15 Mar 1929
Page 1
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Newspaper
The Mobile News Item
Location
Mobile, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Mar 15, 1929
Page
1
Torrential rainfall in Mobile causes record flooding with 8.30 inches in 24 hours. Streets turned to streams, thousands marooned, businesses disrupted, and extensive property damage reported though no injuries. Crews repair waterlogged areas as city returns toward normal.
Lucedale Mississippi reports Leaf and Pascagoula rivers rising four inches an hour. Merrill residents seven miles away prepare to evacuate to highlands as Merrill risks flooding. No trains into Lucedale since last night. Bridges at Latonia damaged and washed out. Dog River over banks. cabin in Alabama water. No loss of life reported.
Dispatches report General Calles forces within 20 miles of Durango city, capital of Durango state, amid near-rail access to Torreon. Government says the city is held by a small faction and aims to seize Durango to open another rail line.
Residents of Castleberry Alabama evacuated as floodwaters reached the eaves of homes and a section of the town caught fire. By 1:30 this morning the telephone lines failed, leaving officials unable to verify the full extent of the damage while reports from W L Jones of the local Bell system described water rising to eaves and a fire breaking out in part of the town.
Co H McCrary of Semmes Mobile county reports the Escatawpa River six miles from Wilmer has breached its banks covering the highway. Big Creeks south of Wilmer are flooded with washouts on Moffat road between Semmes and Mobile. Detours reroute traffic into Mobile via Prichard and Whistler.
James Peterson was arrested at 1 a.m. at 155 Eslava Street by Deputy Marshals Frank Phillians and D. S. Pennington after a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging liquor law violations. He was jailed pending bond and had prior federal court appearance on liquor charges.
Mobilian Ed Murphy of 62 North Conception Street was fined 101 dollars and 50 days hard labor for passing a worthless check for 17 dollars on G. E. Webb of Scott Jewelry Company after a recorder's court hearing today.
Partly cloudy and colder tonight then fair Saturday. Coastal winds from the west to northwest moderate to fresh. Mississippi forecast shows fair and colder with light to moderate northwest winds.
Heavy rains washed out bridges and created deep ruts on Moffat road from Crichton to Pine Grove. Vehicles stalled and some submerged as drainage from Spring Hill overflowed. Pine Grove residents near Mobile lost access to supplies until Wolfridge road opened to St Stephens road.
Levi Fletcher a local rancher is held on murder charges in Delano after Susie Tabron 30 was found dead with a butcher knife and axe. Fletcher allegedly confessed but gave no motive and attempted suicide when confronted. Tabron and Fletcher had traveled to Arizona together and had recent quarrels.
Information from parliamentary circles indicates the coming general elections in Great Britain will be held on May 30. Parliament will be dissolved on May, with nominations on May 20 and polling day on May 30.
Ernest Starstedt, 71, a Swedish writer famous in Seattle for his Pacific coast themed works and eccentricities, died here yesterday. He had been awarded the Literis et Artebus medal for his contributions to literature.
Detectives Burch and Farmer raided 155 Eslava Street at 1 55 AM reporting a poker game in progress. Nine men were arrested for gaming and arraigned in Recorder's Court with hearings postponed to March 19 at defendants request. J O Eubanks allegedly allowed gaming. Others charged include Anderson Moore Smilie Olson James Eubanks Rip Fail Samuel Ettelbaum and D U H Prichard.
Burglars forced entry at the Gulf Filling station on Church and Conception streets breaking a window pane and latching the door but failed to take any valuables. Police filed a report. The station has faced two hold ups and a recent theft of $12 from a cash register.
The wooden bridge at the intersection of the bay front road and lington, previously in danger of washing away, was being repaired this morning. Water rose nine feet behind the road, flooding nearby houses, and was nearly back to normal.
Mayor Cecil F Bates responded to Governor Bibb Graves radio request for flood relief aid for Elba. He announced the city commission would do everything possible and would hold a conference of commissioners today to plan relief efforts.
