Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-08
FLOOD SWEEPS
INTO ARKANSAS
NEAR MEMPHIS
Three Counties Inundated by the
First Break in Big Levee-NO
Lives Reported Lost.

MEMPHIS, TENN April S.-The
first break in the main Mississippi
River levee occurred to-day on the
Arkansas side, lust south of Mem
! phis Three counties are being
flooded by wate~. which is pouring
through a big cut in the wall No
loss of life is reported All the in
habitants of the flooded section had
been warned that the levee was weak
ening and had fled to the hills.
Families Saved in Boats.
The women and children of ST.
Francis. Lee and Crittendon Counties,
on the Arkansas side of the river,
we're being cared for in Memphis to-
| day. The men had remained behind
to work on the levees. Several fami-
/ lies living on higher ground. who be-
! lieved they were safe. were rescued
! by Government boats and brought TO
Memphis after the water surrounded
! their homes.
| Reports to-day from Wilson. Ark.
! said that sand boils were discovered
/ in the levees there and were threaten
( ing to break them United States En-
I gineer Markham rushed several crews
of men to Wilson from Memphis
Water from Bayou Gayoso was
higher in North Memphis to-day than
it was ever known to be. Thirty city
blocks were inundated and there was
mucn suffering among the negroes
and poorer whites, who have refused
to leave their homes
Expect Crest To. morrow.
The river at o'clock this morning
stood at ass feet. three tenths OF a
| foot higher than the highest stage in
1912 Weather Forecaster Emery to-
day said the crest Of the flood should
reach Memphis tomorrow and that
by next Sunday the water should be-
gin falling.
! The water that is washing through
the break below Memphis to-day will
/ lipN bdNN llltN lNN NlANS lSSAb dbbA
! Helena, Ark. and the break will give
no relief here. The Beulah crevasse,
reported hopeless by engineers last
| week was closed to-day. The Yazoo
and Mississippi Valley Railroad en-
| gineers did most OF the work there.
Telephone advices from Beulah to-
| day said that another weak point in
the levee was discovered five miles
north of there.
] Five hundred women and children
were being cared for to-day at Camp
Hump in Memphis.
Seven Carloads Sent in Hour.
CHICAGO. April S.-One hour aft
or Henry p Stewart. representative
of the Chicago Association Of Com
merce. wired that the provisions were
needed for flood sufferers near Cairo
ami Mound city H.. seven carloads
had been purchased and started for
the flood district.
The report stated that there were
So destitute persons in Shawnee
town, H.. 500 at Caseyville, and go
! at Roseclare. The supplies will care
! for 1900 persons for fifteen days
Ohio River Stationary.
! WASHINGTON. April S.-The Ohio
River at Cairo. H., this morning Wa
| stationary at a stage OF 545 feet, the
same as yesterday morning. according
to a report Of the weather bureau to-
/ day. Lower Mississippi rtsEes wcre:
| Memphis, f5.6 feet. $40 Of a foot
higher than the flood OF 1912: Vicks-
| burg, Miss, - feet a rise Of $40 Of
foot in "a hours; New orleans. 500
| feet. a rise Of 2-iO.
The crest of the flood will reach 5S
feet at Vicksburg, according to the
| bureaus revised forecast to-day.