The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-02
Warning Ample, and
Little Loss of Life
Is Expected
LEVEES GIVING
BEFORE STRAIN
District North of Cairo Is
Flooded, and Throughout Mis-
sissippi Valley Waters Are
Likely to Sweep All Before
Them-Rescue Work Well
in Hand Everywhere.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l ]


Cairo. Ill. April The big levee
protecting the drainage district north
OF Cairo, broke on the Big Four side
at 5:45 o'clock this afternoon. and to-
night water is rushing over the 1000
acres, and indications are that by to-
morrow the entire tract will be under
from ten to twenty feet Of water. Tho
village of Future City, with negro
population of 1,50o. Is located in the
district, as well as a number OF farm
houses and many factories
The breaking of this levee does not
affect the city OF Cairo, as the big
flood gates at subway protect the city
proper from the drainage district.
Every precaution is being taken by
Cairo however to take care of the ap-
preaching floods.
Thousands or worKmen were busy
all day placing sandbags and bulk
heading the levees, and rapidly did
the work proceed that Mayor George
Parsons tonight issued the following
statement;
Prospects tonight are that the ap-
preaching floods will be successfully
taken care OF by Cairo. We expect the
stage of the river will greatly exceed
the high water mark of 1912. provid-
ing the levees below the city do not
break. Citizens and soldiers arc
working vigorously to strengthen the
levees"
Colonel ]. u. Moriarity was placed
in charge this morning. lie las re-
quested that all women and children
in the city be placed upon barses as
soon as fiftyfour-foot stage is re-
ported in the river.
Prospects are that very few women
and children will be in the city bv
that time, as there hEs been a general
exodus for the past two days. The
river stage tonight was SAT- feet. To-
morrow morning should see the fifty
four-foot stage registered. That was
the nigh stage during the 1912 flood.
Warning Ts Ample.
because of the ample food warnings
ana the preparations made there was
no loss of life In the drainage district
when the lcvees burst and the pron
ertE Ioss VIII be much less than last
year The damage this year probably
VIII not exceed sl.OOO,Oo0. whereas a
loss OF S5.o00,000 was sustained n wear
ago The principal industries in the
hooded district are: Chicago Mil 3
Lumber Co; Weis Peterson Box Co
Sears Roebuck &c Co.: Mcclure Com,
pany, Pioneer Pole & Shaft Co; Greer
Refining Co.
At Mound City. eight miles above
Cairo, water already is tapping over
the levee and citizens arc working
neroically TO strengthen the barrier
between the flooded river and the CITY
Two companies of National Guard were
dispatched this evening to aid in the
fight. '"e
The Missouri levees have begun r.
break under the strain of the watar
which is pouring into the Mississjnri
River. pfi
The Deield levee. eight miles below
birds Point, broke Monday night. The
water is pouring into Mississlnni
county through this opening. ana is
running down towa<d Belmont over
O'Brien's Ridge.
One or two other small Ievees ,r
that section have broken, and tho en-
tire East Side OF Mississippi Countv
Is inundated. commissary depart-
ment for flood refugees has been es-
tablished in the city.
The Illinois Central Railroad began
to-day to run all through trains over
the bridge without coming into Cairo
These trains are to be met at Cairo
Junction by a 'bobtail' All terminal
trains will he run in and out as usual
unless stopped BY water. The Mobile
and Ohio is running its trains as usual
around the loop, and will continue to
DO so as long as possible.