FLOODS SWEEP ON

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 May 1927, Page 9

FLOODS SWEEP ON

40,000 HOMES DOOMED NEW ORLEANS IN DANGER NEGROES BUILD AN ARK The Mississippi flood continues to devastate new land and the river at New Orleans has risen from four to ten feet in 48 hours. The crest of the river is now 20.6 feet high. By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright NEW ORLEANS, Saturday. The river at New Orleans has shown a surprising rise of 410 ft. in the past 48 hours. This is attributed by the weather bureau to the effect of the winds and tide. Apparently nothing can divert the flood between the breaks in tile levee and the Gulf of Mexico, but the crest should have passed into the gulf within a few days. After that, unless unexpected developments occur, it should be possible to begin the work of rehabilitation in the valley. But before this happens, 40',000 or 50,000 farms are doomed and the entire territory must be evacuated. This will bring the total number of persons forced from their homes in Louisiana alone to 300,000. EMULATING NOAH The members of a coloured community in the lowlands near Baton Rouge, exhorted by their parson, emulated the example of Noah. When they heard the flod wafe approaching they built an ark. Into this they carried all their worldly belongings, also their chickens, dogs, cats and mules. They then waited and prayed for the flood to come and float the ark. However, the latter would not float, as the water poured in at a hundred leaks. Finally, when the flood-strained craft was covered by 2ft. of water, the occupants fled to the safety of a railway embankment. —A. and N.Z.-Sun.