Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-04-26
Additional from the Lower Mis-
sissippi-SuiTerings and En-
durance OF the Starving
People.
Widespread DesOIatiOn - Over
One-Half Of Louisiana Under
Water-DestruetiOn
Of Property.
Two Hundred Thousand People
henaced by Gaunt Want
Another Indian Famine
Imminent.
Relief from the Government and
from the Principal Eastern
and Western CIties-M0re
Aid Called for.

from the Principal Eastern
and Western Cities More
Aid Called for.
Mr.. Lucien Barnes, agent of the Ba.
ker and Fatran tronpe, he's arrived here
! from the overflowed country ia Louisi-
ana, Alabama and Tennessee. From
this gentleman we obtain the following
interesting account Of the deltged coun-
try, many Of whose people are on the
eve of starvation. The Brashear river
Is cut of its banks, and the whole region
along the line of failroad from Rrashear
| City to New Orleans is covered with
water. The water is over many streets in
Brasheari and skiffsI canoes and raj now
supply the place OF vehicles. The citi-
zens have to use boats in order to visit
their neighbors, not few of whom have
removed from the ground floor to more
comfortable quarters. In fact, Brashear
City looks like a modern Venice on a
small scale. Along the line of the rail-
road were many sights to interest, but
more to sadden the heart of tine thought
ful. Here and there were seen
ABANDONED HOUSES,
half buried under the deep water. OF
| ten times the roof would be covered
with chickens which could find no
other place on which 10 roost. Looking
| from the windows of several deserted
houses were seen two or more dogs, the
sole occupants of the deluged buildings,
whose masters had fed as best thew
| could to some dry spot of land. Horses
and herds Of cattle were often seen hud-
| died together on small plats of drv
ground, while all around was one vast
lake of water from the swollen bavous
and rivers, which are higher than they
ever were known before. In some
Instances these animals were seen stand
ing knee-deep in the water, and of
course, seon sunk from exhaustion and
hunger. Very few people were to be
seen IN the Overfiowed country, but now
and then some unfortunate family was
observed in a small boat rowing in
search of high land. Not only canoes
and sk1tts, but RATS of plank, logs and
boards were made use of as a means of
escape. Owing to the high water large
quantities of black snakes had been
WASHED OUT
Of the swamps, and were plainly seen
as the train passed along the track, a
great part OF which was submerged.
The engineer had to use the utmost eau
ton and run the train quite slow. The
railroad track, however, is in good con-
dltlon, and owing to its high embank-
ment Is 10 no place covered with deep
water, which, from Brashear CITY to
New Orleans, eighty miles distant, has
caused more destruction to property
than any previous flood. At many
points, as far as the eye could reach,
there was one field Of water,
above which hOuse-tOp or tree might
be seen. The direct approach to New
Orleans for fifteen miles is through an
ocean OF water, which spreads out on
all sides as far as the eye can reach. In
some places the water reaches the sec
ond-story of residences, all of which
seem deserted. A lady from the Teche
district says that the suffering and des-
utution Of the inhabitants Of that Sec
ton Of country is beyond conjecture.
THE WHOLE COUNTRY is FLOODED.
Many people are cut OFF from COM
municat!on with their neighbors, and
1t Is thought starvation must befaI
many households. The people have no
money with which to purchase food. and
cannot find provisions outside of the
cities. Only think of whole families i'm
prisoned in half-sebmerged houses.
dwelling in the second-stories. and Iiv.
ing on whatever they have been able to
gather up on short notice, and one NAV
have faint picture of the terri
bic distress of the people in the
overflowed districts. Unless relief in the
way of provisions be donated bv the pub-
lie, hundreds of men, women and chill
dren will fall victims to the slow death
of starvation. Their condition is far
worse than has ever been stated. and no
pen is able to depict their sufferings
and sorrows.
THE LOSS OF LIFE
must be frightful, unless active aid be
given these people, many of whom. as
before stated, are actually imprisoned in |
their cheerless homes by the wide |
spread waters, which give no signs of
This unprecedented flood viii |
destroy the crops, and prevent planters
from making anything like enough |
money to repair the damages occasioned |
by the long siege of water. Countless |
corn, cotton and cane-fields are SUBJ |
merged, and will not return any Weld |
this year. Corn is about seven inches |
high, and sugar-cane about one foot. |
out in most places the water is far above, !
But even amid this scene of desolation. |
there is something beautiful to be seen |
La the submerged yards and gardens are |
pushes of white and red roses, which |
lance like fairy gOndolas upon the min |
a 10 p14ti
)ny OF the cherries scene of wide |
spread desolation. Nothing save the |
occasional evergreens and the beautiful |
lowers of southern spring please theeye |
1r gladden. the heart { ens raVeleF who |
goes through this watery region, silent |
and forsaken in its helpless misfortune. |
FROM NEW ORLEANS TO MOBILE.
In order to reach Memphis by rail, it |
Is necessary to go via Mobile, Mont
gomery, Birmingham and Decatur, |
which route required four days. All the |
streams emptying into the Gulf are now, |
Or have been, full, overfiowing lands, |
sweeping away houses, and causing a |
reneral interruption to railway trains. |
From New Orleans to Memphis the !
road has been completely submerged |
In many places, and the trains had |
TO run quite slow. Great damage has |
resulted in that region, and planting
will be materially retarded. From Mo, |
tile to Montgomery the road is subj
merged at many places, rendering il |
difficult and dangerous for the passape |
Of trains. AT Montgomery the Alabama |
river, as elsewhere, was out of its banks.
and higher than at any previous time
within the memory Of the Hold. |
est inhabitant." Many streets of
were overfiowed. and
presented a Venetian scene NOT
unlike that observed at Brasbear City.
The principal amusement was in watch |
ing the river current as it flowed swift.
~ by on its course to the sea, while a
favorite and remunerative vocation was
catching railroad ties, large pieces of
timber, ETC., which fioated into the
streets.
FROM MONTGOMERY TO BIRMINGHAM,
along the south and north road, high
waters prevailed. The back water from
.he Tennessee had rushed up Fox river
and washed away large railroad EN-.
)ankment. Not far from there were
i've cars which had been wrecked by
Iestle giving way just as the lOcomo-
i've and tender had crossed over. The
water was running contrary to the flow
)f the stream along the side of the track
rom which the dirt had been washed
a many places. The officers of the COM
Dany, with cOmmendable promptness,
ire repairing all washes, and at short
are traek-examiners and work.
men with carts, filling in the crevasses.
On the whole, the damage to property
the flooded district is too
great to be estimated. But this is
nothing in comparison with the fearful
condition Of thousands Of human beings
1ho are helpless, destitute and starving
q death. This is no fiction, nor have
he reports from the city of New Orleans
the condition of the people
)een exaggerated. The world perhaps
ray never know, for certainly the pub
ic do not realize the terrible fate await
ng those people unless substantial help
Ne given. 1t would be a noble act to
cad boat with provisions for them.
let Memphis act at once.