The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-02
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Cairo, ILL.,, April 1.-FTood conditions
here today along the Ohio river levee
are declared by the oldest citizens to
be the most desperate in their time.
The water Is rising at the rate OF
about one foot day and now stands
two feet from the top OF the concrete
wal built at the levee. The Big Four
levee went out late this afternoon.
While this situation is not encour-
aging. the reports of the weather bu-
reau OF up-river and tributary condi
t1ons were enough to cause further
alarm No reports came of receding
waters as far away as Cincinnati,
while some tributaries were reported
rising. 1t Is generally believed that
the high stage will not he reached be-
fore Wednesday night or Thursday
The rise of the river is much faster
than last year.
DEMAND FOR WoRKMEN.
The water rose much more rapidly.
than YESTERDAY and the demand for
more work ngnaen became more urgent.
IS. and was creeping I'D. IN case OF
= break the food waters would not
lrise to more than one or two feet in the
buildings Of the towns main thorough
fare but all Of Sthe town back of this
street becomes gradually .ower and
most of the houses would become COM
pletely submerged. A large subway
which was the only passageway from
Cairo into the drainage district has
been blocked to save the city. The
place was aboarded up and dozens of
carloads of sandbags placed to hold it
secure.
Accordingly as workmen are able to
battle no longer with the levee situa-
tion in the drainage district, they are
brought into Cairo and set to work
along the river front. Most of the
houses and places of business in the
drainage territory have been aban-
doned and it is the prediction that the
section is doomed. 1t is held that this
break cannot result in Cairo proper
being flooded.
The state troops were sent out in
squads of five today. each accompanied
by policeman. to visit the rendezvous
of men who are either unwilling or
have refused to work.
One of the purposes of closing all
places of business which do not handle
goods needed for the comfort and me-
cessities of the people was to give OPP
portunity to get out the strongest
working force possible.
Employees of closed concerns have
responded willingly for duty and have
reinforced TO a great extent the work
along the river front.
Rev. Fl. NJ. 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
temporary hospital. which has been ar
ranged on a large wharfboat In the
river Cairo Is situated on the ,ow-
lands at the fork of the Ohio and Mis-
eissippi rivers It's safety depends alb
solutely on levees from all sides. There
Is no way by which people walking or
on trains could escape except by going
back into the drainage district. Con-
sequently, hope is placed in boats in
case of great trouble.
SENDING WOMEN AWAY.
About one half of the population has
left the city already They were chiefly
women and children. There is a large
feet of river steamers here.
The city is sending its women and
children out on every train. Two
baggage cars were filled with trunks
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