FLOOD LOSSES SPREAD

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 344, 27 January 1937, Page 6

FLOOD LOSSES SPREAD

HALE A MILLION HOMELESS PEOPLE. Scenes Of Terror And Despair In Flooded Areas. Press Association—Copyright. Chicago, Jan. 25. Fire, hunger and disease spread today over 1800 miles of the flood-rav-aged Ohio and Mississippi valleys, bringing new terrors to approximately 500,000 homeless or marooned persons. The Ohio River exceeded all flood records and is still rising. Continued rain carried new threats to the southern regions of the Mississippi valley. The Mayor of Louisville has urged prompt evacuation of the entire city. Two hundred and thirty thousand of its 300,000 population are homeless. The known dead number 100, but it is impossible to determine the number of fatalities in isolated towns in rural sections. Bodies have been reported sighted floating in the Ohio River at many points, but it is impossible to verify such reports. Dictatorial Powers. The Ohio Governor, Mr. Davey, arrived to inspect the conditions and offered to declare martial law, but the proposal was rejected by the city officials. Troops, however, are patrolling the streets. The council has conferred on the Mayor the powers of an absolute dictator until the flood subsides. Theatres, bars and cabarets'’®iave been closed by edict. The small amount of power that is being furnished from two cities 100 miles distant is sufficient only for hospitals, the fire alarm system, police, radio, and a few street lights. There is no immediate danger of a shortage of fuel or food. River communities from Cairo, Illinois, to New Madrid, Missouri, waited in apprehension while the mingled flood waters of the Ohio and the Mississippi poured over 131,000 acres of floodway. An unknown number of persons, estimated to be between 100 and 500, is believed to have been caught in the flood 'basin when the waters entered through 13 natural breaks in the old levee. Two huge gaps were blasted by army engineers after troops had routed armed planters who were guarding the levee. Fliers sighted five persons marooned on a section of an embankment, and it is doubted that rescue is possible. The fate of others is unknown. Blasting is necessary to save Cairo from inundation.