Evening star., 1916-02-06

In the three adjacent count
under water.
Residents in Dire Peril.
LITTLE ROCK, February 5.-Resi-
dents of the territory in the south
eastern corner of Arkansas tonight
faced a perilous situation. Two-thirds
of Lincoln, Desha and Chicot counties
are covered with water. which is flow
ing southwark through a half dozen
breaks in Arkansas river ievees-
Arkansas City, McGehee and Lake VII
lage and dozens of smaller towns are
flooded and the high stage Of the Mis-
sissippi river added new danger Al
Arkansas City the level Of the Mfssis-
sippi river is fifteen feet ABOVE enc
town.
So far all Mississippi river levees are
reported holding and the flood waters
inside the levees are certain to weaken
stage of the Mississippi late today was
fifty-fiFe and one-half feet. the high
est ever known. Water from the
Arkansas river flood is six to eight
feet deep in the main streets OF tine
town and expected to go at least three
feet higher. About 1000 residents have
left the city. which now is cut OF from
communication with the outside world
except by boat. There are 500 home
less and hungry persons in that town.
A dispatch tonight said that the Chicot
Ievee is in such a weakened condition
that should it break Arkansas City
would be wiped off the map. The dis-
patch said immediate aid is needed.
trainload of food and clothing,
purchased with funds appropriated by
the Red Cross and the private citizens,
was en- route tonight to the Hood
stricken section of, eastern Arkansas.
The train left here fate today in charge
of Murray A. Auerbach. Red Cross rep
resentative. and will proceed as far as
the tracks are intact The remainder OF
the journey will be made in launch.
A dispatch tonight from Pine Bluff
reported the flood receding at Warner
and Gould. which were inundated with
the first rush of water through the
crevasse in the Arkansas river at Cum
Minis. At Pine Bluff schools will re-
open Monday.
Conditions Better at Newport.
Newport reported the overflow sub
siding and normal conditions being re-
stored Newport was flooded several
days ago when the White river levee
there collapsed. More than half of the
business district was free of water to-
night and tram service has been re-
sumed At Batesville. north of New
port, the White river was falling rap
idly.
John T. Burkett. chairman of the
state penitentiary board. returned to-
day from the state farm at Cummins.
He reported more than two miles OF
the Arkansas river levee at Cummins
Washed away One break in front of
the state farm was mile and half
wide. One stockade. the main hospital
and the administration and commits
Sary buildings were wrecked.
100000 Acres Inundated.
Arkansas CITY. Ark. February s.
Arkansas tonight is in
quilted in one of the mightiest foods in
the history OF the state. which hourly
is swelling to greater proportions and
adding to it's toll. Approximately 100.-
200 acres of fertile farm land is in
undated, a score or more villages have
in the overflow and sew
eral of the larger towns are threatened
with destruction.
The situation here and at Clarendon.
McGehee and Lake Village, already
flooded by back water ana menaced
bV rapidly weakening levees which pro-
tect the towns from the rush of the
water. is critical. Merchants and
planters worked tonight with ievee
workers and farm hands in a nnai ef-
fort to hold the embankments. but the
odds seemed against them.
North of Arkansas City. Chicot lake,
u hich has served as reserver Tor
volume of water, threatens 10 pTedh
through the dixie which protects this
city. Should the embankment give way
II is feared Arkansas City will be
Back water. which entered
the CITY Yesterday. tonight covered the
BUSINESS section to a depth of six feet. /
and in the residential district only the |
TONS of houses are showing above the |
water. |
scant Supply of Food.
Light and water plants are out OF
and with hundreds of
refugees here and only scant supply |
~ food available outside aid must come |
ouickly. All railroad service has been
\ and the only means of |
is by boat.
At Clarendon every man who remained |
n IN. town was at work tonight topping |
White river levee with sand bags. The |
water early tonight was within few |
nches of the top of tie embankment as
!, result of a four-foot rise in the river |
Lake village. with the exception of a
,arrow elevation on the west bank of |
AXE Chivot, is covered with back water. |
which is rising rapidly. Lake Village l
reported three-fourths Of Chicot county