AWFUL FLOODS CAUSE APPALLING DISASTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18144, 2 May 1927, Page 4

AWFUL FLOODS CAUSE APPALLING DISASTER.

ROAR OF RAGING WATERS CAN BF. HEARD TWO MILES AWAY; VICKSBURG ENDANGERED BY BREAK IN LEVEE.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. aad X.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK. April 29. The floods, which hitherto have been tragic enough, have now assumed the proportions of an appalling disaster. Four more serious breaks in the levees have increased the gravity of the situation. The sea-wall has been broken through at Vicksburg, which had become the chief refugee centre in the Mississippi district. 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 thus centre is endangered, as most of the supplies come from the north. Trains bringing hundreds of refugees from the inundated regions .must be brought to a standstill outside the State. At the risk of his life a city diver attempted to check the flow of water through the hole in the sea wall, but without success. The Arkansas River levee gave way at South Bend, heightening the water in territory already inundated, and flooding fresh land. Two breaks also occurred in the protection dykes at Yazoo (Mississippi), cutting off communication with the refugee camp nearby, where 4500 persons were concentrated. The Arkansas River is pouring in through the new break in the Arkansas River dyke, near South Bend. The flood waters are rising in several towns over a twenty-five miles' radius, at the rate of six inches an hour. It is feared that the whole of the south-east section of the State will be submerged. The Arkansas death list is now 119. News from New Orleans states that a hole a thousand feet long was blown

in the levee late to-day as a last desperate effort to save the city from being overwhelmed by the continuallyrising water 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 New Orleans early this morning, and housed in barracks. It is believed that several hundred so-called “Arcadians,” who have made 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. News from New Orleans states that the -widening of the breach in the Mississippi levee, blasted on Friday near Yiolet, resulted in a meagre flow of flood waters. At another section dynamited on Saturday, the waters rushed in upon St Bernard, and Plaqucmine parishes, at a great speed. It is now reported that the dynamiting of the levee has been successful. The breaches are widening, but the engineers may make further breaks, if necessary. The rear of the water rushing through can be heard for two miles. St Bernards parish, formerly occupied by the Arcadians, is now under eight feet of water, which is rushing through the second floor of most of the houses, many of which toppled over before the swift current. Many Arcadians 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 be seen swimming for places of safety, but very few of the latter will shortly be avail-