The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-04-29
THOUSANDS WORK
in FLOOD DISTRICT

A6N AVVD DAOx ~ 4A1VA
Natchez, April 29.-Thousands OF
acres in Concordia and Catahoula par
ishes planted in cotton are flooded
The damage to crops, ruined highways
and devastation of fertile plantations
amounted to many millions of dol
lars. The fight to hold the levee lines
Is costing thousands Of dollars daily
Valuable lumber was washed away
and railroad beds are seriously affect
ed. The river here is two feet above
previous high records. Eight hundred
blankets, 500 cots and many army
kitchens are expected to arrive from
New Orleans today.
Nathez, Miss, April 29.-Over 50,-
600 persons will be homeless or suffer
heavy financial losses, the total prop
erty destruction will mount to many
million dollars in Central and East
ern Louisiana as a result of the recent
crumbling of levees of the Mississippi
river, so it is reported on good author
ity. Five Mississippi counties are
flooded with backwaters, preparations
to care for 1900 refugees there are
going on. Approximately 100000
acres are under water at Concordia,
Catahoula and Tensas inthe Louisiana
parishes.
New Orleans, April 28.-Interest in
the Mississippi flood situation was
divided between the work of the thou
sands Of men, hastily called 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 with
out intermission at Ferriday and at
Poydras. Persons who had decided
to take chances with the flood and
remain in their homes changed their
minds today, when the waters con-
tinued to rise, and gladly welcomed
the approach of rescue boats.
Reports from the Ferriday area late
today state that the flood waters
flowing 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 food is spread
ing through Tensas parish ana .is
nearing the towns Of Vidalia, Az
ucema and Delta Bridge. At Ferri-
day, four miles from the break, the
water is now about six feet deep with
swift current running through the
streets of the town Plantation homes
more than century old have been
swept away and great trees which
have withstood the force of many pre-
vious floods have been uprooted. Many
prosperous plantation have been in
undated, running every prospect for a
crop this season. 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 inun-
dated area, who are being concen-
trated in we'll laid out and managed
I. .camps. They are being housed in
tents.
Approximately 500 refugees have
crossed the river into Mississippi at
Natchez and the being cared for
there. The Red Cross today took
charge of the camp established yester-
day at Harrisonburg, where it is re-
ported 1900 are being cared for. Ap-
fortunately 1000 others are in camps
at Jonesville and Maryinsville.
Large numbers of refugees were
taken from Moreau, Frogmore, Chevy
Chase and other villages to Jonesville
today, the steamer Howell carrying
many others to that point tonight
The majority of these are women and
children picked up along the route
of the Missouri Pacific.
More than $50 persons, who had
previously announced they would re-
main in their homes at st. Bernard
surrounded by water from the Poy-
dras crevasse, began general exodus
in boats to Violet late today. st. Ber-
nard, seat Of the parish by name, is
expected to go under water tonight or
early tomorrow.
At Braithwaite, six miles below the
Poydras crevasse, approximately 45O
people were marooned late today, and
plans are now under way to take them
to Violet.
Persistent rumors of break in
the levee near Melville were current
today 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.
The continued spread of backwater
in the lower Yazoo basin, where ap-