New Britain herald., 1927-05-21
Possibility Seen That River in Future May Run to Gulf Through Atchafalaya Basin.
In One Section More Than 200 Families Are Trapped by Floods and Boats Are Sent to Their Rescue.

New Orleans, May 21 Pl-Possi- bility that the Mississippi river might be changing it's course so that in the future the stream would run to the Gulf of Mexico tb. ough the Atchafalaya basin, occupied river en- gineers here today.
 The opinion that this might hap Gotwals after a survey of the situa- ton at Melville. George Schoenber- ger chief state engineer. and John klorer, New Orleans levee board en- sneer. said they believed it impos- sible. However, D. C. Waddill. fed eral engineer in charge of the lower river, said all that was keeping the mighty current from cutting new and shorter channel to the Cult was d pair of stone sills. Whether these would hold against the terrific force of the current was problematical. he believed.
 Refugees Pouring Gut
 Refugees continued to pour out of Peinte Coupee parish as a result of a warning issued by John M. Parker, state relief director. A creyasse in the levces in Pointe Coupee would inundate about 100000 acres. the last of the fertile sugar bowl' sec ton, and affect about 100000 per- sons. The danger zone is from 13O to 150 miles above New Orleans on the west side of the Mississippi.
 While the evacuation was under way a force of 2.500 men who work ed all last night. were fighting des- perately to save the levee at McCrea. 10 miles below the point where the Atchafalaya joins Old river.
 Hoover Gives Warning
 Because of a warning delivered personally by Secretary of Commerce Hoover 10 residents of the St. Mar tinvile section, the stream of re- fugees pouring into Lafayette was growing greater. Roads were clog ged with the slow moving lines of trucks. automobiles and wagons mov- ing out of the doomed section and lines ot empties going back in for other loads. Water is expected to reach St. Martinville. the heart of the Acadian country, by noon tomor- row.
 Move to Second Floors
 Residents left at BreauX bridge had moved into the second stories of their homes. From the windows of the top floors the flood waters were visible. constantly creeping nearer. The streets of the town were expect ed to be flooded by noon. Residents spent yesterday moving their furni- ture on scaffolds and preparing to evacuate.
 Telephone advice from New Iberia were that refugees from Loreauville and other points in the lower Teche country already had started to pour in there. Arnaudville, Cecilia. Port Barre. Leonville. Henderson and other settlements already were un- der from three to ten feet of water. The water. which is coming from the breaks in the Bayou des Glaises ievees and the Atchafalaya ievees at Melville. was reported to be rising.
 Rain Still Falling
 Eight thousands refugees had been registered at Lafayette and of licials of the camp there said they were coming in at the rate of 300 an hour. Preparations are being made to take care of 15,000 by the end of the week.
 Rain falling almost all day yes terday in the Lafayette district made rescue work almost impossible by motor.
 More than 200 families in the Ar naudville section were reported to have been trapped by the advancing flood, and plans were made to send boats to their aid
 4 trainload of boats, manned by Legionnaires who have been doing rescue work in northeast Louisiana, was unloaded yesterday near Breaux bridge and immediately started rescue work