New Britain herald., 1926-12-27
THOUSANDS DRIVEN
 FROM THEIR HOMES
Floods in South Increasing in
 Violence

Memphis, Ten, Dec. 27 LR-With thousands already driven from their homes and property damages esti- mated variously into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, Tennessee. Arkansas, Mississippi and Kentucky today were preparing to meet an even greater emergency. General rains predicted for today were ex- pectcd to mako more acute condi- tions which were taxing relief re- sources.
 ashville Tenn, with more than fifty blocks inundated and 2,500 peo- pie driven from their homes, was probably the most severely hit point in the area affected by the floods.
 Four were known dead as result of the swollen rovers and other small streams in the affected area. Three were drownings resulting directly from automobile accidents. At Pine Bluff, Ark, two men were drowned when their car turned over into small stream, a similar accident cost Columbus, Miss. man his life. Ex- posture from wading in a creek was the cause of a fourth death. man from Selmer, Tenn.
 More than fifty blocks in Nashville were inundated by the back water from the Cumberland river. which runs IS" shaped through the city. The crest of the flood there is ex- pected to be reached tomorrow, bar ring further rains in the headlands. Estimates of the probable number of people who would be driven from their homes, should the river attain the expected 53 feet increased to 4,- GOO while buildings which would be flooded would pass the 1000 mark.
 Swollen streams in Mississippi had sent hundreds away from their homes. More than a hundred had vacated their dwellings last night as the waters from the Tombigbee river inundated a section of the town. Heavy damage to highways. livestock and crops was also reported there and is expected to run over S100,- 900.
 Families marooned near Colum- bus, Miss, were aided by relief crews in motor launches, and uncon- firmed reports were that several had drowned, West Point, Goodman and several other Mississippi towns re- ported heavy damage from foods
 Continuous general rains over parts of Arkansas had brought the water levels in numbers of streams to record breaking heights. Proper ty damage was expected to run into thousands in that state, principally to highways, livestock and crops.
 The river in Tennessee have caus- d considerably more area to be flooded than in any other single state. it was believed. Roads in many sections of the lowlands have been abandoned and water was standing in some places at several feet deep.
 Chattanooga, Clarksville and other cities and towns along the course of the Cumberland were pre- pairing to combat the elements of the food after more rain was forecast for today. Hartsville, Tenn, was NItIlbt-L Us ltAS tillu olIlCl "llNo W CI affecte l. Newspapers here were ap- prehcnsive over their ability to communicate with correspondents in Tennessee last night.
 Reports from Kentucky towns and cities, located on swollen streams were that much property damage was done but that no deaths had been reported in the state as 8 re- suite of flood conditions. The up- per Cumberland had attained a rec ord height of fifteen years at Glas- gov.
 Relief work in all four states was reported as progressing though in some places tho high water had made inaccessible except by rowboat. some isolated spots where families were marooned.
 With the exception of Virginia. the Carolinas and Florida every southern state was promised rain by the official forecaster before tomor- TOW night,