Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-04-22
DISASTER IS
FACING MANY
RIVER TOWNS
Widespread Death and
Desolation Follow
Crest of Flood Wa
ters in Mississippi

MEMPHIS. Tenn. April 22.--tFl--
The greatest disaster 20 the Missis-
sippi valley in more than a hundred
years was growing more grave today
with almost hourly reports Of fur
ther widespread death, desOlati0n
and destruction caused by the furi-
Gus tide of the Mississippi and its
tributaries.
The number Of known dead has
been placed at 2S, and belief that
the toll will grow much greater.
property damage was estimated high
/ nto the millions. and more than n
hundred thousand were homeless and
suffering for want Of food, clothing
and shelter.
Greenville, Miss, laid open to the
flood b. a break in the Mississippi
river leyee at Stops Landing, is miles
above was invaded today by. tha
muddy waters.
AT y O'Clock this morning, the wat
crs began creeping into the ground
floors Of buildings in the business
district. In the residential section
the flood varied in depth from one
inch TO six feet. Waters were rising
at the rate Of three inches an hour.
SiX thousand refugees from the
flooded lOwlands have come into the
city and a food shortage was fear
cd unless new supplies are brought.
Livestock driven into the city from
the countryside ran wild through
be streets today
The city was without train and
mail service. Communication was
made BY telephone and telegraph, but
OF Gals feared these might bh
namp before the day passed. a.
More than a thousand persons lefF
the city last night On this last train
10 run over the NaZoo. Mississippi
| Valley Railroad. 0shers prepared
today TO leave as soon as transport
tation can be provided.
Fort Smith, cut off from wire COM
municati0n 70 the east last night,
was believed 10 be suffering from an
\ increasingly dangerous situation.
scores of other smaller towns and
cities in that seetion also were cut
.ff and from them many reports of
suffering were hoard.
iI Pes -t. ft-IC.s basin flooded by
ne waters from the New Madrid,
\ No, gap IN the levee residents fled
in thc face uf tine inevitable deluge
which iS-slowlv creeping southwark.
There is no outlet for this flood un-
VI til the water has covered an area
more than a hundred miles long and
many miles wide. II will probably
Y find the Mississippi again from the
ST.. Francis into which il will flow
near Helena.
/ Across the Mississippi where the
Arkansas tributaries are piling great
caps of water onto the levees in the
\ Mississippi delta, there are probably
II 100000 persons viewing with alarm
the ever-increasing danger.
A relief train bearing eighteen
boats and eighteen men 10 operate
them was speeding southwark from
ST. Louis toward Arkansas. The
boats We're 70 be launched. IL was
planned. when the train should be
stopped I'M the high waters.
Pettyvlle. Ark, was literally wip-
ed from the map when the flood
tore buildings from the foundations
and swept them away. AT Little
Rock. hundreds Of families were in
danger and relief work was being
pressed forward.
Memphis had converted large
fair grounds into "A refugee camp.
Governors Of Mississippi valley
states and mayors of towns affected
have issued urgent appeals for aid in
caring for the victims.