The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-23

Devalls Blufi, Ark. A break in tn. levee was expected momentariIy.
 Cincinnati had the worst flood ir it's history. Half of Portsmouth, O, was under water. Part of Pitts. 'burgh's Golden Triangle" the busi- P ness district, was flooded with muddy, swifling water from the Mononeahela, Allegheny and OhiC rivers.
 May Evacuate 1O,OOO
 Authorities urged evacuation oi Wheeling lsland-home of lOOOC men, women and children--in tho Ohio river off Wheeling, w. Va. The river early today had risen to 42.t feet. Experts predicted that before nightfall the crest would be from 45 to 47 feet-nine to eleven feel above flood levei.
 President Roosevelt ordered yes. terday that all resources of the ma. ton be mohilized to aid the Stricker along the 1,000-mile flood area an expanse stretching from head. waters in upper Pennsylvania to s point below the confluence of ths c. 70 and Mississippi rivers at Cairo Ill.
 Cold, Driving Rain
 Cold, driving rains fell in many sections, increasing the flood dan. gers and forcing weather forecaster. to admit they could not tell how high the waters would rise. Refu. gees presented pitiful sights as they fled by boat and on foot to tho hills, carrying whatever householc goods they could manage. Livestock ! 1ses were heavy.
 Schools in several areas were closed to students and transformed into temporary shelters for home. le-J victims of the disaster. Many persons slept in tents. Rain anc cold weather caused fears of ar influenza epidemic.
 A minor epidemic of pneumonia and influenza had been reported from Portsmouth, city of 43,000. The four hospitals were filled and un- able to care for additional patients There was a scarcity of doctors.
 12l Influenza Cases
 h5 Rector, Ark, 121 influenza cases were registered. Illness alse was reported among victims in the C:.rdwell-Kenne, Mo, area where the St. Francis river drove clefts into its levees and spilled into the rich farm lands.
 Railroad communications were af. fected throughout the stricken area In some sections trains were unable to move in or out of towns and cit les. The Pennsylvania railroad re- routed all its trains from Chicago to Florida through Washington, D c. Only one railroad operated inte Cincinnati.
 Louisville, Ky, was slowly being cut off from outside railroad con- nestions. Milk was sent by train te replenish the city's rapidly dwind- ling supply, but 1t was believed that no other trains had succeeded ir ploughing through the high water.
 National Guard There
 Two units of the Ohio Nationa Guard were supervising relief al Portsmouth. The city had beer flooded deliberately by officials wht opened sewer valves of the million dollar flood wall after 1t was realized that the wall could not withstand the steady pressure of the Ohio ane Scioto rivers.
 Only one main thoroughfare iron Cincinnati, Gateway to the South" remained open as an entrance ol exit for the 100000 inhabitants oi the metropolitan area. Water hat climbed above the 71-feet mark, sur. passing the level reached during tht disastrous flood of 1884.
 Fire dangers were created wher nine huge tanks of Q refining com. pany broke loose from their plat. forms and poured 135, ,000 gallons oi the inflammable fluid over the wa. ters.
 Cities Are Warned
 Gas and electric companies warned many cities and towns thai service might be disrupted. Tele. phone communication was cut of ir several sections. Telegraph linei generally were functioning.
 Emergency crews worked fever. ishly to bolster the flood wall al Evansville, Ind.
 Cairo, IL, reported the highest crest on record. The waters stil were rising.
 The tri-state (Arkansas- Missouri. Tennessee) area around Memphis Tenn, was desolate as thousand! fled to the hills.
 Ohio points reported an urgen' need for more boats to remove fam. flies from danger zones.
 Flood Gates May Open
 Missouri National Guard officerl warned that flood gates at Jefferson county probably would be opened loosing a 10-foot wall of water int 132,000 acres of lowland inhabited by about 5000 persons.
 No food shortage had been re- ported. although officials feared { scarcity of drinking water and milk 
 
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