The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-01-26


of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers,
was in a perilous position. Army
engineers dynamited a levee on the
Missouri side Of the Mississippi as
the waters threatened TO enguf the
city Of $4,000.
Many Places Deserted
Many communities were deserted
as all residents fled TO higher
ground, abandoning homes, business
houses and public buildings TO the
swirling, muddy waters.
Red Cross officials ordered evacu-
atom OF Paducah,s 33,500 inhabi-
tants. Attempts were made TO re-
move residents from smaller townC
along tt.c Ohio. The Kentucky
river was reported at Its highest
level In history.
A crest of at least SO feet--two
feet higher than the huge flood
wall---Was expected at Evansville.
Marital law was declared through
out southern Indiana.
New flood fears caused anxiety In
Pittsburgh. A crest of IS feet-10
feet above flood level-was fore
cast today. Families just returned
to debris-sWept homes after last
week flood again were warned to
leave.
EvaucatIOn Of Towns
y National guardsYien ordered
Fevacua ton Of towns in southern
Indiana. Troop trains and trucks
carried efugees from the flooded
area. Families who resisted were
forced to move.
Coast guard boats were stationed
at Memphis. Cairo, Vincenncs, Ind.
Hazelton, Ind, Evansville, Louis
vile, Lawrenceberg, Cincinnati,
Marietta, Kenova, w. Va, Maysville,
KY, and Ashland, KY.
Flood waters covered Wheeling's
business district and all highways.
Wheeling Island, on which 10000
persons live. was submerged. The
esidents rhad fled.
Rich farm land In Missouri and
Arkansas was inundated as the wa
tiers broke through levees. Small
towns were deserted. Refugees were
sheltered In schools In Jonesboro.
Portsmouth Panic Strickt n
Residents Of Portsmouth, o., were
reported panic stricken as tie wa
tiers continued to rise. Streets were
filled with water from five TO 10
feet deep. Rescue workers re-
moved 5000 refugees from school
building where for 90 hours they
had been besieged by flood waters
Sheriff J. T. Hamel OF Lauder
dale county, Tennessee, reported that
IA persons drowned when a house
filled with refugees toppled into
the Mississippi.
Engineers, forecasting trouble
along the lower Mississippi, said
levees would have TO be built UP
at many points from Cairo TO New
Orleans II I'VE are going TO hold
the line"
Rains End In Ohio Valley
Rains ceased In the flooded Ohio
valley today but the raging river
reared on TO new creStS which
threatened to.drive 100000 more per-
SONS into refugee camps. Cessation
of rains brought hope TO the
stricken valley that the end Of the
record breaking disaster is In sight
along the Ohio. The crests, how
ever, threatened super flood as
they roll around Cairo, ILL.,, and start
southwark down the Mississippi river
to the Gulf between the billion dol
lar levees which have been INFESTED
since the 1887 disaster. More than
100000 persons already were home
less In the 11-state area where OF
were known dead and scores more
were believed drowned.
The river crested at 80 feet at
Cincinnati, more than 0 feet higher
than ever before In history and 30
feet above food stage.
Crest In Illinois
In southern Illinois, however, the
crest was not expected until Friday.
New rises In the rivers headwaters
threatened TO send the stream over
the 60-foot flood wall at Cairo where
1000 men, remaining behind after
10000 women. children and aged
men left on order Of the mayor,
we're packing sandbags against the
levee. Water stopped over the top
AZ the river reached q stage Of 50
feet. 30 great was the pressure that
water, forced under the wall, tore
holes In the streets and spouted
through them like geysers.
At Wheeling, w. Va, the Ohio
was IL feet above food stage and
was expected 10 rise another two
or three feet.