Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-04-19

town FLEE TO
OTHER CITIES
Millions of Acres In
undated by Levee
Breaks; Thousands
Forced from Homes

MEMPHIS. Tenn. Apr. l9.-tHl--
The entire 81. Francis river basin Of
southeast Missouri and northeast Ar
kansas appeared doomed 70 inunda-
tion when the st. Johns bayou levee,
eight miles north of New Madrid. Mo-.
broke under the pressure Of floods
early today
The breach in the st. Johns bayou
levee was reported a mile wide
The water was expected 20 reach
the town VI New Madrid this after
noon. A number of the residents Of
the city already have taken refuge In
other towns. Those who remained
were preparing this morning 70 either
leave or move 20 upper stories.
The main Mississippi river leveu
just below New Madrid still held, but
river men were dubious Of its stand
ing throughout the day.
The It. Johns bayou defense had
prevented the overflow from enter
ing the 81. Francis BASIN. as well ms
protecting New Madrid itself.
Many Towns in Flood Path
Disaster was expected 10 overtake
many towns which haze been fight
Ing "a hold their dikes against the
prevailing high waters. Towns in
the path of the down-rushinR over
flow include; Truman, Herman.
Tulot. Marked Tree, Tyrozae. Le-
pantO. DrcckersyiIlc, Gilmore. French
mans bayou, Joiner. Hilson, Oscola,
Marion. Harvard. rarkin. Earl, Brick
ley's, Nettleton, Forest City and
Mariana
Approximately ten thousand per-
sons were already homeless and
sought refuge.
One high point in the valley is NO
Forest City. where hill rises sharp
refugees had gathered there yester-
I'M from the plains. Two thousand
had gathered there yesterday.
The Arkansas river az Little Rock
today stood ~ 3I.2.
The crushing power Of the Missis-
sippi. riding higher against the
great dikes which partially coafine IL
t0 its course. today caused nppre-
hension from Illinois To the Gulf or
Mexico.
Millions w acres have been IN
undated. according 20 estimates. due
Y t0 buckWatcrs. breaks and overfiowed
tributaries. while thousands have
been driven from their homes.
A score or more have already died
I'm the flood waters. The damage 90
property has not been estimated.
New Breaks Reported
7 New breaks IN tributary levees
were reported last night while waters
continued 20 mount To unreeorded
. heights.
/ "A break in the wall ~ Arkansas
river near Keats Crossing was inun-
around today The break occurred
late yesterday. English. Altheimer
/ and keo., Ark, are IN the path ~ the
\ break
Arkansas IN believed t0 ~ suffering
more extensively from the flood than
amy other enc state due tn overflow
Western Arkansas was gradually
Y fighting hack 70 normaIcy ~ drops in
\ few streams in that section were
reported.
\ The eastern portion Of the state
was in .he grip ~ the largest flood
in history.
AN Fort Smith. in the western part
of the state where the Arkansas
crosses the border from Oklahoma.
there was a rise predicted and fur
thrr widespread Damage was expected.
though Fort Smith. whose drinking
water supply was threatened. today
again had resumed operation of Its
pumping station.
The Arkansas. White and SC. Fran
wv rivers. an great feeders 70 the
parent stream. acrried on their dam
aging waters today 10 Nv dumped I'm
10 the Mississippi
JAN u result 0f the rising tributaries
10 the north. = number Of levees pro-
trrting the Nazoo and Misaiasirpi
delta across from Arkansas. threat
ened 10 give under the terrific load.