The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-05-05
FLOOD WATERS OF MISSISSIPPI
CONTINUE TO SWEEP OVER LANDS

Natchez, May 5.-A sea about 100
miles long and 80 to 60 miles wide is
being formed from the break in the
levee at Weecama and the water in
five Louisiana parishes already inun-
dated, is rising about two inches a
day. Residents of Jonesville, the
highest point in the district, fear
flooding of the town.
New Orleans, May 4.-Sweeping on
in its destructive spread over lowlands
dotted here and there by small plan
tations and villages, crevasse waters
emptying through the 400 foot gap in
the Mississippi levee at Poydras, 12
miles telow this city, had reached a
point tonight 20 miles down the river
beyond the break before finding an
outlet into the gulf.
message was received at relief
headquarters here from Poynte La
Hache, stating water had reached
there and was rapidly rendering
homes uninhabitable and requesting
that boats be sent Immediately to
bring out $50 refugees. Arrange
ments were made tonight to send
boats tomorrow to pick up the flood
sufferers there and at other points.
Refugees who were driven from
their homes by the Poydras crevasse
food are housed in the Red Cross
camp in this city. Officials asserted
today that it would probably be nee
essary to establish another camp here
as there are many more homeless to
be brought out of the affected zone.
Relief works went ahead today in
the Hooded territory of northeastern
Louisiana, where crevasse> waters
from the Weecama break and over
flow from rivers in that section were
gradually spreading out over vast
area and driving additional flood suf-
ferers to refugee camps or to the
hills.
Physicians of the medical corps of
the Louisiana National Guard, who
are in charge of health work at the
refugee camps in Harrisonburg and
Rhinehart, reported that case of ty-
phoid fever had developed among the
flood sufferers at Harrisonburg and
thta every person in the two camps
was being inoculated.
Memphis today reported fall Of 81
of a foot in the stage of the Missis-
sippi river, and Helena fall of L.
The river at all points between Ar
kansas City and Natchez was station
ary. Gradual falls were noted south
Of there to the gulf. At New Orleans
the gauge registered 81 feet, a rise
Of 2 during the last "a hours.
On Board Mississippi. River Com
mission Steamer Mississippi, Natchez,
Miss, May a (By the Associated
ss).-Members of the congression-
al delegation inspecting conditions in
the lower Mississippi valley viewed
Hooded lowlands along hundred mile
stretch from Vicksburg to Natchez
from the decks of the steamer Mis-
sissippi today, viewed protective
measures taken to hold the flood in
check at lone, north Of Lake Provi-
dence, La, and rounded out the day
with stop at the Weecama crevasse
near Ferriday, La, through which
the flood is sweeping over land
Baton Rouge, the next stop planned
in the journey which will end in New
Orleans Saturday, will be reached
oh
The Weecama crevasse, now a half
mile gap in the embankment, gave the
congressman the most impressive
demonstration thus far of the might
Of the swollen waterway. Racing over
the remnants of the tumbled earth
works the water, running in current
that is rapidly tearing away the few
remaining frame structures, was
spreading fast over sections of Con-
cordia and Catahoula parishes with
the head of the backwater now in the
lower section of Tensas.
Owing to the current with which the
food is sweeping into the rent in the
levee the Mississippi did not under
take to pass near shore beyond the
break and the delegation to get close
view halted a distance Of quarter
of mile over the embankment to the
end of the standing earthworks.
At lone inspection of three-quar-
ter of a mile stretch Of sand bagged
levee in which 13 sloughs have occur
red was made in motor launches.
Before leaving the boat at Natchez
for trip over the city delegation
Of Louisiana citizens explained at an
Informal hearing the needs Of this sec