The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-02
Water Eight Feet Deep POurs
Through Town of Hickman.
TWO THOUSAND HOMELESS
Not Enough Food Left to Last
Through the Week.
Water Is Two Feet Higher
Than Ever Before.


age done here last night when the
flood waters of the Mississippi river
broke through the West Hickman
1evee and poured a current eight feet
deep through the town.
From hill to hill the river flows
this morning, covering farms and
d flooding stores and factories.
Two thousand persons are home
less With the coming of daylight
the work of caring for the refugees
was taken up. They were temporar-
lily sheltered by residents of the high
lands last night and the tents shipped
by the state military will arrive 70
day. Organization of the commissary
is giving much concern. Much of the
food supply was destroyed in the rush
of water and there arc not enough
prov isions on hand to last fhe
refugees through the week.
The west end of the levee went out
about $50 o'clock last night at a
strongest. Men who had been work
ing in relays for four days to reinforce
the leVee stood by their posts all day
in n driving rain. Some of them had
gone home to rest and most OF the
inhe bitants were IN bed when the
crash came.
The patrol at once sounded the
warning sigTal agreed on, then sprahg
into the boats, which had been
InOored for this emergency since the
fight against the river began and
rowed across the lowlands on the
crest of the flood. All the workers
and those whose homes were endan-
Gered reached the hills in safety, but
there was much distress among the
women and children before they were
housed for the night.
At midnight residents on the Mis-
souri, shore opposite Hickman were
warned to flee, as the levee there was
in imminent danger of going out. The
water is two feet higher here than
ever before recorded, and is expect
ed to rise two feet more
New Madrid Under Water.
Jefferson City, Mo-, April 2.-Citi- |
zens of New Madrid asked Governor
HadIey today to send the Sixth regi- |
ment of the Missouri National guard |
to assist the people in soutneastern
Missouri, whose homes and lands are
now under water from the Mississippi |
river and its tributaries
Governor Hadley telegraphed to
State Senator oliver at Caruthersvllle, |
who is colonel of the Sixth regiment, |
asking his advice. oliver replied that !
he did not think the militia could rem
der the f1ood-stricken people any |
New Madrid is now from five inches
to five feet under water and the Hood
is increasing, according to the COVER
nor's information.
Ice Gorge Causes Overflow.
Billings, Mont, April 2.-Reports
from Basin, Wyo., today state that an
ice gorge below that town has caused !
the Big Horn river to overflow, mum
dating a large tract of farm land
The municipal light plant and water
works have been put out of commits
sion and the town is threatened with
a shortage of water for domestic pur-
poses.
Reports from the upper Big Horn
valley indicate that ice gorges are
forming in the Big Horn
Reports from Sheridan, Wyo., state
1fr7r~ ton fra ok h "a
been washed out by floods in the
cheyenne river. Six hundred men
have been rushed to the scene from
Sheridan and Alliance.
Milk River Still Rising.
Great Falls Mont, April 2.-It is
reported from Glasgow, Mont, that
the Milk river there has risen to a
depth of "a feet and is still rising. The
Missouri river has shown no further
rise in the last "a hours.
Dcs Moines River Falls.
Des Moines, Ia, April Flood con-
ditions in central Iowa were reported
to be greatly improved early TO-DAY.
The Des Moines river had dropped be-
low the II foot stage and was still
falling.
Kax Is Rising at Kansas City.
Kansas City, Mo-, April Both the
Missouri and Kansas rivers continueS
to rise here today but the government
weather forecaster said that they
would become stationary before night
anu SOcA eaAlSA "elA NS "NNAA SS5A4 ~
fall.
The Missouri attained a depth of
23f feet but has done no damage ex-
cept to flood the Easements OF few
buildings in the west bottoms caused
by back water from sewers.
The Kansas river rose ten inches
since yesterday but it would have to
rise several feet more to overflow it's
dikes.
Six Feet Deep in Memphis.
Memphis, Tenn, April 2.-While the
food situation has been aggravated by
rains of yesterday and last night,
there had been no break in the Mis-
sissippi river levees today in this dis
trict Although the strain is great
against the upper portion of the st
Francis levee, in Arkansas. opposite
Memphis. both the government and
levee board officials express confidence
today they will be able to hold all
main line levees in this district.
The water from the break of the
small levee along the Bayou Gayoso,
which protects the lowlands of the city,
continues to cause discomfort to resi-
dents of that section. On some OF
the streets the water is six feet deep.
The predicted rise to A feet an
nounced by the weather bureau will
add greatly to the damage already done
in the city. The gauge today regis
tered 41.9. showing a rise of seven
tenths since the last reading, the high I
est ever recorded
Taft VIII Help Them.
Washington, April President
Taft today promised the Louisiana
delegation to send to congress at once