GREAT FLOOD DISASTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 2 May 1927, Page 9

GREAT FLOOD DISASTER

Mississippi Inundates Vast Areas THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND HOMELESS. FRANTIC EFFORTS TO SAVE NEW ORLEANS. The latest news from the flood; areas of the United States indicate that an appalling disaster has been suffered by the population of a very wide area. Three hundred thousand people are homeless, 350 lives have been lost, and ten thousand square miles of territory is under water. Desperate expedients are being tried to divert the raging flood waters of the Mississippi, and prevent the destruction of New Orleans, but the river is rising rapidly, and bigger breaches in the river levees and fresh great holes have been tom in protective walls, by surging ficcd waters of a mighty river.

SAVING CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. BLASTING HOLE IN LEVEE. RECOURSE TO DESPERATE EXPEDIENTS. By Cable —Fress Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 1, 5.0 p.nt.) NEW YORK, April 29. News from New Orleans states that a hole 1000 feet long was blown in the levee late to-day, as the last desperate effort to save the city from being overwhelmed by the continually rising waters of the Mississippi. Fifteen hundred pounds of dynamite were used for the purpose. Five thousand saddened landholders, in the Poydras district, have been made homeless by the expedient. They were brought to Now Orleans early this morning, and housed in ti e barracks. It is believed that several hundred so-called Acadians, who have mado 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 pciur into the concentration centres. Relief Efforts. ’The Red Cross Agency announces i hat 147,000 counted persons have already been cared for. Four million dollars have already been contributed by the Red Cross, and it is indicated that when 5,000,000 expenditure has [men reached, President Coolidge mil issue another appeal, probably for another 5,000,000 dollars. The motion picture theatres throughout the United States and Canada have announced that they will >cive benefit performances for flood sufferers on May 7. River Flood Problem. Senator Robinson, of Arkansas, telegraphed to President Cooudgo requesting him to call a special session of Congress to deal with the situation hut the President announced that the immediate need for relief was so great that voluntary contributions must be relied upon, and Congress would deal with the restoration work later.

A Special Commission will be appointed to study the Hood problem and Mississippi control, upon which the Federal Government since 1376, lias spent 133,000,000 dollars. It is expected that Congress will enact legislation embodying a flood control programme in connection wilh power developments on the Mississippi irrigation projects and an increase of mivigmion facilities. FLOODS CAUSE APPALLING DISASTER. PROTECTIVE SEA AY ALL BREACHED. RELIEF TRAINS HAMPERED. By Cable—Press Association—Cdpyrljrht Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 1, 5.5 p.m.) AVA.SHINGTON, April 30. The Mississippi Hoods, which hitherto have been tragic enough, linvo now assumed proportions of an appalling disaster. Four moro serious breaks in the levees have increased the gravity of the situation. The sea wall has been broken through at AGcksburg, which has become the chief refugee centre in the Mississippi district. The water is rapidly inundating the industrial section. The city itself is safe on a high bluff, but all railway traffic northward has been cut off, and the entire relief programme from this centre is endangered, as most supplies come from the north. Trains bringing hundreds of refugees from the inundated regions, must be brought to a standstill outside the State. The city diver attempted to cheek the flow of the water through the hole in the sea wall, but without success. Breaks in Dykes. The Arkansas river levee gave way at the isoiith bend, heightening the water in the territory already inundated, and flooding fresh land. 'Two breaks also occurred in the protective

dykes at Yazoo (Mississippi), cutting olt communications with tho relugce camp nearby, whore 4500 persons were concentrated. The water is rising rapidly in tho streets of the city of No#’ Orleans. Rushing Flood Waters. It is now reported that the. dynamiting of tho levees lias been successful ; tho breaches are widening, but the engineers may make further breaks if necessary. The roar of the wafer rushing through can be heard for two miles. St. Bernards parish, iormerly occupied by Aeadians, is now under eight feet of water, which is rushing through tho second floor of most houses, many of which toppled over before the swift current. Many Aeadians, who refused to leave when warned, are making piteous and frantic attempts to escape. Rescue boats are standing by to render every possible assistance. Live stock left behind can bo seen swimming for places of safety, but very few of the latter will shortly bo available. Appeal to President. The Governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, have jointly appealed to President Coolidge to / er..sonally visit, the flooded regions, claiming it is impossible for him to realise ihe extent of tho disaster otherwise, but it is intimated at White House that President Coolidge is not likely io respond at present. It is estimated that 300.000 are homeless, And 300 are known to be dead, not including the large number missing. Over 10,000 square miles of territory is Hooded, which will yet be greatly increased. * EARLIER REPORTS. HR MAKING THE RIVER LEVEES. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 1, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, April ’O. News from New Orleans states that he widening of the breach in the Mississippi levee, blasted on Friday, near Violet, resulted in a. meagre flow of flood waters. At another section which was dynamited on Saturday, the waters rushed in upon St. Bernard and Plaquemine parishes, at great speed. The Arkansas river i.s pouring in through the new break in tho Arkansas river dyke, near the south bend. The Hood waters are rising in several towns over a twenty-five miles radius, at the rate of six inches an hour. It is feared the whole of the southeast section of the State will be submerged. The Arkansas death list is now 119. LARGE AREA FLOODED. SMASHING THROUGH LEVEES. NEW YORK, April 29. A New Or-cans message says the engineers dynamited 1000 feet of ihe Mississippi levee, near Violet, Louisiana, to-day, inundating St. Bernard, Plaquemine, and the parishes south of here. Most of the whole 5000 residents had gone to New Orleans, which it is hoped will escape the flood waters as a result. A few, however, preferred the chance of remaining in their homes. Two hundred persons were marooned when a dyko brok 0 near Brunswick, Mississippi. It is reported that they ai'e badly in need of assistance. A message received at Little. Rock, from Mayor GiHison, of Lake Village, reported the plight of nearly 1000 marooned in flooded low lands in Chicut County, Arkansas ns desperate, “They are clinging to small rafts and floating on trees in water 20 to 30 feet deep, or packed like sardines in ham lofts and other places not reached by the raging waters. The number does not include 500 negroes known to be huddled in one plantation.”