The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-04-11
THOUSANDS HOMELESS
The Flood Situation Along the
Mississippi River is
Alarming
WITHOUT FOOD AND CLOTHING


Many Levees Break, Driving the Far
mers and Their Families From
Their Homes-Rescue Parties Set
TO Work TO Save Lives Of Those
Surrounded by Water-Many of
the Rescued Were Ill From Expos
ure-Citizens' Committee Raises
Relief Fund.
The food situation along the Mis-
gigsippi River in Tennessee, Ken
lucky Mississippi and Arkansas has
been very serious for several days.
Many homes have been destroyed and
a number suffering for want of food
and clothing.
A dispatch from Hickman, KY,
April ), says:
Hickman, KY, April with a
roar that could be heard for miles
the Mississippi River flood burst
through the Government levees five
miles west OF Hickman late to-day,
and tonight is racing over several
counties in Kentucky and Tennessee
toward Reelfoot Lake.
Grave apprehension is held for the
safety of farmers in remote sections
of the sparseiy settled country. The
water when it came through tore a
gap sixty feet in width In the levee
and the swirling current is fast eat
ing away the earthwork and widening
the breach.
The feelfoot levee, as it is gen.
orally known, has been regarded as
a danger point for a week, and eff
forts had been made to hold the
food. Farmers with business and
professional men have worked al
most continuously for several days
and nights in gangs with Govern
ment laborers.
Until to-day, when the waves, driv-
en- by high wind, began to beat
against the banks, it was thought the
fight would be won. The battle was
at it's height at the end. When the
collapse came the workers were
compelled to run for their lives, a
number making their way to Hick-
man afoot, while others, marooned
beyond the break, were rescued in
gasoline launches.
number of the residents had
abandoned their homes and with
their families sought safety in the
towns on the surrounding hills.
Memphis, Tenn, April 6.-The
Mississippi River food smashed the
levees at two points to-day and wa
ter is pouring over thousands of acres
of fertile farming lands and through
prosperous town tonight.
ST. Claire and Wyanoke, in Crit
tendon County, Arkansas, were the
points where the breaks occurred to-
day.
At Golden Lake and Pecan Point
in Mississippi County, Arkansas, the
situation is desperate, almost hope.
less. The crevasses were threatened
at LuXora, Immediately north of Col
den Lake and at Modoc, on the white
river front. The situation is grave a.
half-doZen other places.
The levee at st. Claire went out a
o'clock this afternoon and within
an hour the river tore hole in the
embankment at Wynaoke.
Frantic efforts are being made tt
hold the Golden Lake and PecaI
Point levees, but, late tonight th'
food was making inroads, and figh
seemed hopeless.
Reports from river territory soutl
of here tonight show that in tn,
lower Yazoo district, below Green
vile, Miss, the situation is fast be
coming grave. Those in charge o
the work on the lie wees say they will
be saved. North of Memphis shortag
OF labor was hammered by the foo
q lighters.
Eastern Kansas Hit Hard.
Twenty square miles of lowland
IN Eastern Kansas from the vicinit
of Marion to the bottoms Rorthwes
night as the result of collapse Of tn
st. Frances levee at what is know
as the st. Clair loop, near ST. Clair
Ark, nine miles north of Memphis
The break of the stilar levee mark
the fourth important collapse record
ed along the Mississippi since tn
present rise began. The first was Il
Mississippi County. Missouri, Tues
day, flooding a wide area. The sec
ond was sixteen miles south of Ches
ter, ILL.,, Tuesday. The third wa
south of Hickman last night whe
the levee of Reelfoot basin gave way
Many Found Suffering for Food an
Clothing.
Memphis Tenn AnriI 2-R oacu