The Dermott news., 1916-02-10
Worst Flood
Ever Known.

Dermott, the only accessible dry
point in Chcot County, is full this
week of refugees from the flooded dis
tricts all around us The worst flood
ever known il sweeping over the Mis-
sissippi Valley and thousands fpeople
have been left homeless "a result.
Not only are all the lowlands inun-
dated. but the neighboring towns of
Arkansas City, Lake Village and Nc
Gehee report an unprecedented amount
of water Arkansas City. always sub
ject to overflow. has several feet more
Of water than ever before Merchants
who scatrolded their goods up the usual
four feet. have raised them to six feet
and then raised them again TO keep
them dry Only the peaks Of the roofs
of the ones story residences are visible
above the water and the only people
left in the town are Il few who are
living in the third stories of some of
the brick business buildings.
The river stage at Arkansas City
yesterday was So. 2. nearly foot high
er than ever before known. The crest
of the flood is expected to reach there
about the 18th. and 51-foot stage IL
predicted Backwater in the town was
reported to have fallen nearly four
inches yesterday.
AsLake Village the entire town.
with the exception of the lake front. Is
covered, and as large numbers of ref
ugees have hocked in from the sur
rounding country. they have had 10 ask
for outside assistance to help care for
them.
McGehee. on the north. has for the
first time IN its history been seriously
inconvenienced by the water. All Of
the town IL covered except that part
on the banks OF the bayou and that
which was filled in hy the railroad com
panv The town has been almost de
serted, most Of the residents having
left as the water approached. The
water there came to stand the first
of the week. and was falling yesterday.
A mass meeting of the citizens Of
permott was held Monday and an or
ganzation formed to carry on the work
Of rescuing and aiding refugees \
subscription was taken amounting 70
Si64 90. and committees appointed to
look after every phase Of the work.
f. p Remley is chairman of the Il
nance committee. and anyone else
wishing to make contributions may
leave them with him Henry Bordeaux
IL chairman of the relief committee
and all refugees needing help should be
directed to his drug store on Front st.
The local military company volun-
teered their services and under the
direction of Capt. W ;. Daniel. are
lending material aid in the rescue
work. Lieut.. Delaney. with a detail
Of men is securing the country in boats
bringing in the refugees Twenty y=tve
negroes were found in the second story
of an old lodge hall at Hurds, though
these were in comfortable condition
compared with many Of the cases re
ported.
The gasoline boats are launched about
mile from town. There are three
now in use. and a fourth secured from
the Ouachita river through the courtesy
of j. F Finch of the Southern Lum-
ber Co. Is expected here today. Free
transportation for this and all other
supplies has been unstintingly fur
nished BY the railroad company.
A carload of tents and other equip
ment has been received from the Ma
tional Guard headquarters in Little
Rock, and from here Is being distrib-
uted over this section as needed.
Lieut.. Voolfolk and detail of mer
left yesterday by boat for Lake Village
with fifteen tents 10 be used for the
homeless people gathered on the lake
front The military company IL serv-
inc without pay, and indeed nearly all
Of our citizens are contributing freely
Of their time and means in the effort
to care for the sufferers.
1t is feared that a great deal of stock
has been lost. and wild game, too, has
suffered frem the flood Six deer Were
seen east of town Monday, as was also
other game. Two arrests were made
for violating the game laws, and every
effort is heing made to protect the
game in this section,