Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-01

Cairo, ILL.,, April 1.-The flood wa
ters continued to rise steadily thruout
last night, and at Z o'clock today
stood at point between 52.2 and o3'S
feet, The population was early astar
and the fact that the water had sub
stantially passed the 81 foot marx
caused considerable anxiety.
All expected that the day would
prove the crucial one in favor OF the
CITY. The crest of the flood is ex-
pected to reach here today and If the
leyees hold it is believed that the worst
will be passed.
Much trouble was experienced during
the night in the drainage district along
tho Big Four levee. Three times
s,ides occurred and only the valiant
work on the part Of those Watchlns
II saved the day. Dozens Of car loaos
Of sand bags were placed about the
weak spots and serious trouble was
averted.
Levsss Still Hold.
Water seeped thru under the con-
crete wall and stood in the main street
oY Cairo today but the levee shows
no signs OF weakening. Big forces OF
men worked all night placing SAND
h.es and other hold-backs along the
city front.
Colonel Daniel Moriarty, In charge
of troops, planned to attend meet
ing Of citizens this morning to devise
means Of proceeding.
1t is expected the mayor and snerh.
here will give him complete controi
OF the situation and In TINS way, al
who are idle may be put to work II
necessary by force.
Ask for Emergency eoats.
Word was received from Major Cen
eral Wood by the general relief COM
mittee that the situation would De
handled the same as last year.
During the early hours today an
other detachment Of the Fighting Sew
enth" from Chicago arrived here under
Colonel Blasby and ninety naval re-
serves under command of Captain NC
Mum.
The sheriff has requested Governor
Dunno to appeal to the war depart
ment to move three large boats from
the mississippi around in front OF
Cairo to be used in emergency.
refugees continued to leave the city
oil night and crowds are still waiting
at the depots to get out.
Water Rising Rapidly.
The water is rising much more rap
tai, than Yesterday and the demand
for workingmen became urgent. Inc
surface in the Ohio now stands about
one foot higher than the hlghest
street level, which Is the main thor
oughfare Of the town and Immediately
on the levee. In case of break inc
Aood waters would not rise to more
+han one or two feet in the buildings
nm that street, but all of the town back
of # becomes gradually lower and most
of the houses would be completely SUD-
merged in cause of a break.
Situation is Desperate.
Already the situation is desperate. a
large subway, the only passage from
cairo into. the drainage district, mas
heen blocked to save this city. Ihe
MACE was boarded up and dozens OF
carloads of sand bags placed to hold 1t
secure.
Most Of the houses and places OF bus-
mess in the drainage district nave peen
abandoned already and 1t is the pre-
diction that the section Is doomed. lt
is held that this break can not result
in Cairo proper being flooded. state
troops were sent out IN SQUADS OF nVe
TODAY each squad accompanied by q
noIiceman, to visit the rendezvous OF
men who are either unwilling to have
refused to work.
Rev. M. H. Love. Of the Methodist
church. who has had charge Of relief
work in former years, is again at the
head of the relief committee. He will
have about twenty assistants and a
temporary hospital.
About one-half OF the population has
left the city already. The fugitives
weer chiefly women and children and 1T
is believed that should an avalanche
of water sweep over the city now it
,yonId result in little loss of life, the
number of river steamers being con-
sidered sufficient.