The log cabin Democrat., 1916-02-07
CLARENDON NOW
 ANOTHER VENICE
BOATS PLYING STREETS
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE HUD- DIED IN UPPER STORIES
 OF BUILDINGS.

l Clarendon, Feb. 6.-Clarendon is
 flooded from five to 12 feet deep to-
 night. The White river guage reg
 isters 38.1 feet, 1.5 feet higher than
 the previous record. The electric
 light plant is out of commission.
 Two thousand residents are crowded
 in the opera house, the courthouse
 and other two and three-story build
 ings, and boats are plying the streets
 removing people from houses that are in danger of collapsing The cur rent through most of the city is very swift, and it is feared some buildings will be wrecked or moved from their foundations. However, the buildings sheltering refugees are safe. More than 10 people left the city today in motor boats for Roe, eight miles east across the river. A party of 70, which started this afternoon in rowboats for Cotton Belt train waiting three miles out to take them to Stuttgart, was forced to turn back because of swift currents.
 It was feared the boats would be capsized in the current running over the railroad embankment as over a dam. It is estimated more than HOO people have left the town. Among those who left today were Mrs Frank Milwee, wife of the sheriff of Monroe county, and her children They were taken to Roe in a motor boat. Water was more than two feet deep in the Milwee home, one of the highest in the city.
 The water rose rapidly after the break in the levee early last night and before midnight covered the en- tire city. The light plant closed shortly after II o'clock Some ex- citement prevailed in the lower sec tions of the city, but all residents were conveyed to places of safety without delay and there was no dis tress
 The houses in which the residents are staying have supplies of food and drinking water and there is lit' tie probability of distress for sev- eral days, although some of the buildings are crowded The crest of the flood is expected tomorrow and river men believe that the water will begin to fall by tomorrow night.
 It is believed the town will be flooded for a week and efforts are un- der way to arrange for taking away all persons who desire to leave. If the plans can be carried out it is probable the city will be practically deserted within the next few days. It is planned to run trains from Brink ley on the Cotton Belt to point three miles from Clarendon and to convey the refugees in boats to the trains.
 Water today was five feet deep in the Monroe county jail and all pris- oners were transferred to the upper floor of the building. In some build ings the water was even deeper. Water began pouring over the Cotton Belt depot platform early this morn- ing. The depot is the highest place in the city All available boats were in use and calls were sent to other towns for boats There are several motor boats in operation and it is i'm probable that any lives will be lost, as these boats are sent wherever there is signal of distress.
 Property loss in the city will be great in spite of preparations for the high water. Many people did not be- lieve it possible for the water to reach it's present stage and did not prepare for it.