The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-18
Food for 25OO Needed With Boats for Rescue
 Work
FURTHER EVIDENCES OF WEAKNESS APPEAR
More Levees Giving TrOuble-Many of Refugees Have Been Without Food 48 Hours or More-New
 Orleans Sending Aid

Natchez, Miss, February 17.-Repeated appeals received during today from New clifton, La, for food and boats needed for the relief of more than 20OO negroes who were marooned in elevators, gins and other buildings in that neighborhood by the flood from the Buckridge crevasse in the Mississippi valley, were being an swered as adequately as possible by Natchez, St. Joseph and Vidalia. Al available boats and some food supplies were started for Newellton from these points today and reports received from Newellton tonight were that while the situation was not critical for the pres ent, food was badly needed and those marooned in places of temporary safety soon must be removed to refugee camps where they could receive proper care.
 Many of the negroes, it was said, have been without food for more than two days, while some of them were huddled in old buildings which afford only meagre shelter.
 EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS
 In some instances the flood sufferers have been removed from plantations to platforms along the river and are exposed to the elements. It was expected that some of the relief boats would reach the Newellton district late tonight and early tomorrow. The flood from the crevasse tonight had extended southward several miles below St. Joseph, which is sur rounded by water. The back levee around St. Joseph thus far has kept the flood out of most of that town but the sec tion west has been covered with the over flow.
 Rodney. Miss, across the river from St. Joseph, Miss, late today sent out an appeal for aid in caring for the refugees from the Louisiana side who have sought safety there. Fort Adams, some distance south of Natchez, also reported it was finding difficulty in caring for refugees from the Red river section. Both Rod ney and Fort Adams are small towns, and arrangements will be made to bring the refugees from those points to Natchez as soon possible.
 MEN ARE AT WORK
 Many of the negroes brought here are women and children, large num- Der of the men having been employed to work on the levees and aid in rescue work, while many others were removed to high ground in the flooded sections until boats could be obtained to take them out.
 Reports were received here today that the levee at Ashwood, on Lake Pal myra, eight miles above the Buck Ridge crevasse, was showing signs of giving away.
 Relief trains were running today on the Iron Mountain branch from Vida lia to St. Joseph, but officials said they would be forced to discontinue tomorrow. The flood is expected to reach Waterproof by tomorrow night. That town is located in low spot, and it probably will be flooded
 The overflow from the Black river was reported backing up on Jonesville and Jena, La, at the rate of four inches every "A hours.
 The congressional flood controls com- mittee was expected to arrive here Friday night, when they will have an opportunity to view some of the dis tress occasioned by the floods along this section of the Mississippi.
 The local relief committee is bend ing it's resources to provide for the many refugees here until help is re- ceived from Louisiana and the federal government.