The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-03
BREAKING OF
dixie TO SAVE
NEW ORLEANS
Engineers Confident That
Drastic Action Will Pro.
tect Largest City
REFUGEE LIST GROWS
Rivers Crest Approaching
Vicksburg Today-Many
Towns Deserted
REFUGEE LIST GROWS

New Orleans, May 3 lP9-Suc-
hold the levee line against the charge
Of the Mississippi river today he
came question Of grim endurance
in the Natchez sector while . relief
squadron ploughed through the mud
dy waters to remove residents from
the inundated lowland parishes Of
northeastern Louisiana.
The flood waters from the Red
and Mississippi rivera, streaming
from breaches in the lcvce systems,
continued their invasion, widening
their territory northward and west
ward rs they moved to meet the com
ing flood from, the Arkansas river.
Crisis Expected Soon
The dixie fight became desperate on
the neighborhood Of Vidalia and a
crew worked throughout the night on
electrically lighted embankmenty. At
Newellton also the situation became
critical as waters stopped over levee
tops and emergency measures were
specded to stop the flow. The crisis
was expected between Delta Point
and Deer Park. in the same territory,
within the next two days.
With thousands Of persons already
driven from their homes in north
eastern Louisiana, the crest was but
approaching Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Many towns In Concordia, Catahoula,
Avoyelles and neighboring parishes
in Louisiana already had been desert
ed, but in others reliance was placed
in protecting levees. Residents
strengthened their defenses before
the coming flood. VI
A rescue fleet, headed by the Fiad
as flagship and composed Of six
steamboats,, four coast guard patrol
boats and half dozen surf launches,
left Natchez today to comb the area
covered by water.
Refugees MaroOned
A cry for relief came from a num-
ber OF refugees marOOned at Freq
more, Concordia parish, and arrange
m1ents were maue to send boats to
the nearest point on the Black riv=~.
Engineers said that the safety of
New Orleans was assured AZ tha
Poydras break below the city was
widened to 1000 feet, releasing
sufficient amount Of waite" 10 lower
the level at New orleans from Il ,o
% feet
Residents OF Bunkle AMI Marks
vile, in the path Of expected breaks
Mt Echo and Big Bend on Bayou lies
Glaise, hoped that they would be able
to repel the invasion should the
levees crumple. Protection levees 1t
Bunkie were strengthened ard it was
believed that Marksville was on suf-
ficiently high ground to insure its
safety from flood danger.
Melville and other sections OF
Avoyelle parish. however. were not
expected to escape unscathed. .s--
KeparatiOnx Board Meets
The stream continued a slight fall
ut Baton Rouge, attributed to the
crevasses in the neighborhood Of
Glasscocke. Emergency measures
were taken. however.
The reparations committee, desig-
mated to assess damages caused citi-
zens Of st. Bernard and Plaquemine
parishes when the raging waters were
released upon their homes and fields
to save New Orleans, was to meet
today. Before them the members
had message from Governor o. H.
Simpson. terming the voluntary SUR
render of their homes by residents of
the two parishes. lone Of the most
Continued on paes two.)