MISSISSIPPI FLOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1927, Page 2

MISSISSIPPI FLOODS

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] FC R Til E R RA R TIC C L Alt?. NEW YORK, April 20. A new Orleans message says that engineers dynamited a thousand feet off the Alississippi levee near Violet, Louisiana, to-day, inundating St. Rornnrd. Plnqiiemino and parishes south of here, most of whose five thousand residents had gone to New Orleans, which it is hoped will escape the flood waters. As a result, a few, however, who preferred the chance of remaining at their homes, two hundred persons were marooned when the dyke broke near Brunswick. Alississippi. 11 is reported they were badly in need of assistance. A message received at Littlerock from Mayor Gillivni of Lake Village, reported that the plight of nearly a thousand marooned in tlie Hooded low lands in the Cliicut County, .Arkansas, is desperate.” They are clinging to small rafts and floating on trees in water twenty to thirty feet deep, or packed like sardines in barn lofts and other places not reached by the raging waters. The number does not include five hundred negroes known to be huddled in olio plantation.”

WATER STILT.- RISING. NEW YORK. April 80. News from New Orleans states that a widening of the breach in the Aiississippi levee blasted on Friday, near Violet, resulted only in a meagre flow of the Hood waters. At another section dynamited on Saturday, the waters rushed in upon the St. Bernard and ldnquemine parishes at a great speed. The Arkansas River is pouring in through a now break in the Arkansas River dyke, near South Bend. The Hood waters are rising in several towns over a twenty-five mile radius. at the rate of six inches an hour. It is feared that tbe whole "f the south-east section of the State will be submerged. The Arkansas death list is now 11!). 10.000 MILES FLOODED. NEW YORK. April 30. The Arkansas River Levee has given way al the smith bend, heightening the water in the territory already inundated and flooding fresh land. Two breaks have also occurred in the proiecfii>n dykes at Zazon Alississippi), cutting off communication with a. refugee eatnp nearby, where lour thousand live hundred persons were concent rated.

The water is now rising rapidly in the streets of the city o! New Orleans.

It is now reported that the dynamiting oil Saturday has been snceessltil. The breaches are widening, hut the engineers may make, further huftaks. if necessary.

The roar of the waters rushing through can be heard for two miles. St. Bernard’s parish, formerly occupied by the Acadians. is now under eight feet of water, which is rushing through the second floor of most of the houses, many of which have toppled over before the swift current.

i.Many of the Acadians. who refused to leave when warned, are now making piteous and frantic attempts to escape. Rescue boats are standing by to render every possible assistance. The live stock left behind can be seen swimming for places of safety, but very few of the latter will shortly be available. 'l’he Governors of the States of Louisiana. Alississippi and Tennessee have jointly appealed to President Coolidge to personally visit the Hooded region, claiming that it is impossible for him to realise the extent of the disaster otherwise-, but it is intimated at AVbite House that President. Coolidge is not likely to respond at present. li is estimated that three hundred thousand are now homeless. There are 3;>o known to be dead, not including a large number of missing. Over ten thousand square miles of country is Hooded, which area will yet be greatly increased. A BIG BLAST. NKAY YORK, April 29. News front New Orleans states that a hole one thousand feet long was blown in the levee late to-day its a last desperate effort to save the city from being overwhelmed by the continually rising waters of the Mississippi River. Fifteen hundred pounds of dynamite were used for the purpose. Five thousand saddened landholders, in the Povdras district, have been made homeless by this expedient. They were brought to New Orleans early this morning and housed in barracks. It is believed several bundled socalled Acadians. who have made their homes expressly in the inundated districts for the past two centuries, stayed upon their holdings, preferring to face the dangers of the flood rather than leave their properties. Refugees from the Valley continue to pour into the concentration centres. The Ited Cross Agency announces that Ll 7 thousand counted persons have already been cared for. Four million dollars has already been contributed by tbe Red Cross and it is indicated that when five millions of expenditure lias been reached. President Coolidge will issue another appeal, probably for another live millions. The motion picture theatres throughout the United States and Canada have announced that they will give benefit performances for the flood sufferers on Aluv 7th. CONGRESS ACTION SOUGHT. Senator Robinson, of Arkansas, has telegraphed to President Coolidge, requesting that lie call a special session of Congress to deal with the situation, but the President has announced that the immediate need for relief is so great that voluntary contributions must bo relied upon and Congress will he dealing with the restoration work later. A special Commission will be appointed to study the flood problem and the Alississippi River control, upon which the Federal Government, since 1870, has spent 188 million dollars. It is expected that Congress will enact legislation embodying a flood control programme in connection with power developments on the Alississippi. also with irrigation projects and the increase of navigation .facilities.