Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-27
FLOOD SPREADING
OVER MISSISSIPPI
AND TOLOU|S|ANA
Trinity River Receding. and
Worst Danger is Past
in Texas.
DEATH ROLL TOTALS So

BY Associated Press 20 Every Evening
Natchez. Miss. April 27.-wlth no
hope Of stopping the break in the
Mississippi river levee near Ferriday
Louisiana the residents Of half a
dozen parishes in one Of the richest
farming sections of the state early to-
day were preparing against the advent
Of food waters which a. last reports
were surRing through n crevasse more
than two hundred yards wide. No loss
OF life had been reported there up 10
an early hour and II was believed all
residents were given sufficient warning
TO protect themselves.
Six towns, including Vadalia. Of
about 1000 population and Ferriday
Of 500. are In the Immediate path Of
the flood waters released when the
break occurred suddenly at the Weca-
ma levee In Concordia parish late
yesterday. II was certain early today
that the inundation would cover all
of that parish. a large part Of Tensas.
part Of Catahoula and possibly par
part Of Franklin and Avoyelles par
( Ishes
! Every available power boat IN
Natchez. with the United States
steamboat Tunica Of the government
/ fleet here. had fastened 10 the affected
territory for food relief work and ar
rangements were being made today
TO care for all refugees arriving here.
Nadalia, about eight miles from Ferri-
| day, the nearest town 70 the crevasse.
/ is just across the river from Natchez.
Reports from this town said the break
/ in the line had been anticipated and
most Of the people had prepared for
it. Some did not believe the food wat
ers would reach a greater depth than
four or five feet in the houses. in
which case most Of the residents were
said to be prepared to wait out the
| flood
! Throughout Concordia and Cata-
hOula parishes today the only means OF
communication was by boat. The last
train TO be operated left Ferriday last
night with food refugees. Practically
all OF the two parishes are covered by
water and large tracts in Tensas,
Franklin and Avoyelles parishes
which comprise rich farming area
devoted largely 20 cotton.
Junks. a small saw mill village is
inundated. Vidalia Is partially pro-
tected by railroad embankment
which has been sacked TO serve as a
levee. Practically all live stock in the
threatened area had been removed and
the remainder was taken 10 the
levees TO be picked up by river boats
One hundred former service men OF
the Natchez post of the American
Legion erected tents today for a refu-
gee camp here.
New Orleans. April PA break in
the Mississippi river levee at Poydras
about ten miles south Of New Orleans
was reported today. a section OF the
llevee about 100 feet long gave way, the
report said, and approximately $50
families were fleeing the waters. The
break unless checked may cover q
large area.
Fort Worth, Texas. April 27.-Trin-
ity river was we'll within it's banks
this morning, the gauge showing &
drop OF Is feet over night and now
registering II feet. Street car service
was restored this morning TO all flood.
ed suburbs.
The dead and missing list is nov
40.
Examination OF the levee embank
ments along the Trinity river wa.
started today by investigators OF tn,
levee board IN an effort 70 determin,
whether the levee had been dynamited
The board announced the offel
of $500 for information leading to th'
arrest Of any persons convicted o
Illegally dynamiting the levee system
during the flood.