The Forrest City times., 1912-04-12
LEVEES BREAK
 BASIN FLOODED
St. Claire Break Saturday Marked
 Beginning of End.
RIVER WINS BATTLE OF WATERS.
Practically Whole of St. Francis Basin is Flooded From the Northern most Break to Mouth ef
 White River.


 noon that hope had been abandoned of holding the leyee al St. Clair, where the river had gradully over lapped the earthworks and eaten away their foundations, marked the beginning of the end in the hard bitter fight that the leyee board, as- sisted by the government engineers and others interested, had pnt up against the swollen Father of Waters
 Other breaks followed in rapid succession, and through the dark, dread and stormy night that followed, the rain poured in torrents, as if the clements themselves had determined to set at naught the efforts of those who were struggling so hard 10 hold in check the turbulent food
 Sunday morning. after an anxious and in many instances a sleepless night, the people of Forrest City arose and found themselves anticipat- ing an almost complete isolation, especially from Memphis 10 the east. and by noon this anticipation was a grim reality Trains on the Rock Island went through to and from Memphis as usual Saturday night, and on Sunday morning train No. col, which leaves Memphis at : am. came through. This was the last train out of Memphis fer the west.
 No. II eastbound which passes here al i.l0 and the eastbound Cotton Belt train which passes shortly afterwards were held here until 9 o'clock or a little later, and were then ordered 10 proceed east when it was learned that 60l had gotten through safe The rising waters inside the leyee had been close behind this train however. and the two passengers were compelled to stop at Edmonds0n, which point the flood had reached in it's irresistible onward westward march
 Then all passenger trains, with the exception of 602 which arrives here at l0:2o a n. and returns to Little Rock at 4s33 pm. as 6e8 and soi which arrives at 5.21 ? IT, and returns at s.5o am, were 2uuli ed These trains carry mail. passengers and ex. press as far as ihis city and t3 points further east as far as tHe rising waters would permit Monday ou- went nearly to Proctor Tuesday Quigley Was barely reached aud on "Wednesday Widener va decided ou as the lint fer passenger trains. though rescue and wofs train, mana ged To reach Heth
 Mayor A. b. Boyle received a tee. gram Monday afternoon from the Chamber of Commerce af Litt8e Reck asking what was needed T tHe way of relief, and profTerng jhe help of that body. shortly afterwards a message was received by Rock Island Agent Birkieht, from apefinteudenf CopleY, informing him that a relief train had left Argenta at II 70 Witl4 materials for repairing WasHouts and that lie was on board with Governor Donaghey, who W0gid accompany him as far a. Forrest City. The agent was instructed to confer with the mayor and other citizens and Rire him (Mr. Copleyl on the line as to what was needed in the way Of relief Mr. boyle replied to Mr Cap.ey. ie.l- ing him that so far the city had been able to take care Of the refugees iii this city, but suggested that it was thought that small boats ccad be used in rescue work along the line iB the overfiowed section. He d. .>a told him that with the return of tle passenger train which was expeeted back about 1 o'clock. better Idea af the situation could be gained He re- piled 10 the Chamber of Commerce message in the same manner. thank. ing them for the offer, and telling them that he would be able 10 advise them further after the return of the train, and after Governor Donaghey had looked over the situation.
 Governor Donaghey who arrived late Monday afternoon with Mir Cop ley, spent the night here after &t- tending meeting of citizens 10 look over relief measures. The governor had intended 10 go south 10 Marianna and Helena Tuesday. but abandoned this idea and left for Little Rock that morning.
 Messrs. Whipple and Thompson Of the Chamber of Commerce Commit tee went down into the oyerfowed district Tuesday, taking a Rock