Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-07
Greatest Floods in Arkansas
in Forty Years Garry RUM
Over Wide Area Of Country
and River Is Still RISING,
HIGHEST GROUND IN
CLARENDON SUBMERGED
Desperate Fight Is Going on
to Preserve the Mississippi
LeveeS at Arkansas City,
Water Is Six Feet Deep,
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Littie Rock, Ark. Fob. 6.--The rap
idly widening lake in the southeastern
part of Arkansas, formed by the flood
waters of the Arkansas river pouring
through breaks IN the levees had en-
quilted score OF towns tonight leav-
ing several thousand persons home
less, taking a toll of sixteen lives and
DONG damage estimated at thousands
Of dollars.
Still greater damage is feared if the
Mississippi continues to rise. Predict
ed stages at Arkansas City threaten n
break in the Mississippi leyees which
would precipltate the greatest calam-
ity.
Hope 10 Save Arkansas City.
All day 700 men who remain in Ar
kansas City, toiled in an effort TO
strengthen tho levees, and tonight they
were hopeful that the town would be
saved. The narrow strip Of levce is
the only land In sight there On one
side is the great river, swollen until
its surface is fifteen feet above the
levei OF the town. On the other sidc
OF the lcyee is the great flood lake,
ncary forty miles long and twenty
miles wide From II only the upper
stories OF buildings in Arkansas city
protrudc. Af the leyec are three
steamboats, ready to carry the plucky
fighters TO safety should they lose
their battle with the flood.
River Still Rising.
Today the river rose two-tenths of
foot to the level Of 5b,7 feet at Ar
kansas City. and still was rising SOW
~ late this afternoon. The flood
waters in the toYa rose six inches dur
ing the night. Tfleeraph service with
the town still is maintained and the
last word from there this afternoon
was optimistic
wen win the fight" flashed the
operator.
Tho great lake that extends from
the Arkansas river southWard with
the Mississippi river levees as It's east
ern bank. has engulfed numerous
other towns. At Lake Village the
flood water rose ut the rate Of a half
inch an hour today. At Gaines Land
ing. four miles north of Lake Village,
400 persons were on the levees to-
night without shelter.
CiaHndon Submerged.
In Clarendon. on the White river,
where the levce broke last night.
water today was six feet deep in the
highest portions of the town. The
river had attained stage Of 37,i feet
ana stil was rising. AS fast as pos
sible the residents were conveyed to
dry land In motor boats. Supplies
were reported plentiful.
4 relief train sent out from Little
Rock yesterday in charge Of officials
OF the ST. Louis, Iron Mountain &
Southern railroad was able 10 proceed
southwark beyond Grady. From there
the workers began carrying food in
motor boats 10 those In need and taxi
ing many mar0oned families from
their submerged homes.
Many Lives Believed Lost.
Little Is known of conditions IN
the rural districts of the flooded area,
but there seems little doubt that many
who refused to leave their homes in
face Of repeated warnings have per-
ished.
The present flood has been the most
disastrous in the last forty years Of
Arkansas history, 50 far as loss OF life
and suffering are concerned. The
property losses has not been SO great
because there are now no crops 70 be
destroyed.