The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-11

Georgia today but anxiety was felt as
to the fate of hundreds OF persons
caught by the high waters. Fourteen
known dead have been reported to
date. 1t is estimated property damage
resulting from the high waters will
amount to several million dollars.
Atlanta, Ca, Dec, IL Several
thousand persons were homeless today
and many more out of employment as
a result of flooded rivers in Alabama.
Georgia and Mississippi. Railroad
schedules, particularly in lower Ala
bama and Mississippi, were demora-
lized and PROPERTY loss was estimated
in millions. Rivers in the three states
had reached highest stages in man.
years as a result of the heavy rains of
tho first part of the week but generally
were Feeding today Hattiesou~c,
Miss, was the only city isolated by
the waters altho score of others
were partly cut off. 1t was estimated
that $500 persons, chiefly negroes
were homeless as a result of floods
around Hattiesburg and Meridian.
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 drowned at
Meridian, Miss, and two women and
q soldier were drowned Tuesday night
near Atlanta when an automobile
went over a damaged bridge.
Casualty List. Small.
Late reports were expected to add
slightly to this total. Houses were
swept away in West Point, Ga. by high
waters that overflowed part of the
town. The flood cut off the drinking
water supply and two thousand gal
Ions were rushed from Atlanta. Re
lief work was being pushed there to-
day. The industrial center around
Columbus. Ga, was paralyzed today
and 1t was said it would be nearly a
week before the big cotton mills there
and on the Alabama side could re-
sumo operations. Until last night the
city was without electric current
The Chattahoochee at Columbus
reached SO feet but was receding to-
day. In Mississippi the Leaf river
had oveEflowed bottom lands render
ing many homeless and it was report
ed that hundreds of head of livestock
had perished near Laurel.
Water at Basic city was reported
flowing above the top of the railroad
station and severe damage was done
at Enterprise. Railroad traffic had
practically stopped around that sec
ton. Only the main line of the Louis
Vile & Nashville was being operated
north of Mobile, that line being the |
only track passable to Birmingham.
High waters continued around At
Ianta, and convicts and volunteers
worked Wednesday and late Thursday !
night building dykes to protect the
city waterworks. The Chattahooehee,
normally a small river at its head !
waters above Atlanta, had become a
ra ging flood and was nearly two miles |
wide where it passed the city pumping |
station. A squadron of airplanes left
the aviation repair depot at Mont
gomery, Ala, at daybreak to search !
for persons missing and believed ma |
roened as a RESULT of the flood.
One hundred and thirty persons are
at the Alabama state con- j
vict farm near that city and the Il
warden telephoned that unless assis- |
tance reached them soon the buildings
probably would be swept away.
A stage of 55.5 feet was reached !
by the Alabama river at Montgomery. !
with predictions for a crest of $50
feet, which will put the river in the
union depot.