The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-02
125-FOOT SECTION OF LEVEE CRASHES
 INTO MISSISSIPPI
Guards to Be Kept on LeveeS Till Every Possibility of Danger Is Passed, Says
 Chief Engineer
By Associated Press


 thunderclap from a clear sky, a sec tion of levee 125 feet long crashed into the Mississippi river at Old Town, IT miles south of here, at mid night last night, and within short time members of the sheriff's force and police department were going from house to house routing out men capable of handling pick and shovel. There are no vagrants in Helena now and none in all the section of the country contiguous to the threat ened area.
 Today there were approximately 45o men working on the levee at the threatened point, and I40 more are held in reserve here. They can be transported to old Town in motor trucks and automobiles over con- crete road within 35 or 70 minutes and the slightest sign of distress from below will send them southward.
 The slough last night increased the length of the cave-in from 50 to 1fs feet but it was delayed sufficiently to allow completion of the sand bag sub-levee on the inner edge of the banauette and engineers in charge believe they will be able to prevent creyasse if the stupendous current at that point does not eat into the banuuette far enough to undermine the sub-levee. It is not believed that this will occur although it is one of the contingencies to be guarded against.
 PatrolIed Night And Day
 Precautions already taken include the establishment of strong patrol along both sides of the threatened section and for considerable distance beyond. Patrols are also kept on the other stretches of levee night and day Subievees constructed of sand bags have been built on the banquette to a height above the water level, and the ends are constantly growing in order to keep the barrier always ahead of possible extensions of the cave-in. The water Is now spread over the top of the banquette and washing against the sandbag barrier. Here and there 1t trickles through where the bags have not been suf- ficiently close to prevent 1t, but this trickle is causing no uneasiness, the engineers say. It is the possibility of undermining the banquette which is causing them anxiety.
 Many Refugees Assembled Refugees from the menaced farm lands in the lower half of the county are assembling at Elaine, Wabash. Lake View and Barton-all on ground above the possibility of inundation. A party of refugees have come to Helena but the bulk of them stopped at points nearer to the threatened section. The local chapter of the Red Cross has been preparing for emer- gencies since the first reports of a dangerous stage of water reached here. A field representative arrived early In the week and director of disaster service will arrive tomorrow from the west where he had charge Of Red Cross activities at Pueblo, Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
 pr. H. H. Rightor, chairman of the local Red Cross chapter, declared to- day that every resource of the Red Cross would be used If necessary to prevent suffering among refugees and others who might be affected by a break in the levee. Every prepara- ton has been made to care for those in need of succor, and Red Cross forces are ready to respond instant ly to any call.
 Box Cars For Visitors
 
 the Missouri Pacific lines here, Is in personal charge of emergency work on the Memphis Helena and Louis lana branch of the system and has placed empty box cars along the route from Oneida to Elaine for use by refugees and other flood victims The same precaution has been taken at Barton. where the road crosses the Arkansas and Louisiana line and the main line of the Iron Mountain rail- road. Emergency trains are held in readiness and will be sent into the flood districts if necessary to bring out any residents who have failed to reach safety.
 Back awter from the White river has already covered the railroad at Melwood to a depth Of 14 inches. and a break In the Mississippi levee would cover them many feet. All night trains between Helena and McGeiiee have been suspended until further notice and day trains blow through miles of water. Whether they can continue to run beyond Elaine for even a fe whours longer Is proble- nautical.
 Richest Area Menaced
 The lands which would be de. vastated by crevasse at Old Town are among the richest in the world, They comprise an area in Phillips county alone of approximately zoo square miles. Water from a break in the levee at Old Town would cover a part of Monroe county and the north- ern part of Desha county. Arkansas county would also probably get some of it. If the break should oc. cur and the stage of water increases, according to forecasts. it is believed here that the Arkansas river levee level protecting Arkansas City and Lake Village would be endangered. If 1t should go out at any point vast section of country from the Arr
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