Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-05-03
Crest of Mississi p pi
Now Below Vicks-
burg; Several More
Towns Inundated

NEW ORLEANS. La. May 3.-D1
While caravans Of refugees moved
out 20 places Of safety. the flood and
backwaters from the Mississippi and
its rushing tributaries were complet-
ing their inundation of the low
lands in half a dozen parishes in
northeastern and eastern central
Louisiana today.
More towns were reported under
water with others threatened and
fleet of rescue craft was operating
over the funne!shaped area between
the Red River and IN Mississippi tax
ing out the marooned and sending
warnings 70 many residents who have
placed their reliance in the protec-
tive levces surrounding some of the
small towns.
While these waters cover new
areas the battle on the levee lines
from crevasses % miles south Of Vi
dalia 70 New Orleans goes forward
On both sides IF the river. Weak
spots are being bolstered and em-
bankments raised against the com
ing flood crest now slightly south
of Nicksburg.
Impressive flood conditions were re-
ported from southeastern Arkansas
and the Mississippi delta where the
worst h. over and the waters are
gradually falling as that from the
Arkansas overflow moves into north
eastern Louisiana and the flood from
the Stops Landing break above
Greenyille finds its way back TO the
main stream.
With the flood waters from the
Mississippi delta region still rushing
back into the main stream above
Nicksburg, the gauge at that place
showed a further rise of three
tenth Of a foot 70 stage Of 5S.5
feet early today.
Great stretches Of St Bernard ana
Plaquemine are flooded two t0 ten
feet and state engineers today con
tinued blasting at the Caernarvon
creyasse - miles below here in their
effort to save New Orleans from in
undatinn when the flood crest arrives
about two weeks hence.
The Caernarvon crevasse has been
widened now TO 1900 feet and the
flood waters are expected 20 increase
IL 10 the desired 1000 feet within q
few days. The end OF the break
nearest New Orleans will be but
trcssed 70 that the water will not
widen the opening IN that direction.
A further precautionary measures,
the levees along Lake Pontchartrain.
upon which the city borders to the
north, and AT Carrolton On the up
river side Of the crescent bend are
being raised and strengthened. Army
and state engineers who began an
inspection Of the whole levee system
protecting the city.
While the level Of the river here
fell three tenth of a foot during the
20 hours ended at T N. m.. u COM
mittee of army and state engineers
reported to James II. Butler, banker
and chairman OF the flood commit
tee that the Carrollton during the
next two weeks would attain a read
ing Of approximately 2l.5 feet. but
added this should occasion I'D con
ccrn. A. there would be no danger
10 New Orleans.
Despite statements that the dan
ger 10 New Orleans is past, hum
dreds O. residents, particularly wo-
men and children have departed,
from Biloxi and other Mississippi
coast towns; Hammond, La, and 9TH
er places.
There has been nothing approach
ing an exodus. however and business
IN the city goes on as usual. BEsl-
ness streets are crowded day and
night. III there is apprehension there
are not outward signs Of it
The water which is pouring
through the Cayrnarvon crevasse at
$1,000 10 100 GOO cubic feet a second.
has inundated an area Of approNi-
mately ten miles, mainly 70 the south
of the break The Orange Grove In
dustrial alcohol disitlicry was under
water today bat the protective leyee
hastily erected around the Braith-
waite paper mill was still holding.
Lake BorEne was beginning 20 be
filled. and DelacroiN island. the pic
tnrcsque settlement of French and
spanish tr4ppcrs, was inundated.
However, several scores of the trap
pers remained in the region. living
IN boats.
North of the break the water had
come within two miles Of the Violet
canal and mad covered the rich FARM
inC lands vi St. Bernard Parish and
Tapped about the three story brick
and granite parish court house, the
highest building OF the section.