Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-01
MISSISSIPPI IS
AT FLOOD FROM
CAIRO TO GULF
Serious Disaster Threatens Many
Towns in the Lower Valley and
Along Arkansas and
Ohio Rivers.
LEvEE BREAKS AT HICKMAN
Factory District Partly Flooded and
Water is Backing Into Bust
ness Section.
HEAVY RAINS ARE GENERAL

HICKMAN, KY, Jan. st.-The
West Hickman levee gave way early
today and the Mississippi river is
now flooding a large area in the
manufacturing district The water
is slowly backing up into the bust
ness section. About 500 people have
so far been rendered homeless.
Three valleys Threatened.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. si.-serl-
Gus floods threaten the lower Ohio val
ley the Mississippi valley from Cairo,
ILL.,. to the Gulf OF Mexico and the val
leys OF Arkansas because OF the heavy
rains of Sunday and last night in Ar
kansas. the lower Ohio valley and the
Mississippi valley from 81. Louis TO
Vicksburg. The weather bureau today
issued this special flood bulleton;
The heavy rains of sunday In Ar
kansas. the lower Ohio valley and the
Mississippi valley, from st. Louis TO
vicksburg, have continued throughout
the last twelve hours and coming upon
rivers already In flood have created a
serious situation in the river valleys OF
Arkansas and also along the lower Ohio
valley and the Mississippi valley from
Cairo TO the gulf. Stages Monday morn
ing we're; ST. Louis. si.s feet. flood stage.
30 feet; Cairo. 6l.4 feet. flood stage. 4b,
Memphis. 39.s feet, flood stage. S5; Vicks-
burg. SOL feet. flood stage. Is: New Or
leans, lis feet. flood stage. n
~, nile warnings have already been
distributed locally to the points involved,
~ 49,
OF the continued rains the stages already
forecast will be slightly exceeded at va
rous points and that high stages IN the
Mississippi from Cairo to the gulf will
be long continued"
Arkansas Towns Flooded.
LITTLE ROCK. Ark. Jan. si.--churches
In Newport. Ark. last night abandoned
service and virtually every able-bodled
man Joined In the work on tho ievees
about the city. which are being strength
ened against the threatening floods. The
White river Is one foot higher than the
'leveos were expected to stand.
At Hatesville. on the White river. and
at Newport. many families are moving
The Arkansas river is rising steadily.
Backwater has flooded the west portion
Of Argenta. Residents along the bank
Of the river have begun TO move their
effects TO points OF safety.
The Arkansas Ia ten feet above flood
stage at Fort Smith and still rising. More
than o score OF residents were taken
off Arbuckle island, The water plant at
Van Buren Is out OF commission.
At Pine Bluff, the situation is regarded
as critical. Collapse OF wing dikes against
the Ievee extremities Is feared.
Rain fell all OF last night and stIl
was falling today.
wabash IA ON Rampage.
INDIANAPOLIS. IND. Jan. a.-lndiana
rivers and streams are bank fun or
overflowing today as a result OF the
heavy rains throughout the state since
Thursday, Hundreds OF families have
been driven from their homes. No loss
OF life has been reported.
The Wabash river Is threatening at
vincennes. rerre Haute. Lafayette and
Logansport. A number OF small towns
have been isolated by the high waters