Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-05
CAIRO MAY ESCAPE
FLOODING OF CITY
Rise in River Halted, But DAN
ger to LeveeS May Not
Be Passed.
BOATS CARRY SUPPLIES
TO HOMELESS REFUGEES
Much of Immediate Want Is Re-
lieved, But Thousands Still Face
the Possibility of Hunger.

the Possibility of Hunger.
CAIRO. ILL.,, April 5.-offers of relief
which have been made by the Chicago
Association of Commerce and the city OF
Peoria for the benefit of Cairo. it was
said. would be accepted today.
President Howard Elting of the Chicago
organization offered eight boats and sixty
men to man them. From Peoria came
word that a steamboat equipped for life
saving purposes was waiting for call
to Cairo. The same message said that "A
carload of food and clothing had already
started from that city.
Several companies of soldiers armed
with brooms went to work at cleaning
up the streets today. The sanitary con-
ditons are to be carefully watched from
now on to prevent the breaking out of
disease. During the day large cans for
waste material were paced along the
levee front
A. b. Hunter. prominent planter and
banker of New Madrid, Mo, telephoned
TO Cairo today denying the report that
the levee at Point Pleasant. Mo-. near
New Madrid. had broken. lie said the
water was near the top OF the levee. but
tneIe was ITO lfIltntuldle udlfStf-
River Falling at Cairo.
For the first time since the Cairo river
stai ted to rise two weeks ago decided
recession was visible today. The gauge
stood Well below the oLI mark. which had
been passed early last night.
A relief expedition was sent TO Mound
City, H., today. The conditions there are
said to be becoming strenuous for both
the residents and soldiers and some of
them may be brought out of there if Col.
Moriarty, who will go personally to in
spect the place. sees fit. The sun was
bright and warm here today.
A great amount of driftwoou is passing
in the Ohio river, making precarious the
operation of boats by the naval reserves.
Roofs and entire sides of houses passed
early today.
Floods Crest at Evansville.
EVANSVILLE. Ind, April with the
stage here today at 1873 feet, marking the
floods crest, conditions throughout the
lower OHIO river are slightly ameliorated.
although there is still great cry for
food and comforts from thousands OF
persons who have been overtaken by the
surging waters
The federal relief boat that went to
IL,
ed persons of that districi returned as
far as Mount Vernon, Ind. today, and
from there turned back to Caseyville,
ILL.,. after provisioning itself at Noun
Vernon. Hundreds of people at Caseyviiie
are starving after enduring the hood for
five days without any succor at all.
The wind has subsidized here silghtly,
and less danger is felt on the upper
boulevard 1evee in this city. which pro-
tects hundreds of fashionable residences.
ic ranidlN. but Will
stand unless another high wind develops.
Distress Is Relieved.
DE KOVEN. Ky, April o.-The Ohio
river has risen only one-tenth of an inch
since yesterday morning. 1t is believed
that the worst of the flood is over, as
only slight rises are reported from Evans
Vile, Ind. and Shawneetown, Ill. No
rain has fallen for twenty-four hours.
All fear OF distress among the lower
Ohio river flood victims has been allayed
by the arrival Of two relief steamers. the
Isabella. from Evansville. in charge OF
Capt w. r. Naylor, L. 5. A.. and the
Rapids. from Cairo. under command of
Capt j. J. Builder, l. y. g. The two
boats are carrying supplies to Shawnee
town, Uniontown, Caseyville and smaller
places laid waste by the flood
Break in Memphis Levee.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 5.-Forty-two
feet and four-tenths was registered OH
the Mississippi gauge here at o'clock
today a rise of ID feet in the pas TWEEN
ty-four hours.
A brick protection levee along Bayou
Gayoso gave way today. flooding a small
residence re %e,,s section in the n0jhern portion
Mai Markham received a telegram to-
day stating that conditions from Caruth-
arsville to Point Pleasant were satisfac-
tory throughout the night. He expressed
tie belieT that the levees would hold.
The falI al Cairo is attributed to the
flooding of the upper St Francis basin
by water flowing over an old stretch
ABOVE New Madrid, where work has been
ssnie this relieves the pressure at Cairo
IL Will not affect the lower river, because
the water Will return to the Mississippi
.usL below New Madrid Every thing Was
reported in good condition along the line
o1 the Keel Foot levee, according to the
government engineers.
Railway Embankment Cut.
NEW MADRID, Mo-. April 5.-The st.
Louis and San Francisco embankment
between Lilbourn and Kewanee, in the
extreme southeastern part of Missouri,
was cut early this morning.
The line was cut at the direction of the
officials to prevent the flooding
of a large section Of the track should the
levee break at a weak spot The track
is the short line of the Frisco system be-
tween St. Louis and Memphis, and over
it Illinois Central trains all have been
routed since the closing of the Cairo
The line will be closed until tonight
or tomorrow morning, but Frisco trains
between ST. Louis and Memphis and
other southern points will start as usual
tonight, being detoured by way OF
Mingo Mo-, and Hoxie, Ark.
The gap in the railroad is about
twenty feet wide. and permitted the
Of large volume of overflow
from the Mississippi.
Prepare for High Water.
VICKSBURG, Miss, April 5.-Prepara-
ions will be made at Beulah, the scene
IF the disastrous crevasse in the levee
ast spring, to withstand a stage of