The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-12-11
WATERS GO
DOWN.; FLOOD
KILLS MANY
Fourteen Persons Known to
be Dead, and Millions OF
Dollars Damage Done, in
High Waters In South.
AIRPLANES TO RESCUE
(By Associated Press1

Nby ASSOCIdL0Q TT0BS1
ATLANTA. Ca, Dec. 11-F1oods re-
sulting from heavy rains generally
were receeding throughout Mississip-
pi. Alabama and Georgia today, but
anxiety was held as to the fate Of
high waters. Fourteen known dead
damage, 1t Is estimated, amounted to
several million dollars.
The dead included three white per-
sons at Montgomery, Ala, three ne
groes at Hatttesburg, Miss, two
whites at Jackson. Miss, and one ne
gro at Meridian, Miss.
Hattiesburg, Miss, was the only city
isolated by the waters, although a
tcore of others were partly cut OF. It
was estimated that $500 persons,
chiefly negroes, were homeless as a
result of floods around Hattiesburg
and Meridian.
Forced to Flee.
Hundreds Of other residents Of the
flooded sections were forced to flee.
but the loss of life was remarkably
small. Two trainmen lost their lives
yesterday in Mississippi, in wrecks
due to washouts: negro was drown
ed at Meridian, Miss, and two women
and q soldier were drowned Tuesday
night near Atlanta, when an auto went
through q damaged bridge. Later re-
ports were expected to add slightly
to this total, as many were known to
be marooned and suffering from cold
and hunger.
Houses were swept away In West
Point, Ca. by the high waters that
overflowed part of the town. The
flood cut OF the drinking water supply
and 1000 gallons was rushed by the
Red Cross from Atlanta. Relief work
was being pushed there today. Many
persons were stranded around Mont
gomery and boats were used for their
rescue.
The industrial center around Col.
umbus, Ca, was paralyzed today and
It was said 1t would be nearly week
before the big cotton mills there and
on the Alabama side could resume
operations. Street cars stopped yes
terday in Columbus. and until last
night the city was without electric
current, The Chattahooche, at Col
umbus, reached SO feet, but was re-
ceding today. High water also was
beginning to be threatened at Macon,
Ga.
-. In Mississippi the Leaf river had
.overfiowed bottom lands. rendering
hundreds homeless and it was report
ed that hundreds of head of 1--we stock
had perished near Laurel. Water al
Basic City was reported flowing above
the top of the railroad station and Sc
we're damage was done at Enterprise
Railroad traffic had practically stopped
around that section. Only the main
line of the Louisville and Nashville
was being operated north OF MOBILE
that line being the only track pass
able to Birmingham.
convicts Put to Work.
High waters continued around At
lanta and convicts and volunteers
worked Wednesday and late Thursday
night building dykes to protect the
city waterworks. The Chattahoochee
normally a small river, at us mead
waters above Atlanta, had become a
raging food and was nearly two miles
wide where it passed by the city
humping station. Creeks in this sec
tion also were flooded and damage tc
roads, bridges and culverts in Fulton
and Cobb counties was estimated al
more than 100000.
A squadron of airplanes left the
aviation depot at Montgomery, Ala.
at daybreak to search for persons
missing and believed marooned, as
result of the food. One hundred anc
thirty persons are marooned at the
Alabama state convict farm near thai
city and the warden telephoned thai
unless assistance reached them soor
the buildings probably would be swept
away.
A stage of 555 feet was reached by
the Alabama river at Montgomery
with predictions for crest of 3D.:
feet, which will put the river in the
Union depot.