The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-03

CONTINUED from First Page)
PAGES, were some of the chaotic condi-
lions that prevailed in Torras last
night when the alarm was sounded
mat the levee at the junction of the
Ola and Mississippi rivers had given
way TO the mighty pressure of the food
waters before it. Although it had
oeen known that several weak places
had developed where the break oc-
CURED, little attention had been paid
to this by the citizens of Torras, and
they We're caught unprepared. Within
rev minutes after the break had be
come known, the townspeople were
thrown into panic, which continued
for two hours before any semblance of
quiet was restored. Few thought Of
going toward the crevasse and making
an effort to stop it, safety apparently
being the only thought in their minds
BEFORE the streets were entirely sub
merged, majoriy of the inhabitants
mad sufhctent time to reach places OF
safety. Three hundred women and
children were placed aboard a freight
train which had just arrived in Tor
ras. These were taken to a point bo-
low here.
No loss OF life has been reported. but
1t Is feared that some fatalities might
occur in the interior as the water is
rushing through the country so rapid
~ that sufficient warning may not
have reached those living In districts
remote from wire communication.
N. P. Phillips, head OF the Ievee
board at this place, was on the levee
when II 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's place is In
the path Of the crevasse waters and he
saved PRACTICAL ynothing. Many of
his horses, mule sand cattle were
drowned.
The breach this morning Is about 400
feet across. An army of men was
rushed here last night and heroic ef-
forts are being made to check the flow
or water, but there apparently is little
nope of successful fight, or at least,
until enormous damage has been done
10 the sugar cane fields which lie di-
rectly in the path of the flood. If these
efforts fail, millions of dollars loss will
be caused by the devastation of some
or the most valuable farms and plan.
tations in the state.
Eleven parishes with total popula.-
ton of quarter of million will even
tually be inundated by the new break
Food supplies have been massed
near Torras by the government in an
ttcipation Of a break here and those in
charge OF the work are preparing to
give relief to 10000 people in this vi
cinity. Four hundred tents have been
ordered from the war department and
every available craft has been secured
by the government to be sent out into
the affected territory in getting tho
people and livestock out of the danger
zone.
Three railroads, the Southern Pa
cffics Lafayette cutoff, the Texas and
Pacific and the st. Louis and San
Francisco, will be put out of commits
sion IL the flow Is not checked.
New Roads, in Pointe Coupee parish,
Will be the first of the large towns to
be inundated. The town m Fort Allen.
across the river from Lion Rouge,
will probably also feel the effects of
the flood.
The latest advices received last
night from Lettsworth, eight miles be-
low here, were that the town was in
undated. A number of other small
towns directly south, including Bien-
venue, Smithland and Bachelor also
reported that everything would be I'M
der water within the next few hours.