Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-04-04
Rain Pours Down in Torrents
and Waters Wash Against
SandbagS Piled on Wall for
lis Protection,
INHABITANTS QUIT
IMPERILED LOCALITY
Many Negroes Left in Huts,
Where Families Have Lived
Since Days of Slavery Un-
able to Buy Steamer Tickets,
tBy Morning journal Special leased Wire

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tBy Morning journal Special Leased Wirel
Cairo, IlL, April 3.--Althoush g
steady downpour OF rain fen here to-
day and the rough flood waters are
washing the sand bags piled on the
concrete levce wall. there is d spirit
OF confidence among Cairo's citizens
tonight and many believe that the le-
wee now will Withstand the flood even
should the waters rise high enough TO
overflow IT,
When darkness fell tonight gauge
showed STAKE of 54.6 feet.
Commander MeMunn. OF the naval
reserves, heard tonight from Ensign
PEPPER, who was sent yesterday to
O'Brien's Landing. Mo-, with ten men
for rescue work and for whom some
anxiety was felt The ensign reported
that the expedition. had peen busily
engaged In carrying people 10 places
OF safety from various points In flood
ed Missouri territory and that the boat
would not return here until tomorrow
Fifty soldiers who had been on duty
lat villa Ridge H.. were brought 10
Cairo tonight on boats in charge of
naval reserves.
Ensign Melvin, in charge OF the dis
patch boat service between Cairo and
Mound City H.. reported that the le-
wee was still holding at the latter
place. but that the Ohio waters had
backed into Cache river to an alarm
ing height and that the leVee back of
the town appeared piufully weak. Tho
same red light signal system is being
worked tonight. the wire facilities be-
ing still out OF commission into the
town.
An all-night watch was established
lat naval headquarters here To watch
for distress signals. Most Of the coo
persons there are now encamped In
the county building. including two
companies Of militiamen in command
Of Major klauser. of the Seventh regi-
ment, /. n. c. Soldiers were i'm charge
of the work Of strengthening the le-
wees with all the material at their
command There is not a great sup
ply OF sand sacks or lumber available
there. it is said, hut what is there isI
being put TO the best possible use.
All women and children have either
left town or have been notified to do
SO With facilities for rescue in sight.
IL is not believed that loss Of life
would follow inundation IF the build
Ia4HFuffDnffF.r Ia.
quarters of Cairo, inhabited princi-
pally by negroes revealed that there
are great many more women and
children than We're believed to have
remained in the city Most of them
have cabin homes which are among
the Oldest in the city. The houses
have been occupied by the negroes
since slavery came to an end. and
they are Just beginning to realize that
the city is in the greatest danger of |
destruction that il has ever been.
In many cases the families depend
solely on the food from commissarv
headquarters. With the rising water
continuing, they are sure the destruc
iion of their homes is IN sight. and
The conditions in the territory are pitt
Iul among those who have remained
because they We're unable to purchase
tickets out Of the city, or to support
themselves If they did get out.
We will win with willing work.
efs was the alternative slogan post
ed tonight in the window of a news
paper office. The words We're taken up
by the crowds around the bulletin
board and soon We're on the lips Of
everyone around the hotels and other
meeting places.
So interested are the property own
ers In saving the city that some Of
them have sent for their sons who
are in college, or working in other cit
les. to come home and fight the
floods.
Lieutenant S. y Buckner Jr.. Z. s.
A.. has ordered constructed fifty fiat
'oats to be placed throughout low sec
ions Of the ctv in case Of emergency.
4 planning mill nearby u4ported that
hese would be ready tomorrow.
Soldiers encamped on the river
boats, expecting TO be here several ,
laws longer, were supplied today with
'ations for five days According 10 pre-
lictions Of the local weather observer. I
he crest Of the flood WIN not reach
lere until next Monday. \
The commissary department of the
'itv. looking out for food for the la
'orers and needy families. reported to- {
light that there were supplies on
and for ten days
Considerable difficulty fe beine ev
'erienced in keeping 2 sufficient mum
'er Of negro and white laborers here
o do effective work on the levees. II
vas necessary TO send a squad Of sol
iers to Wickliffe, KY, today to
orce the return of thirty negroes, a
vha went to that place with boat I
Dad Of livestock Work on the levee I
vas handicapped tonight by the heavy j
ain. S