The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-27

AcANBceo AuCASa4SU
The crest of the Ohio river bore
down on the Mississippi today, In
creasing the number of refugees
along Its 1,800-rnile front to nearly
$4,000 and piling up what U. 8.
Army Engineers predicted would be
q record-smashing flood from Cairo,
Ill. to the Gulf Of Mexico.
The authenticated death toll rose
to 113 as the triple sources of dis
ease, fire and famine grew hourly
more meancing in hundreds of mum
dated communities In II states OF
the middle west and mid-south.
All Cairo Residents Removed
AT Carlo where the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers merge 1000 men
labored with little rest to bolster the
0o-foot food wall which protects
the city. The towns 10000 women
and children were removed at the
order Of Mayor August Bode, but
the men stayed behind to work.
With sandbags and earth they
erected a three-foot bulkhead atop
the wedge shaped levee, hoping
that forecasts of a crest variously
estimated at 81 to Sc feet by tomor-
row or Friday would prove in error.
Army engineers blasted another
Spillway in the Mississippi levee be-
low Carlo, but the estimated crest,
II 1t comes, would more than Offset
the slight relief Of flood pressure
thus afforded.
The Ohio valley continued in
what President Roosevelt called an
Emergency stage"
Cincinnati Is Fire Trap
Cincinnati, already victim OF a
100000 fire, became potential
fire trap as gasoline and oil, liberat-
ed from tanks undermined by the
food, spread on ever thickening film
on the waters. Water pressure was
insufficient to fight major blaze
except near the river front where
emergency pumps were set up.
A drinking water famine was
Averted when artesian streams were
tapped and other cities sent in
fresh water by the tank carload.
Drinking water was transported
by tank truck to concentration points
but authorities kept their move
lnents secret to prevent repetition
OF yesterdays incident when thirsty
refugees virtually mobbed the trucks.
Louisville Under Guard
LOUISVILLE, its local and military
police force augmented by 600
regular army troops, initiated a
campaign of forceful prevention Of
1ooting and smoking. Pools Of oil
floating through the downtown and
Residential districts created a fire
hazard which authorities feared
might at any moment start new
blazes, adding to the 100000 dam
age already caused by fire. Both
Yllan-power and water pressure for
lighting fire we're insufficient.
The danger Of epidemic became
increasingly acute as medical sup
plies ran low and disqualification
facilities became overtaxed. DR..
Hugh Rodman, health commission
er, estimated that 200 persons had
died since the flood started and that
cases of sickness were 1900 above
ro.mal. Thirteen were known to
have died since Friday. Babies born
since the waters rose had little
chance of survival.
~ Rescue Work Continues
~ Although slow recessionS were
reported from Wheeling, w. Va, to
Cincinnati, rescue work continued
lItlabated.
more than $4,000 persons were
Being evacuated from Eastern Ar
Kansas counties placed under mar
tial law by Gov. Carl Bailey. The
1,100 inhabitants Of Brookport, H.,
were moved out. Seventy persons
were rescued from flooded homes at
New Boston, o.
Another 1000 were evacuated from
Hickman, KY. which was given a
temporary respite from danger when
the "fuse" was blown in the levee
south of Cairo. A thousand persons
who refused 10 leave were under
Red Cross care.
r New Madrid, Mo-, and other COM
fnunities in the area were evacuat-
ed.
VA dozen more towns in Southern