The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-26
Destitution of the People.
PLAoUEMINE Anril god 1874

PLAoUEMINE, April 22d, 1874.
To the Editor of the Morning Star:
have not written for good while for the
reason that time has scarcely permitted. Now
however, take the time to give you a brie
account of the excitement which has existed
IN our section for the past three weeks, and
which must continue for sometime, though in
that subdued form which follows great oalam.
tiles.
Some month or so ago it became evident
that the valley of the Mississippi river, an
especially the delta, was threatened with an
overflow. The Ohio, Arkansas and Red rivers
| were hlgh, and continued rains along their
valleys tended to keep them up longer than
| usual. However, it was hoped these waters
might pass off through our mighty old liver
| without any great general danger. The levees,
| with very few exceptions, were all up, and
apparently pretty good but, to the more OBJ
servant, 1t was too certain that many of the
new levees, though well made otherwise, were
hardly high enough, and that the old levees-
not having been repaired strengthened in
the last six years, were not in condition to
stand Hood, and that consequently if the
watcr rose up near the high mark of '62 there
would necessarily be breaks in the less guarded
sections of the coast. The big levees, which
State SO much to rebuild, it was hoped would.
with ordinary care, withstand the rise that
was coming. Many of our more spirited cit
isens let their fine crops be and went to work
upon the levees, doing the work our Leyee
Company should have done.
This course became mantle wise and
most of our people were giving more. or less
attention to the levees, without any unusual
in
the steady and rapid rise of the river, until
abeut ten days ago, when a rumor was circu. |
lated that the dixie across Bayou Plaq
was to be cut. This was dismissed as idle
clamor by most of our people, but the better
informed called meeting of our citizens and
made known that the proposal to cut the dixie
was seriously considered in New Orleans as a
means of certain relief from the threatened
overflow of that city This announcement
was surprise fow of US thought of, but as
the cutting of the dixie was ruin and bepparv
to many of our people, an armed force was
soon organized for its defence. The next dav
a suspicious looking propeller steamed past sur
town Oh the opposite eide of the river, and
steered for the dixie. The alarm was soon
given and in a short time a number of people
were on the dixie and the levee ready to pre-
sent any attempt to open the bayou
To our great surprize on approaching the
propeller, it was found that Gen. jeff. Thomp-
son, State Engi neer, was aboard with squad
If Metropolitan police concealed in the hold).
md that he had come to open the bayou. He
Ilso claimed to be authorized SO to act by an
'rder signed by Gov. Kellogg. The General
moved down from the mouth of the BAYOU to
he landing in front of the town, where par
ey was had; and the General. Drettv we'll |
convinced that he could not cut the PLAQUE
nine dixie, left us.
Watch was continued on the dixie and levces
until Monday, when large force was put to t
york to raise them against the encroaching c
bod. 1t required hard work to keep the levees L
bove the water, but white and black went at t
t with will. This work was continued stead t
~ until Thursday morning, when every iudi- r
alton of a storm appeared. q
With the water on the top of the levees !
ressing against--the newly built ere St.,
listing rain and steady wind setting in from
he east, We knew Lot what mumeut an ava I
Anche of water would he precipitated ui,on
IS. 10 add to our great danger our Ievec aaa :
alf gone in one place with every probability r
f giving away entirely in few hours. The
Wind grew almost TO a gale and the rain began {
o fall more steadily, though at times it fell I
a torrents, and so continued not only that day
mt four more. Tho work went on, and By | ]