Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-05-01
THE SEN TIN T. L
THE GREAT MISSISSIPPI FLOOD.

TOWNS SUBMERGED-FIVE MILLIONS
OF ACRES INv0LV THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE DEsTiTUTE-CROP DE-
STROYED.
The details that come-from New Orleans in
dictate the almost utter ruin of the State of
Louisiana by the late disastrous food The
suffering and the loss are immense, and par
ticuarly with regard TO the cotton and sugar
crops Wilt be widely felt;
EXTENT OF THE DISASTER.
The New Orleans Times says that the extent
of the damage by the overflow in Louisiana is
only beginning 10 be understood, and that the
flood will involve 5, 600, 600 acres OF land aud
a population Of IT'S 600 In the cotton re-
gions il is now ascertained that nine Of the
largest and richest parishes producing cotton
have been inundated The parishes of Car
roll, Morehouse, Shetland, Madison, Franklin,
Tcnsas, Caldwell, Coneordia and Catahoula
are all overlooked, and embrace fully 2, $780,
600 acres The amount of cotton land in these
parishes is ascertained 10 be a quarter OF mil
lion acres, besides one hundred thousand acres
in corn. These estimates include only large
places, leaving out hundreds Of small farmers,
and all estimates for cattle, hogs, and gardens.
The population of these uine parishes is 90
1871 whites and 81, 033 blacks, according to the
census of 1870.
THE SUGAR PARISHES,
In the sugar-producing parishes ascertaned
facts discover equal if not greater amount of
ruin and suffering These parishes are Pointe
Coupee, East Baton Rouge West Baton Rouge,
Iherville, Ascension, Assumption. La Four
che, st. james, st. John the Baptist, ST.
Charles Terre Bonne and Plaquemiues. The
overflow in these parishes covers nearly two
and half million acres, titled and untitled,
including the production of thirty thousand
hogsheads of sugar, besides a large product of
rice and TIE crops of small farmers, Of whom
there are many hundreds who have lost their
stock and pretty much everything else they
possess.
The population of these parishes according
TO the census of 1870, was so 1888 whites and
~, 24l blacks, making a total of l22 600, from
which must be deducted the population Of
Fast Baton Rouge. as only small portion of
that parish has suffered from the overhow.-
That deduction being made, the parishes ma
med contained a population Of lo3 500. In
all the parishes named it is believed that more
than %, 900 people are ia actual suffering for
the necessary supplies Of life and that in less
than sixty days the number Of those whose
circumstances will require alleviaton will in
crease to more than 80, 600 persons.
SWEEP OF THE FLOOD.
The immense body of water which comes
down the valley Of the Mississippi and Qua
chila and Black rivers passes across Red river
some forty miles from lis mouth, and meeting
with no obstruction until it meets the levee OF
Bayou des Gazes it sweeps with irresistible
force every feeble barrier occupying q breadth
Of country from twenty-five to thirty miles
wide through the eastern portion of Averielles
and 81. Landry parishes and covering all the
lnndsiu that region, which includes wilhnits
limits the larger portion Of the most produce
tive lands on these two parishes. Beginning
a. MOreamount it washes around what is cali
ed the zig bend of the Bayou 6eS Glaizes
down to Simsport, a distance of more than
forty miles by the meanders of the bayou,
which is thickly settled, thence down on the
lands on the western side Of A tchafalnya river
behind the plantations on that river, nnudal-
lug them from behind Within tie limits Of
the lands thus submerged there are not less
than To- 900 souls, including white and black
mostly OF The lnboring class but no doubt
some Of the proprietors are in a suffering con-
bion on account Of the almost total failure Of
the crops Of both corn aud cotton from the
vet weather Of last year.
THE oUAcHrA VALLEY.
Dispatches from he Oaachita Valley, La
give graphic pictures OF the distress. The town
OF Monroe is nm island two and half miles
long bJ half mile wide, from which there is
no exit except by boats or swimming. From
the crossing Of the railroad and Desard street
back is one wide sea. ! II The vacant houses
have been taken, and several families are iv.
ing in the Courthouse. Business is almost
completely suspended bHtthe houses are open.
Fully 200 people have not rations for three
DAYS nor money to buy with. Stock Of every
description gathered ID the town are starving