Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-10
RIVER LEVEE GIVES WAY
AND FLOOD SWEEPS CITY

MEMPHIS. TENN, April 4.-The
levee at West Hickman, KY, gavA
way this afternoon and the flood
swept through the town. Five hun
dred homes were in the track of the
flood. The inhabitants had left the
place.
MEMPHIS, TENN, April with
the river stage at Memphis 400 feet
this morning and water running over
the leyees along Bayou Gayoso, where
il is backed up from Wolf River
many factories are being Inundated
and hundreds of families are moving
TO higher places in the city.
Memphis proper is on a high bluff.
The low part of the town, liable TO De
submerged. covers about 80 blocks CT
thickly settled territory, where thou
sands of laborers live. Street car
tracks have been raised four feet.
Reports from Tiptonville. county
seat Of Lake County, Tennessee, say
windstorm did great damage to
the ReelfoOt levee. 1t is caving and
likely to break during the day.
The Hickman, KY, bikes still were
holding at daybreak, but the situation
was dangerous. Relief came to 1900
refugees marooned on hills back of
Columbus, Ky. The government sup
ply boat loaded with tents and pro-
visions, arrived there late last night
Charlottesville. No, is in imminent
danger. The levee below that city is
washing. The town is under martial
law.
Alarming reports came this morn
ing from dozens Of weakened places
in the Arkansas levee. Major r. II.
Markham, Of the United States en-
gineers, rushed supplies and men
there. The leaks were stopped and
the places strengthened.
II Is admitted now that the Missis
sippi Valley faces a disastrous flood.
The critical moment will come next
Wednesday or Thursday. Gangs are
working on 80 miles of levee day and
night
Heavy Rains at Cairo.
CAIRO, ILL, April Rain which
began at o'clock yesterday after
noon and continued throughout the
night and early to-day placed Cairo
in the most dangerous position it has
occupied since the Ohio and Missis-
sipi River floods began.
Fed by the heavy downpour the
rivers passed the top of the levees
and were being kept out only by the
bags Of sand on top of the walls.
Military authorities in charge of
the situation admitted that the out
look was decidedly gloomy but they
were determined to remain at their
posts and fight back the food waters
as long as there was the faintest
hope Of saving the city.
Cairo to-day was compelled to fight
a new danger. The waters of the
Ohio River have worked their way
under the depression occupied by the
business and residence district and
are coming up in what are called
sand boils."
Bulkheads Only Reliance.
Soldiers and citizens are assigned
10 patrol districts of the city where
the water has begun to work its way
from beneath. and as quickly as "a
sand boil" appears heavy loads of
dirt are dumped into the threaten
ing cavity.
Only the hastily constructed bulk
heads on top of the levees to-day
were keeping out the food waters.
These bulkheads are Of lumber,
braced with railroad ties, sand bags
and cement. Opinion was general
that they would hold unless a heavy
wind from across the river drives
the water against them.
FIFTY fiatboats were distributed
about the city to-day and tied to
posts where they could be reached
by residents If the water breaks any
Of the protecting walls.