The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-11
FLOOD CONDITIONS,
WHILE STILL GRAVE,
ARE MORE HOPEFUL
Gaps in the Wilson Levee
Relieves Strain on
Embankments
NO LOSS OF LIFE
HAS BEEN REPORTED
River Falls Slightly Over One Foot in
Memphis-Authorize Issuance of
S15O,0O0 Bonds as an
Emergency Fund

memphis, April 10.-Optimism marked
the expressions tonight of those in charge
of the battle to hold the levees in the
central section of >the Mississippi valley
against the mighty flood swollen river.
Conditions, while still grave, were gem
orally more hopeful Two gaps in the
levee near Wilson, Ark, are serving as
outlets for great volume of water, re-
lieving the strain on the embankments
south of that point and day of sunshine
has had its effect, both on the dikes and
the spirits of the flood fighters North of
Wilson, at osceola, Luxora and Barfield,
the situation is still critical, although not
so desperate as last night. South of Mem
phis, preparations are being made for
hard fight near Helena, and the levee
just north of the Beuah, Miss, creyasse
of last February has shown signs of
weakening
One Foot Fall
At Memphis the river fell one foot and
two-tenths today, standing tonight at the
high stage of last year, 45.S feet. Mound
City, north of Memphis, which was in
danger of collapse last night, reported ap-'
proximate the same fall.
The two breaks near Wilson, one at the
upper end of Golden Lake and the other
at the lower end near the village of RAN
domshot, occurred last night, the first
about O'Clock and the second at mid
night. The rise would be a more rapid
spread of the overflow over a somewhat
greater area. Wilson, town of 25o per-
sons, is flooded to a depth of about three
feet. No loss of life has been reported.
The Randomshot crevasse is along the
same stretch of levee that gave way dur
ing the iood of 1909
Near Beulah an old 1evee over which
railroad tracks had been built to convey
material used In closing the break caused
by the early spring flood. settled several
feet for distance of about so yards The
tracks have been torn up and large forces
are engaged in bolsterng up the embank-
ment.
Levee Commission Meets
The Mississippi levee commission met at
Greenville today and authorized the is
suance of s156,0O0 bonds as an emergency
fund to be used during the high water
fight. Chief Engineer Shackelford as
sured the commission that the levees In
that district would be brought to height
two feet above the high stages of last
year within a few days.
An Oseceola dispatch describes the
storm of last night, the most sereve of
years at that point. Levee workers were
driven from the banks by the washing of
water over the dixie and at Barfield the
waves carried large timbers over the em-
bankment.
ID
of the flooded TERRITORY about Wilson to-
day A number of refugees were taken
to Blythevile and from the territory over
flowed by the Graves bayou break below
Memphis 250 were brought to this city
tonight aboard the government steamer
Wyanoke. At Camp Crump here about
1900 persons are being sheltered
The fall today of the river brought cor
responding relief TO the flood section of
the north side of Memphis.
The telegraph operator at Wilson, who
sent dispatch tonight urging that a
relief expedition be hurried to the town.
reported that the time he was standing
waist deep in water and that Wilson and
the surrounding country was flooded to
a depth of from four to 10 feet Those
who did not leave before the levee broke
have assembled in the upper floors of
the more substantial buildings. and, while
no loss of life is probable. the supply of
provisions on hand Is short. Acting Gov
ernor Futrell of Arkansas has appealed
to the federal relief station at Helent to
send aid.
"Backwater" spread to within five miles
OF Osceola tonight. Osceola is protected
by ridges. At Earle. Ark, which is In the
path of water coming through the breaks
near Wilson, the citizens held a ma
meeting tonight and provided funds for
the construction of levee about the
town.
The Arkansas river rose five feet and
two-tenths at Fort Smith. Ark, within "a
hours as the result of an unprecedented
iainfal yesterday and last night. The
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