Figures show Mobile rain totaling 15.78 inches in 78 hours ending 7:00 a.m. with 10.59 inches in the last 24 hours. Since month start 19.41 inches. records note 26 inches in 1900. Forecast calls for partly cloudy, colder night, Saturday fair. Tombigbee river at 53.9 feet, flood stage 39, crest expected near 63 feet next Thursday.
A detachment of Alabama National Guardsmen entered a Windham’s Mills store to rescue seven women and children as flood waters rose. Dozens remained inside, urged guards toward Elba, while an infant girl was among those evacuated. Local residents named include Mrs Annie Davis Mrs C Hudson family and Rosie Hardy with Lee Davis among the children. the cause and fate of others were not clear.
Train service out of Mobile was restricted to southbound runs on the Louisville and Nashville toward the Mississippi gulf coast and New Orleans. The Gulf Mobile and Northern line ended service as washouts cut northward track and repairs were needed on Dog River bridge at Latonia. Luce Dale service was halted and washouts were reported between Mobile and Laurel with the Orchard to Semmes stretch badly washed. Railroads pursued emergency schedules to reconnect Mobile with the outside world.
The city commission led by Mayor Cecil F Bates sent a telegram to Governor Bibb Graves offering aid to Elba. Commissioner Leon Schwarz, disaster chair for the Mobile Red Cross, will confer with local Red Cross officials to determine needed services.
In New Orleans on March 15 the dock board formally authorized bids for a 1,000,000 insurance contract covering locks at the industrial canal. The board also accepted 9,000,000 in policies on other dock properties from Leon Irwin and Co Inc and a separate 1,000,000 policy from the R M Walsley Agency. All contracts run for three years.
Little Creek at Bayou la Batre in Mobile County went out of its banks this morning but caused no serious damage. Padgett road and the Bayou La Batre to St Elmo highway are reported underwater.
Miss Allie Hughes described in a Birmingham Age Herald telephone interview the Indescribable horror of Elba Alabama flooding. Water inundated the courthouse square and homes as people sought refuge on higher ground with rescues by canoe. Four other women—Mrs H C Johnson, Mrs C B Johnson, Christine Johnson, and Louise Johnson—were rescued alongside her as floodwaters rose rapidly.
Warnings were issued by C L Strange, maintenance engineer, that many county bridges are out or damaged and drivers should take utmost precautions. A survey shows several roads damaged, with the Hall’s Mill Creek bridge on the Old Spanish Trail intact but approaches seriously ruined and closures lasting days. State Engineer Rogers now oversees the stretch, with rapid detours planned and extra crews to rush repairs.
Mrs Edith Laidlaw Benet of New York will marry Commendatore Attilio Ferrucci director of fine arts at the Academy of Rome in New York next summer. Engagement announced yesterday. Benet Laidlaw daughter of late Henry Benet Laidlaw and sister of James Laidlaw.
Cleanup efforts against income tax counselors continue as a federal grand jury indicts one more tax advisor. More screen celebrities may testify about methods used to fix returns. Marjorie Berger of Hollywood was indicted earlier for alleged falsifications in film figures. U S Attorney S W McNabb said the government does not plan actions against the film stars.
Denver March 15 Dr Hubert Work former cabinet officer and Republican national committee leader says he will take a complete rest from politics after eight years in public service. He notes he finished his third assignment when Hoover was inaugurated and plans no further cabinet roles.
Washington March 15 Patrick J Hurley of Tulsa was sworn in as assistant secretary of war. He will oversee procurement and manufacture of war supplies and related real estate transactions for the War Department, with other duties tied to industrial mobilization goals. The appointment contrasts with Charles B Robbins of Cedartown.
Reports from Tokyo say about twelve hundred buildings in Ishoka prefecture of Ibaraki prefecture were burning today. Firemen and troops battled the blaze as a violent wind fanned the flames after the fire started earlier.
Family of R J Foe leaves Branch street Prichard home in the afternoon due to rising water. Authorities report the area experienced flooding forcing residents to evacuate.
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