CATASTROPHE: Flood Continued

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Two Sections. Meanwhile the flood remained split into two sections. West of the Atchafalaya River the flood waters which last fortnight crumbled the Bayou de Glaize levees moved south, poured into the Atchafalaya River far more water than its banks could hold. This was the western half of the flood. The eastern half was the main stream of the Mississippi.

The Atchafalaya and the Mississippi flow southward and (very roughly) parallel, and between these two rivers is a long narrow strip of land—a sort of finger of dry territory.

Last week's flood defense centred in the point of this finger. The levee at McCrea, on the east bank of the Atchafalaya in the parish of Pointe Coupee, was weakening. At last reports it appeared likely that the east-Atchafalaya system would give way, permitting waters from the Atchafalaya to join the main Mississippi stream after flooding the dry strip between the rivers. In this strip, about 100 miles long and 25 miles wide, are the parishes of Pointe Coupee, Iberville and Assumption with a population of about 80,000. Five other parishes to the south and west would be partially flooded. Meanwhile the Mississippi itself was falling from St. Paul to New Orleans and further fall was predicted.

"Greatest Catastrophe." Few U. S. citizens appeared to realize the extent of the flood disaster. During the last fortnight, indeed, the flood did not enjoy a "good press." The Snyder-Gray trial and the Lindbergh transatlantic flight elbowed it onto the inside pages of many a newspaper. Nevertheless, observers united in terming it the greatest of peacetime national catastrophes of all time.

Said Gutzon Borglum, famed sculptor: "The waters of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and their tributaries represent one if not the most ruthless force on the American continent and are a menace to the sources of a vast part of our life and wealth."

Said Frank R. Kent, of the Baltimore Sun: "The San Francisco earthquake and fire does not compare with this as a national calamity. Nothing else . . . since the Civil War is in its class."

Said Will Irwin, author, journalist: "Excepting war alone, the history of the United States shows no parallel to this for death, destruction, disturbance and misery."

Said Herbert C. Hoover authoritative, conservative, in charge of flood relief: "There was never in our history such a calamity as this flood, which before it ends will have, I fear, involved more than half a million of our people, creating a problem of relief and rehabilitation the magnitude of which it is scarcely possible to exaggerate. I sometimes wonder if the people of our country realize just what this calamity is. Do they know that before the flood recedes more than half a million Americans, men, women and children, will have seen their homes swallowed up in the deluge, their crops destroyed, their businesses ruined? . . . The flood is still roaring on its devastating way in Louisiana and thousands are daily being added to the long roll of those who are under the care and protection of the Red Cross."

At Washington. Meanwhile President Coolidge steadfastly refused to call a special flood session of Congress. Hostile Administration critics maintained that: