Show Persons in Inundated City Cut Off Of I Inhabitants of Newport Ark in Desperate Straits Seven Drowned T ROCK Ark Aug 23 FIve FI Five J Li thousand people In Newport Ark tonight ht are arc marooned b by the tho flood floodwaters waters of ot White river AccordIng AccordIng Accord- Accord Ing Irig to a n telephone message received here the populace Is In lii desperate straits Eight persons are reported to have lost their lives lI The town I la Is Inundated to toa toa ton a n depth ranging from five o to twelve feet and Imd most of or the population has sought refuge In the upper floors of ot the hotels and the courthouse Because of ot recent hea heavy rains the river rl rose roso to such an extent that all the tho levees pr protecting protecting- the town gave way early carh today letting loose one of or orthe the most disastrous floo floods 8 In the history history history his his- tory of ot the tho community Two steamboats steamboats steamboats steam steam- boats continued making ranking trips up and down own the river In the vicinity of or Newport Newport New New- port an and succeeded e In rescuing a number number num num- ber her of or families from the roofs of or houses whither the they had gone to escape the flood Finally the flood became too great and the boats had to withdraw All means of communication with the town save sa the telephone wire has been destroyed and It Is feared tonight that oven even before boore morning the telephone wire would bo be gone Several Se passenger trains are arc stalled stalle at Newport With too food and water supplies all but exhausted ted anti and with many refugees In Inthe Inthe Inthe the town from other points along the river rl the situation was one which authorities l here considered gla grave ve The river although rising slowly to tonight tonight tonight to- to night was expected to begin falling to tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow to- to morrow morning |