New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-05-20
REPoRToRIAL SKETCHES OF THE GREAT
FLOOD OF 1852
Special 70 Tho New orleans Crrsc,pt.l


LAKE PROVIDENCE, May 16, 1853.
Editors Crescent-Ny last " sketch - was commit |
ted to paper at Greenville, Miss, and embraced |
" brdseye" view OF southern Bolivar and northern |
Washington counties, Miss and Desba and the upper
portion of Chcot counties, Arkansas affected by
the flood. omitted, however, to note one important
item of loss by the overflow in the limits described in
that letter, to wit the loss OF stock. In Desha
county the loss so far ascertained, foots up as
follows: horned CATTLE drowned and starved, 1900
mules, do 1900; hogs 1890. In Bolivar county,
horned cattle, (estimated) 3000 hogs, $500. When
the levees first commenced to overflow and succumb
to the flood, many planters fronting the river re-
moved their stock to the back lands and have thus
saved portion. Others trusted to platforms raised
on knobs and the higher parts Of their plantations
but as the water raised these were also inundated
and the stock lost
After leaving Greenville visited the Bauf river
low lands These are entirely under water and some
fifteen or eighteen small plantations situated their
border, about fifteen miles from Ashton, are under
water. The rich bottom lands of this river are also
badly overaowed fully one.third more country being
under water this year than last.
The first actual crevasse below Greenville is oppo
site Island So, in Chicot county, Arkansas. This
break has done but little damage, the waters are
drawn off by low and unopened country and gradu-
ally dispersed. From this point down to Young's
Point in Madison parish. La, the Arkansas levees
present unbroken front, and the crops look finely
The break just below Lake Providence has been ef.
ectually closed, and the lands overfowed nearly all
in seed with the corn already sprouted. Providence
entirely overowed last year. but is high and dry
this season, with substantial levee to guard it.
The upper part Of Washington county, Miss, has
not been affected by the overflow of this year. The
first break occurs the plantation Of Col Fitzpatrick,
just below Worthington's landing, twenty five miles
below Greenvlle, at Kentucky Bend, and is nearly
mile in width Col. KS plantation is utterly ruined
and has been abandoned. The buildings are demol.
shed and the new levee must be built in the rear of
the back boundary of the plantation thus rendering
the lands of little value and at the mercy of
the insatiate Mississippi. Col. X. had about 500
| acres under cultivation. Lake Washington is by
of this break made to lock with the Mis-
sissipp, and the large plantations which skirt its
banks are, for the first time, inundated This section
of country has heretofore been regarded as far above
the reach of the river and the propretors Of the sew
era plantations have always paid their levee taxes
under protest to the justice of being compelled to
contribute 10 tie protection of their neighbors prop
erty Mr. John A. Miller has three large plantations
| on the lake, never before under water, which are
now wholly inundated.
The Carpenter estate adjoining the last, and con-
tanning 100 acres is entirely under water for the first
time.
| The large and magnificent place of DR.. W. q.
| Hammet, which has been worked since 1922, and
which yields annually average of $50 bales of cot
ton, is twothirds under water this year. This plan.
tation is situated about eight feet above the highest
water mark Of preceding years. and presents the
appearance of an inland sea dotted with miniature
islands. The work of planting is progressing on
this place by of skis, in which the hands are
carried from island to island. This place will not
make over $50 bales this year.
hr. Jno. +. Warren's place, containing about 500
acres, which last year about one third oyerowed
is this year entirely under. he will not plant an acre
this season. His cabins, fences and other buildings
are badly damaged. His buildings have hitherto
| been above hsh-water mark.
| Capt. Henry johnson has two places on the lake
containing about 1000 acres under cultivation
plant cotton this year. Last year the two places
made about 500 bales
| DR.. Dudley and Mr.. VIM. Eley, adjoining the last,
work about 1000 acres. They have about 1000 acres
under this year. Last year they were but slightly af
fected by the high water.
| The next break in the levee OCCURS at Carolina
Landing. This crevasse iss Enclosed, and the river
rushes through with resistess violence overlooking
very great extent of country. Carolina Landing and
| the wharf at Skipwth's, short distance below
shipped last year about $4,000 bales of cotton, while
5000 bales of cotton is considered large estimate of
the amount they will be able to ship this. Indeed
with the exception of the plantations of the Widow
Pass and MIR. E. Murphy, it is said, good authority
that there is not plantation in Washington county
which is not more or less inundated.
Issaquena county adjoins Washington on the south
and was partially overdowed last year. It is usees.
to enumerate the numerous breaks in the levee along
the river front of this county. better idea of thu
actual condition of the lands will be formed, when
state that the entire embankment is hidden from
sight beneath the turbd waters of the enraged riv
The country is attacked on both its front and rear
the Yazoo river overfowng the eastern, and the Mis-
sissppi the western part of the county. Fully four
6fths of its productive lands are UNDER OF all th
plantations in the county, the large estate of MI
Andrew Turnbull is the least injured.
Mr.. Turner made 1900 bales last year; this wear b
only plants about 600 acres in ALL His buildings ar
rendered uninhabitable, and have been deserted 10
the present. His fences are swept away: and it wa
by the removal of his stock that they were saved
Ml' W. u Iuluuull lOuT dCSd GSldteS aulOlQlDg
which are almost entirely befooded.
The loss in stock in the counties of Issaquena
Washington, and the northern district of Warren
immense estimated at one.half of the whole Fence
are swept away and damaged to an incalculabe eS
tent, while the damage to buildings in the thre
counties is put down at over quarter of million {
dollars.
The celebrated Deer Creek cotton range is entirel
overfowed. In my next shall give you sketch
of the aspect of things among the planters there
have already drawn too heavily on the crowded co
umns of the Crescent More anon.
UBIQUITOUS.
CROPS IN ARKANsAs.-The Ouachita Herald of tt
I 18th says:
We learn that the crops in this and the adjoinin
= | counties promise a rich harvest Good stands {
cotton have bee obtained, and the corn is CROWN
: rapidly. For some time we have been favored wit
fine growing weather-warm, with occasional shoy
: ers.
q . Arrivals at the Principal Hotels Yesterda,
ST: CHARLES HOTEL. F Riclurdson and lady, NJ
Smith, J A Tutle Beunch, Is Hudson. V Tourney,
!, fenW n q Rstla r M p.