The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-04-20
Thousands Made Homeless in
Districts Near Cairo, Pekin
and BeardstoWn.
MAY CALL TROOPS TO AID
seventy.Five Thousand Acres Of Farm.
ing Land Inundated and Families
Forced to Flee-Traeks at
Peoria Under Water.

Chicago, April l7.-With millions Of
dollars Of damage done and thousands
made homeless in districts near Cairo,
Pekin and Beardstown. Ill. predic.
tions of "A further rise In the food
levels Of the Mississippi and Illinois
rivers caused Increased anxiety today.
Approximately 7J,OD acres of farm.
Ing land Just north Of Cairo Is being
inunduted: families have ied for high
~ ground. Hundreds Of citizens are
AT work Strengthening levees to save
some of the drainage districts; but
their fight is u losing one. The Pres
ton district dixie gave way yesterday,
flooding farm land
The towns near Cairo which are in
the flooded area and on high land. and.
II is expected. will escape iamage by
the flood. The only means ~ communi-
cation IL by boat
May Call Soldiers.
The property damage near Cairo al.
ready has reached the million dollar
mark. Soldiers AZ jefferson barracks.
st. Louis. are in readiness 20 furnish
uNFiNNhHff hn tinfFEtufN
All Hood level records for the Illinois
river at Pekin are smashed by the
Illinois river today. The Northwest
ern railroad tracks are under water
for several miles: train service out NJ
South Pekin has been discontinued.
Sixty more persons were made home
less by rising water. and the plant OF
the Pekin- Springfield Gravel company
was put out Of business by u breaking
dixie
The dixie which protects the East
Peoria drainage district was expected
momentarily TO break today under the
influence of water pressure and u
brisk wind. Tractors were pressed in,
10 service tC take the refugees out
Of the danger zone. All public build
ing In East Peoria have been opened
to the flood sufferers
Tracks Under Water.
rise from 2I6 to 2i.s feet was
predicted for the Illinois river by to-
night. Trains entering Peoria are now
going through six Inches of water for
over quarter of mile.
Beardstown found three fourths Of
its population homeless on the eve of
Easter sunday. The Illinois has risen
above all recorded heights. Evidences
Of ouicksnnd caused added anxiety.
tassie Passes oouohnuts.
The Chicago, Burlington n Quincy
the only railroad In operation into the
the stricken town-rushed n gang of
section hands Ia huild their tracks
above what is believed will be the 1
crest OF the flood
Uniffor ns o. the salvation army were .
prominent among the relief workers /
and one lassie Miss Wicket OF De /
catur. carried baked doughnuts to sec |
ond story dwellers aud the members
of the tent colony.
Chicago headquarters OF the Red |
Cross sent another worker TO the ,
Beardstown food area and rushed a /
shipment of tents to Cairo 10 house
refugees there
400 Families Flee Homes
Naples. H.. April l7.-Fighting the |
flood. every man In his turn. the men
OF Naples lost their fight TO retain
their homes from the grasp OF the Ilii-
nois river. BY noon 400 families were
forced from home, TO encamp In army .
tents on the knoll OF ground north |
ward that Indian chiefs and General |
Grant have made famous.
River Up at Besrdstown.
Beardstown. H.. April l7.-Three /