Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-16
Thousands Oppose Menace
From Southern Illinois
to New Orleans.
RIVER rs MILES WIDE
AT UNPROTECTED POINTS
Engineers Feel Greatest Danger Is
at Hickman, Ky.-Situation
Worse in Lower Valley.

By the Associated Press.
MEMPHIS. Tenn, April l6.--Thou-
sands of men, recruited from every
available source, today were throwing
tired bodies to the end OF endurance in
the greatest battle man has ever made
with the Mississippi River.
From southern Illinois to New Or
leans the flood menace grew to gigan-
tic proportions today, Continued rains
throughout almost all of the valley
and in the headlands of the Missis-
sippi's tributaries promised no sur
cease from the gradually mounting
tide.
Columbus, Ky, where the levee in
front of the town gave way during the
week, registered rapidly rising water
in its streets. Only a few residents
remained in their homes and those in
upper floors. The remainder of the
population had moved out to the hills
back of the town when the breach
threatened.
Fear for Hickman, Ky.
At Hickman, Ky, the flood was con
sidered by engineers more dangerous
than at any other one point. The con-
tour of the river at Hickman throws
the weight of the headland waters
flush upon the Government dikes,
which turn them westward for a dis.
tance.
On the Missouri side of the river,
Cape Girardeau and other towns were
preparing for any eventuality, though
no immediate danger from breaks in
levees was reported
The Mississippi, normally about one
and one-half miles wide at the widest
point, has spread out in many places
to 10. IL and Is miles wide. In some
places where there are no bulwarks
to hold the waters, the river is re-
ported to be as high as rs miles wide.
Armed guards at Tunica County,
Miss, were walking the levee "a
hours day to prevent a recurrence
of a recent dynamiting attempt there
The levea was believed able to with
stand the water I'M sight at the point
where the dynamite blast occurred.
only slight damage was done.
Tributaries flowing through Arkan-
sas have risen to gigantic proportions
in many places and number of Ievee
breaks, together with further rains
have caused serious trouble in several
places, with at least three lives lost.
uS SltudllOI1 gradually Is growing
worse south to Vicksburg. Natchez and
on L ard New Orleans
New Orleans and Memphis felt the
eneroachment of the rising waters.
Lew Orleans Streets Flooded.
More than "a hours of almost con.
tinuous rains had flooded parts of the
Canal street business section and resi-
dental district of New Orleans; and
driving 20 families from their homes
in the northern outskirts of Memphis.
Traffic was impeded by the swirling
overflow and it was found difficult to
maintain lines of communication in
c~rtain parts of New Orleans.
A burst Of water through a broken
section of the Bayou st. John levee
had covered The surrounding residen.
tial section TO depth of more than a
foot Thirty blocks on st. Charles
avenue. one Of the city's principal
residential streets, were inundated and
dotted with stalled automobiles.
All street car service had been sus-
pended. Business houses of Lower
Canal street felt the water seep in
as it overflowed the curb
WESTERN STATES RELIEVED.