop.
Tha water was rising so rapidly tnat
those In charge OF the train decided It
wouid imberil the iivese OF all those
IN board to delay the train. The train
was not stopped.
IN some instances force had to be
employed In getting people out OF the
danger zone. One family consisting OF
man. wife and a 12-year-o boy, re-
fused to leave their cabin. which was
fast becoming uninhabitable. They
we're picked up bodily and carried to
the train. After being placed aboard
the boy became so frightened he
Jumped thru an open window. He was
recaptured.
Urgent appeals for boats to be used
n rescue work have been sent to Gov
ernor sanders at New Orleans. The
steamer city Of shreveport and ship
n,ent Of =. dozen skiffs are due to arrive
= 1ecAeior today.