They Will Not Leave Home

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 31, 29 April 1927, Page 1

They Will Not Leave Home

Mississippi Settlers Arm Bloodshed May Follow Floods Settlers, whose land and homes will be ruined when the* Mississippi banks are dynamited to save the flooding of New Orleans, have taken a determined stand, saying that they will not leave their district. They are armed and bloodshed is feared.

By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright Reed. 8.40 a.m. MEMPHIS. Thurs. While it is impossible to state definitely the toll of the floods, Mr. H. C. Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, and others declared that 300 known dead have already been counted and this figure is expected to be greatly increased. It is estimated that over 250,000 people are homeless. The property damage will exceed 200,000,000 dollars, and additional damage is threatening. In many Louisiana and Mississippi towns serious emergency is feared and in Lower Louisiania hundreds of families are still marooned in outlying districts practically unsheltered, with a limited food supply, and only muddy flod water to drink. More seaplanes have been dispatched to scout out refugees, who are huddled together on levees or stranded on islands dotting the wide expanse of water. Virtual martial law is effective in the Mississippi district, and reports of looting by negroes made it necessary to invoke an eight o’clock curfew. Guardsmen patrol the streets in some flooded towns in boats, and everything possible is being done to prevent plague and disease, but pol-

luted water supplies, exposure and poor food has stricken many of the homeless. Vaccination and inoculations, however, have so far prevented a serious spread. Refugees are continuing to pour into Vicksburg and none are permitted to leave camps without permission. The State authorities say that many inhabitants are leaving Acadia, the district in Louisiania which is domed to be flooded when the levee is dynamited to save New Orleans. A considerable number are refusing to leave and Bloodshed is feared. ANCESTRAL LANDS Telegiams from New' Orleans state that the residents of St. Bernard Parish, one of the sections which would be flooded by the proposed break in the embankment have massed on the river banks, and are patrolling them. They are armed w'ith rifles machine-guns and pistols, and declare the embankment shall not be cut. A spokesman for these residents said: “We built these embankments. Our people have lived here for 200 years, and we will not leave now." The Mayor of New Orleans, realising the gravity of the situation, has ordered 500 extra police to the scene, in addition to the 200 men now on duty there.