Evening star., 1937-01-28
Flood
Continued From First Page.)

Army engineers dynamited the Birds
Point New Madrid fuse plug" to re-
lieve pressure of the beleaguered city,
rose steadily in the 131 ,000-acre spill
way basin today. Hundreds who were
driven from their lowland homes hud-
died in concentration camps behind
the basins setback levee-and won
dered II it would hold. The onswer
was expected tonight.
While Federal life-saving forces
speeded mobilization for action in the
deep South, in the event the mighty
Mississippi again conquers its banks.
high Army officials at washington,
d. c., expressed belief that the re-
moval of families below Cairo could
be confined to small low-lying areas.
Craig Warns Area Chief.
Mai. Gen: Malin Craig. United
States Army chief Of staff, said the
possibility of general evacuation was
remote. He warned corps area COM
manders. however:
"It appears that a very difficult
fight must be made to hold the main
line leyees along the Mississippi below
Cairo. particularly In the Memphis
district
At New Orleans engineers hoped
to divert q portion Of the waters into
Lake Pontchartrain.
While the Ohio showed signs Of
loosening its grip upon q wide area
between Pittsburgh and Cairo, Ill, 1t
became apparent the full story of the
havoc will not be known for days.
Louisville, once gay Derby town, now
desolate, buried it, dead in trenches
as the food waters began to subside.
The number Of lives lost was matter
of conjecture. Mayor Neville Miller
said there were 200 dead after the
city's health officer admitted the
bodies Of 100 victims had been re-
covered.
Tension eased as the river started
to recede, although sickness was in
creasing, electricity was shut of. water
rationed and sanitation problems in
creased hourly.
The threat of disease fingered in
Cincinnati, but there was hope and
good cheer as rehabilitation efforts
were begun. Water flowed into the
mains from artesian wells after o
famine, but the supply was still short
Of the city's needs.
The War Department was advised
its forces were ready on a moments
notice to evacuate by land and water
residents Of any areas threatened with
inundation when the flood crest pours
down the Mississippi next week.
1T appears likely that flood waters
will pass down the valley without
causing inundation," was the message
Mai. Gen. E. M. Markham, chief Of
United States engineers, issued through
Lieut.. Col. Eugene Reybold, district
chief at Memphis.
The immediate battle-ground In the
struggle to control the rain-swollen
torrent in its surge to the Gulf Of
Mexico centered around Cairo, nes-
tling on o point at the confluence of
the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
The 1900 residents Of Tiptonville
disregarded a warning to Zee as the
Mississippi threatened to cut q new
channel across Snaky Bend and in
undate the Tennessee city, not far
from Cairo.
Safe so far from being engulfed.
Cairo. bulwarked behind 60-foot sea-
wall, expressed confidence 1t would
win its battle.
"Just tell the world we're here and
will be for long, long time" Mayor
August Bode declared.
As the flood waters poured into the
vast $21, ,000, 900 spillway Just below
Cairo, engineers said they probably
would reach the top Of the basin to-
night. Then they will await the crest
of the food, with expectations IL will
hit Cairo about February 2 and Mem.
phia four days later .