FLOODED TOWNS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 March 1929, Page 5

FLOODED TOWNS

INHABITANTS IN PERIL IN ALABAMA AND ILLINOIS. BELIEF WORK HANDICAPPED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, March 15. The peril of marooned inhabitants is increasing and further reports of the disastrous work of the water are coining in from scrattered points. President Hoover announced that the Army Corps commander at Atlanta has been instructed to give aid to the relief of the Alabama and Florida flood zones. One member of a rescue party, in attempting to reach Elba, is reported to have gone within a short distance of the city in a motor boat but was forced back by the racing torrents. He said the water had reached the second floor of the courthouse, on which 1500 were reported to have taken refuge. The water is 20 feet deep in the town and he stated that many houses were floating about loosened from their foundations. Castleberry (Alabama) has been almost totally destroyed by fire as a climax to the flood, which had marooned its inhabitants. The disaster was reported by an aviator, who flew over the wreckage. At present throughout the entire area only a few score arc known to be rescued. The fate of the others is unknown on account of the disruption of communications and the general chaos. Heavy rains, which are still continuing, are swelling the already flooded streams and rivers. The Bed Cross Society is mobilising aid for the thousands of refugees, who will probably be forced to spend at least to-night in unsafe positions perched in trees or on house-tops, for only small boats are available, none of which can make headway against the currents. Illinois is also suffering. The town of Freeport was driven to extreme measures when a funeral there was held to-day, those attending it travelling in boats between the church and the cemetery. A later message says that with the known dead totalling 13, the unprecedented torrents Avhieh raged seaward between Alabama’s two watersheds tonight were a handicap to the relief agencies which concentrated their efforts in aiding approximately 20,000 persons affected by the flood waters. • Clear weather, however, was an aid to the rescue workers, who had helped thousands to high ground. During a few hours the estimated fatalities would number scores, while property loss in farm buildings, household goods and livestock are so great that no estimate could be made. The greatest emergency appeared to exist in the neighbourhood of Elba and Geneva, but many other towns in the l same valley were likewise flooded and in great need of food and medical supplies. Elba reported a depth of 25 feet of water in the .main streets of the city, : which had been practically vacated, .as * has been Geneva. Beturning aviators and newspaper I correspondents told of desperate eondi- t tions existing in these two places. The e sanitary position was dangerous and ' there was an outbreak of measles 8 among the refugee children. The town of Brewton was inundated by two flood waves. Martial law v was declared and the residents were do- t pending upon food sent by aeroplanes. Carvillc, Florida, flooded by the Choc- * tawhatehee Biver, also' reported bad conditions. Two hundred persons had 11 been rescued by motor boats. '