Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-06-26
THE SEN TIN Ell
THE DISTRESS IN LOUISIANA.
People Living on Crawfsh The Suffer
ing Just Begun.

ton in the overaowed regions of Louisiana. II
fairly makes one shudder to read such heart
rending tidings
A gentleman of high character, who does
not reside in the overlooked districts, but who
has recently twice passed through the Terre-
bone, Atchfalaya and Grand Lake country has
furnished us with the following statement
based on his personal observations.
Since the waters in the overlooked districts
have commenced falling, an erroneous opinion
prevails that the issuing of rations will soon
he unnecessary. True the waters are falling,
but so slowly that it will be over IA month yet
before dry land is visible in those sections now
inundated; and il is quite certain that only a
few who reside on the borders of the overflow
ed country, where the waters first subside,
will be able to raise any corn at all.
There is now greater destitution, from the
fact that nearly all planters, large anG small,
had spent their last dollar in planting their
crops, and when they lost their gardens. pota-
10 patches and early corn, they lost I'll they
had 10 depend upon for livelihood while
their larger crops were growing. Having no
meaus to leave with, they cannot 90 TO the
high lands; and even if transportation was
furnished them, they would be as dependent
elsewhere as at their homes Besides, they
naturally desire to remain to protect their
property, for if they leave, most of their house
hold effects would be stolen or destroyed, and
their fences aud outbuildings float away
Thus, most of the male population in the over
flowed districts are left constantly employed,
and many are getting ont timber, which will
eventually be converted into lumber, pieux,
picket etc, and by the winter, at farthest,
secure them Income.
have heard Of instances where families
We're living on crawfsh principally, from the
fact that they were remote from the local re-
lief agents, and the scarcity of supplies in
many families has produced sickness.
With no possible chance to provide them
selves with supplies during the summer, or
make crop of any kind, they will need as
sishnce all summer
1t is a sad fact that with many the suffering
has only just begun, for the water will proba-
bly, not all be gone before the hot days Of
August, when sickness is apt to set in, when
thousands will be eyel more helpless than
now.
! am sure this picture is mol overdrawn and
it is 10 be hoped that the charitable will
remember that for long months to come many
thousand destitute and suffering w-beings
in Louisiana will have the strongest claims
upon their svmpathies.
A letter from Bayou Fordoche, in the parish
of Pointe Coupee, dated June l, also to the
Times, presents a scene Of suffering and want
that is absolutely pitiable. The writer says
1t is now nearly seven weeks since the MGR
gan levee broke and inundated ali this part OF
the country. The water now has an average
depth of two feet on all the cultivated land
and is falling but yerv slowly. Up to the
present time it has receded about eight inches
only al this point. The people are very poor,
and have no resource but that which comes
through the medium of the relief committee
organized in your city. We all gratefully
alb, la1t md IN tba bplr nav
received through that source, little though it
has been scarcely averaging one pound OF
sneat per head per week, meal, etc, III proper
don. We have represented our condition to
many influential parties in your city but
without deriving any perceptible benefit
Last week we were favored with visit from
Mr.. L. II Lombard, the travelling agent of the
committee, and we welcomed him as our bene-
factor and representative, and he proved to bt
a man well worthy the noble mission mar
oilarge experience, business requirements arc
"A warm and generous heart, capable Of dis
corning between the actual needy and thos'
who were imposters. with an ear ever open tt
the call for help, and ready rebuke to thos'
who would impose on the kindness of phi
ianthropical people. He was an eye witness
of the devastating effects of the water and the
distress eXisting here, and to him we refer al
those who wish to have a correct account o
hungry eyes watching the dealing out thei
weekly slice of meat and handful of meal
Sights are daily witnessed that would movt
the most callous heart Men, gaunt and bag
gard, and almost naked. paddle from house L
house, telling tale of suffering and privatioI
almost Incredible We have witnessed thu
teaT of compassion gather in the eye OF thu
travelling agent at the bare recollection o
sights which are daily becoming so familiar
Al, fffNpF
known a great deal of unnecessary suffering
may he avoided by more generous supply o
the necessares of life. As necessary conse
quence of the loss Of physical strength atten
dant on an insufficient quantity of food. sick
ness abounds, principally among women anC
children
The outlook is far from encouraging =
Fences are in most parts washed away, ant
the greater part of the stock are dead for wan
of proper food The working stock yet aliv'
are practically useless and will be unfit for u.s.
when the waters disappear unless the peopl
are supplied with forage for them.
'SPEND YOUR MONEY AT HOME"
From this text-and what applies 10 Vir
ginia will apply with equal force to MARYLAND
the Virginia Fireside thus sensibly says:
''lf we spend our money at home it will re
turn to us. Ii we buy homemade goods w
create a demand for them, and give employ
ment to operatives in our midst who in turI
have to be ted clothed and have houses Il
live in Thus money circulates, profit !
left with everyone through whose hands /
passes, giving employment TO hundreds. How
important then, il is for us in Virginia to bn.
homemade articles, TO foster and build up al
that is made at home. Every dollar that j
spent out Of the State is a drawback to hom
industries, direct blow TO home manufac
TIRES which will help TO pay our taxes ant
relieve the public of its heavy burden-manu
factories hich will bring thousands OF skill
ed artisans to the State to buy our produc
and build up our waste places. Every en-
couragement should be given TO home manu-
features by the farmers, for in so doing the.
only advance their own interests"
A Cornwall man told us that his cattle wer
SO gentle and kind that they followed him al
over the farm, and in passing hayslack the.
would often call him, upon which he obliging
" gave each one lock of hay. The trait
referred to are not uncommon among domes
ticated animals. We were visiting famil!
last week in the vicinity of Goshen, and, hav
ing occasion to cross field where male GOV
was grazing, when he followed us to the gat
with an eager expression, and lifting III
gate off It's hinges, he took after us at full
speed No doubt ne would have called whei
we passed a haystack but the folks we're wait
iEg dinner fo- and We couldn't stop. s.
we left our coat-tal and portion of our pant
on the gen.le creatures horns, and went int
the house.