The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-05-08
Scene Of Wild Panic
THE GREAT FLOOD PROVES TOO
MUCH FOR THE LEVEE.
The Water is Now Rapidly Rushing
Through the Inundated Country.
Near Torras, La.

Rushing about the streets Of Tor
ras, La, like persons left bereft o1
their reasons, women screaming ano
men yelling as they hurried into thet1
homes and grabbed their children
and the stampeding Of animals, were
some OF chaotic conditions that pre-
vailed in Torras Tuesday nisht when
the alarm was sounded that the levee
at the junction Of the Old and Missi-
ssippi rivers had given away.
Although it had been known that
several weak spots had developed
where the break occurred, little at
tention had been paid to this by the
citizens OF Torras and they were
caught unprepared. Within a few
minutes after the break had become
known, the townspeople were thrown
into panic, which continued for two
hours before any sem blance OF quiet
was restored.
Few thought OF going toward the
crevasse and making an effort to
stop 1t, safety apparently being the
only thought In their minds. Be-
fore the streets we're entirely sub
merged a majority Of the inhabitants
had sufficient time to reach places Of
safety. Three hundred women and
children were placed aboard a
freight train which had just arrived
in Torras. These were taken to q
point below there.
Practically the remainder Of the
population spent the night on the
leYee along the embankment Of the
Texas & Pacific railroad and in the
railroad station, which were out Of
reach Of the food, being built on high
piling. No loss Of life has been re-
ported, but it is feared that some
fatalities may occur in the interior as
the water is rushing through the
country so rapidly that sufficient
warning may not have reached those
living In districts remote from wire
communication.
n. P. Phillips, head OF the leTee
board at this place, was on the levee
when it began to crumble. He gave
the alarm and called for aid but there
was no material available. Finding
himself powerless, he ran to his own
home to save what he could OF his
property. Mr.. Phillips place is in
the path Of the crevasse waters and
he saved practically nothing. Many
of his horses, mules and cattle were
drowned.
The breach this morning is about
140 feet across. An army OF men
was rushed there last night and he
1oic efforts are being made to check
the flow of water, but apparently
there is little hope Of a successful
fight, at least until an enormous
damage has been done to the sugar
cane fields which lie directly in the
path of the flood. II these efforts
fail millions of dollars OF loss will
be caused by the devastation OF some
Of the most valuable farms and plan
tations in the state.
Eleven parishes with total popu-
lation OF quarter OF million will
eventually be partly inundated by
the new break.
Food supplies have been nassed
near Torras by the government in
anticipation Of a break there and
those in charge Of the work are pre-
pairing to give relief to 10000 per-
sons in this vicinity. Four hundred
tents have been ordeded from the
war department and every available
craft has been secured by the gov
ernment to be sent out into the al
fected territory in getting the peo-
ple and livestock out OF the danger
zone.