The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-29
FLOOD WATERS
ARE SPREADING
Rescue Work Was Carried on
Without Inter1nission at
Farraday and POydras.
PLANTATION HOMES
ARE WASHED AWAY
Many Trees Which Have With.
stood Force Of Previous Floods
Have Been UprOOted.
CIV The Associated Prsss,

NEW ORLEANS, April 2s.--Interest
in the Mississippi river flood situation
today was divided between the work
of the thousands of men, hastily call
ed from all walks of life, to prevent
further breaks in the levee, and the
efforts of smaller groups to locate
refugees and remove them to safety.
Rescue work was carried on without
intermission at Ferriday, and at Poy-
dras. Persons who had decided to take
chances with the flood and remain in
their homes, changed their minds to-
day. when the waters continued to
rise, and gladly welcomed the approach
Of rescue boats.
Reports from the Ferriday area late
today state that the flood water flow
ing through the break there are
spreading over larger areas, although
the first rush has lost much of its
force. A depth of nine feet was re-
ported from Clayton, nine miles north
of the crevasse. The flood Is SPREAD
ing through Tensas Parish and is near
ing the towns of Vidalia, Azuoema and
Delta Bridge. At Ferriday, four miles
from the break, the water is now about
six feet deep with swift current rum
ming through the streets of the town.
Plantation homes more than a GEN.
! tury old have been swept away and
great trees which have withstood the
force of many previous floods have
been uprcoted. Many prosperous
plantations have been inundated, ruin
ing every prospect FOR crop this sea-
SON. Many homes and farm buildings
have been destroyed.
Due to the quick action of the Red
Cross and local organizations. no real
suffering has been reported among the
hundreds of residents of the inundated
area who are being concentrated in
we'll laid out and managed camps.
They are being housed in tents.
Approximately 500 refugees have
crossed the river into Mississippi at
Natchez and are. being cared for there.
The Red Cross today took charge of
the camp established yesterday at
lHarrisonburg, where it is reported
1900 are being cared for. Approximate
1,200 others are in capms at Jones'
vile and Martinville.
Large numbers of refugees were TAX
en- from Moreau, Frogmoore, Chevey
Chase and other villages to Jonesville
today, the steamer Howell carrying
many others to that point tonight The
ma ajority Of these are women and chill
dren picked UP along the route of the
Missouri Pacific.
| More than $50 persons, who had pre-
viously announced they would remain
| in their homes at 8. Bernard, sur
rounded by water from the Poydras
crevasse, began a general exodus in
boats to Violet late today. st. Bernard,
seat OF the parish by that name. is ex-
pected to go under water tonight or
/ early tomorrow.
| At Braithwaite, six miles below the
Poydras crevasse approximately 200
marooned late today. and plans are
now under way to take them to Violet.
Persistent rumors Of a break in the
levee near Melville were current to-
day but later reports were that al
| though the situation at Melville was
very grave. the engineers in charge
there still had hopes of winning their
fight. f..
The continued spread of backwater
in the lower Yazoo basin. where ap-
proximateiy 100 square miles OF terri
tory are inundated today, brought ap-
peais for aid from many residents who
had become 1narooned in Issequena
county, Rescue parties were despatch
ed In tow boats and these people are
bsang taken to Vioksburs tonight.
Heavy rains throughout the lower
Mississippi valley during the last "a
hours have added to the gravity Of the
situation.