Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1912 — Will Collins Wrote Home About Floods in Arkansas. [ARTICLE]

Will Collins Wrote Home About Floods in Arkansas.

Will Collins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alf Collins, who now lives at Hieksvilie, Ark., was in the district affected by the breaking of the Mississippi river levee and tiffs week wrote ah interesting letter to his parents relating some of the scenes of distress that attended the overflow of the lands that the levee had protected, as well as telling of the imminent danger in which himself and family were left for some time. From Will’s home one could see large houses floating down stream and every family in his section kept a boat tied to the front porch, so that they were prepared to leave at the moment of warning. The mail was out off from Hicksville and what was received came by way of Barfield. where Will’s letter was mailed. For the protection of stock, horses, cattle and hogs, a structure 12 feet high, 12 feet wide and 50 feet long was built on high ground. Will relates that hay has been $25 a ton and corn 75 cents a bushel there. In this respect he does not have us beaten any as those prices prevail here at this time. in an effort to repair the levee thousands of sacks of sand were used, 7,000 in one day, but it had no effect and was later abandoned. One thousand men were at work on the levee and sentries patroled the banks and provision was made to warn the people if additional levee breaks resulted. It was a trying moment for all the people isl the valley.