Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-05
Sunshine Along Lower Missis-
sippi Gives Hope.
DANGER is NOT ALL PAST
Thousands Desert Their Homes on
Atohafalaya River.
WATER SPREADS FROM ToRRAs
Baton Rouge Federal Depot Now
furnishing Supplies to About
10000 Persons.

NEW ORLEANS, May IA half dozen
hours Of sunshine in the lower Missis.
sippt valley today gave some relief from
tho tense anxiety Of the last few days.
Threa4entng clouds gathered at intervals
throughout the day. but the flood gates
overhead held back the drenching rains
which tor = month have been adding to
the already enormous volume OF menac-
ing Hood waters piled high against the
levees. Engineers who yesterday were
almost hopeless today said prospects OF
saving the remaining levees were favor
able. but the danger is not past
Today's absence of rain permitted the
thousands Of laborers employed on weak
stretches Of the levees to work unin-
terruptedly. and tonight encouraging re-
ports came in from all points, up and
down the river.
No other breaks occurred on the Mis-
sissippi today. but on the Bayou Des
Glaise, In east central louisiana, where
the great volume Of food water from the
disastrous Dog Tail crevasse is hourly
in the levees At Simmesport official re-
ports to the engineers stated a serious
crevasse was expected at any hour.
Many Flee From Homes.
On the Atchafalaya river. from Mel
Vile north. the levee situation became
more threatening and several thousand
persons deserted their homes in that ter
ritory and are rapidly getting out their
livestock and household goods.
Water from the break at Torras has
spread over the entire upper half of
Pointe Coupee parish and is slowly creep
ing on towns farther south
approximately 1900 persons have
nf 70
the refugee camps on the east side Of the
river. More than Loo Of them are be-
ing cared for by the Baton Rouge relief
depot.
had moved out OF the vast flooded ter
ritory, word was received today that
more than 1900 had arrived yesterday
and today In Jena and at high towns
along the Iron Mountain railroad north
OF Alexandria, most Of them having
lands Of La Sales parish.
Supplies for Sufferers.
In the vicksburg territory the United
States Army. relief depot has been fur
nishing supplies to approximately s1,-
f@a0 pessuns. ''ssi I, =
The Baton Rouge federal depot is
furnishing supplies to approximately
s0,0 600 others. Local relief committees
are caring for probably 10000 others.
Relief funds already are getting scarce
| and appeals are going out for help. Los
Angeles today telegraphed substantial
subscription: Birmingham. Ala. has al
ready sent generous amounts. Pensacola
wired that the people there were raising
funds.
The New Orleans newspapers today
printedi AH page notices Of an Emer
gency fS1l' tonight for mass meetini
Of the MY Orleans business men to con
| slider plans to aid the sufferers. Before
the hour for the meeting merchants
bankers and business men Of New Or
leans crowded the Progressive Union
building, and the response to the demand
for funds and supplies was generous.
BATON ROUGE. La. May i.-Hun-
dreds Of citizens OF Baton Rouge, work
Ing side by side with an army OF state
convicts to strengthen the Mississippi
river levee in front Of the city. had out
fought the strength Of the food this at
terno0n. The dixie continued to hold. but
the situation remains desperate. II the
fevee breaks the wholesale sectioSl OF the
city will be flooded.