The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-16
Loss of 100 Lives in Elba Is
Reported to Filler
Over City.
OTHER TOWNS TRAPPED
New HOrror--DiSeaSe--lS
Added to Suffering in
Stricken Region.
BY. w. o. PLAYER JR.

United Press Special Correspondent
RESCUE CAMP flour miles
from Elba, Ala March TO-
The flood waters of southeast
ern Alabama rivers are spread
ing death and destruction over
huge section today as down
state towns felt the fury of the
raging waters. Hundreds arc
believed dead.
Concern was felt for Geneva, Flo
lnaton, River Falls, Brewton and
other nearby hamlets as details of
the damage at Elba became known.
A new horror. disease, confronted
the weary residents Of Elba today
as two cases OF measles and one
case believed to be typhoid tevel
were reported by rescue worker
returning from the little town.
100 Dead in One Town
The first estimate Of the death
toll at Elba was signalled 10 the
last Of the planes as it few over
the stricken town at dusk Friday.
A man on the roof of one of The
three brick buildings still standing
gave out the information that "at
least 100 are dead in the code
which had been dropped earlier in
the day by planes.
National guardsmen estimated
that at least 1000 persons were
still in trees and on roofs of the lit
tie city, with the whereabouts of
several hundred others unknown.
Three physicians in camp from
the state health department wired
Montgomery yesterday for typhoid
vaccine d for medical equipment.
They went out with the first rescue
party at dawr today.
A glimmer of hope that the
1000 trapped inhabitants Of El69,
marooned by flood waters since
Thursday night, might be rescued by
nightfall came with the dawn today
as the Pea river began to recede.
Five Counties Flooded
Plans Immediately were made TO
rush trucks over highways toward
the stricken town.
Nearly 1000 Elbsns shiVered
throughout the night on q knoll,
surrounded by rushing waters of
Pea river and White Water creek.
The rest of them were in top stories
of Elba'S tallest buildings.
The stricken area comprises five
counties: Conecuh, Escambia, Gem
eva and Coffee.
In each of these counties, every
town is Inundated
Six towns, including Elba, county
seat of Coffee county, and the town
first flooded, are out of commurli-
cation, being reached precariously
by boat or airplane.
Comparatively few persons have
been organized at two centers, here
and another near Troy, sixty miles
distant from Elba.
Two Rescue Camps
This camp contains Red Cross
workers, National Guard troopers.
dllA az lSooy OlAE Alt1lALEQ tU1u4A-
teers.
Headquarters have been set up
in barn, with an emergency hos
pital in the structure. Three doc
tors are in attendance.
Another disaster, coming as a
tragic climax TO the flood. was the
almost total destruction of Castle
berry (Ala) by fire, word of which
was brought by plane chartered
by the Birmingham Post.
The 5000 residents of West Point,
Ga, on the swollen Chattahoochee
river, took to the hills late Friday
when the river rose into downtown
to a height of six feet.
Every resource of the state Ma
tional Guard, Red Cross, civil and
military units and volunteer relief
corps we're thrown into the battle
TO reach helpless thousands ma
rooned BY miles of water.