Evening star., 1927-04-25
Water Sweeps Over More
Towns, With Dead Already
Estimated at 800.
SITUATION IN 3 STATES
GROWS WORSE HOURLY
Secretary and Party StAst Down
River Today for Personal
Survey of Conditions.
BY REX COLLIER.
staff Correspondent of The star.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 25.-With
Secretary Hoover. wartime relief ex.
pert, as active field marshal, the Ma
tons authorized agencies OF mercy
modified here today to combat the
horror of Americas great
est Mississippi flood catastrophe.
Secretary Hoover, Mai. Gen. Edgar
Jadwin, chief Of Army engineers:
James L. Fieser, acting chairman Of
the Red Cross, and group of other
Red Cross officials arrived at this
official concentration center today to
find the mighty father Of waters roll
ing irresistibly southwark to even
greater heights and probably graver
fields of mischief.
The Hoover party Immediately went
into conference with Henry n. Baker.
director of disaster relief for the Red
Cross, who announced that latest re-
ports show more than 130,000 refugees
actually under care of the Red Cross
at 80 concentration centers. OF this
number 5000 are from Missouri. $4,000
from Illinois, 5000 from Kentucky.
1000 from Tennessee, $4,000 from Mis-
sissippi and 5000 from Louisiana.
Otdtn GISLiH1dteS vary
Death estimates vary widely and
are mostly guess work, Red Cross Off
cials declare. The estimates range
from $50 to more than 800 persons.
Many of the deaths have been in
the Greenville section, the evacuation
of which was completed today. Mr..
Hoover announced, following the con-
ference, that Col. Spaulding of the
Army engineers has been ordered to
report to Director Baker and take
charge Of water transportation and
all rescue work. All Government craft
will be placed at his disposal.
THE organization for the care of
refugees is far advanced" Mr.. Hoover
stated. Supplies are moving at all
points. The details of accounting, the
registration of refugees and other mat
ters are well under way.
Concentration camps are being en-
Iarged and arrangements made for the
dispersal OF refugees to other points
The Red Cross has generally efficient
organization throughout the area.
Crest Not Reached.
'0The fact that the crest of the :
flood has not passed makes further
expansion always possible. Reserves
ties are being held in readiness at all
critical points.
"Gen. Jadwin, Acting Chairman
Fieser of the Red Cross and myself
will leave Memphis this afternoon for
Vicksburg aboard the Government
boat Chisca. At Vicksburg we will
confer with authorities from the
lower areas"
Although the important work Of
relief coordination was well advanced
prior to their arrival, the Federal and
Red Cross authorities learned today
that the crisis is yet to come. In
addition to the estimate by Secretary
Hoover of some 100000 persons
already homeless, there arose a grow
ing fear of possibly more serious
havoc in the vast mo mans land"
lying between this city and New Or
leans.
Officials in Conference.
Gen. Jadwin, at a conference with
the Commerce Secretary and Chair
man Feiser. pointed out that the crest
of the swelling tide of turbulent wa
ters is moving inexorably south OF
Memphis toward uncompleted levees
already menaced by the unprecedent-
ed floods. These dykes, he declared,
their apparently questionable de-
hangs the fate of thou
sands of residents of Mississippi
River cities and towns, including
NatcheZ, Baton Rouge
and New Orleans.
Under the direction OF Mr.. Baker
more than 80 refugee camps have
been established on the highlands,
where the thousands of pitiable
men, women and children are hud-
died in box cars, tents and other
forms OF shelter. More
than $500 Army tents were or.
dered rushed to the Vicksburg area
today.
While a fleet of 16 Government
river craft proceeded TO the frenzied
task of rescuing flood victims from
trees and promontories in
the flooded sections, particularly
around Greensville, Miss, Secretary
Gen. Jadwin and Mr.. Fieser
to embark on an Engineer
steamer to conduct a first hand sur
vey Of the devastation.
All Facilities Offered.
Mr.. Hoover, who is envoy extraor-
dinary of President Coolidge, head
Of the Red Cross as well as Of the
went INTO COfIeTeIlCe With
Baker and other field authori-
ties Immediately upon arrival here
his morning. He offered to the re-
lief forces all available facilities of
he Government and set about to aid
n the complete coordination Of all
Interested agencies.
"The situation throughout the whole
over Mississippi Valley still presents
q problem of great concern" Mr..
Hoover announced. "The river is
sweeping southwark at a rate esti-
mated at more than 100000 cubic
eet per second, or more than four
times 1t usual rate, and the crest
appears to be somewhere between
1reenville and Vicksburg. At the
present rate the peak will reach New
low-lying city, in about
% days or two weeks"
Gen. Jadwin pointed out that at
the river is 10 feet above
1ormal and half foot above the
previous high record of 54S feet. AT
New Orleans the waters have APP
,roached within less than half a foot
IF the high record of 1922, when
'nly an unforeseen break in a levee
outh OF the city saved 1t from dis
Ister.
Outlook Is OminOus.
The outlook for New Orleans, it was
is especially ominous. in
riew of the fact that the waters all
'eady are nearly lapDinR over the