The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-23
THE SOUTHERN CALANIrv

HE sPEAKs-THE IMMINENT DANCER OF
STARVATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
AN APPEAL FOR AID.
The st. Louis Globe of the 18th inst. gives
the following abstract of an appeal by DIR. V.
O. King, of Louisiana, in aid of the suffering
people. He said: The mission with which
L am Entrusted to the citizens of ST. Louis
rom New Orleans, brings me before Won as
the immediate representative of 20 600 starv-
ing people. You have already been gener-
GUS, ana LOUISIANA thanks you for your
generosity, but she believes that ven will he
more generous still, could YOU but know
the appalling restitution and misery under
which she is bowed in sorrow TO dav. Much
OF the relief that was expected from other
parts of our great country, and a still larger
bounty that 1t was hoped would flow from
your own CITY, have been withheld from a
misrepresentation that has been sad indeed in
It's consequences 10 us. allude to the prey-
alent belief that the waters of the food have
receded TO their beds, and that the people no
longer call upon their neighbors for help
Unfortunately, but too truly. there are
no facts to sustain this belief. IL Is true
that the waters of the Mississippi
have somewhat subsided, but il must
be borne in mind that when the river has
fallen ten feet, the corresponding fail of the
flood waters Is no; ten inche., and the rea-
son for this is found In the peculiar topo-
on either side of the Mississippi. as well as
the valleys of the Mississippi tributaries, are
much lower than the banks of these rivers
ana therefore cannot be drained through the
channels by which they were flooded. The
waters OF the overflow must be dissipated by
the slow process of absorption evaporation
and a sluggish flow To the Gulf OF Mexico.
through the marshes and lakes with which
Southern Louisiana abOunds; and even these
are rendered more difficult by occasional
high water in the Mississippi. In 1886 the
river remained at its maximum eightv-fiye
days, in 1883 one hundred and twenty-nine
days, or nearly four months, and the flood
of the present year is higher than in either
of those years, or of any food on record.
SO that we are left without data from which
TO compute the probable duration of our
troubles, and the
wEARIED HOPES AND IcKENED HEARTS
-four people turn with melancholy forebod-
ings % the future. 1t is estimated that the
area in Louisiana alone now submerged
exceeds 100000 of square acres, or 1900
square miles, and this embraces the most
fertile and the wealthiest portions of the
state. Twenty-six parishes, almost tropical
in their climate. and pregnant with the
promise of products that would give comfort
TO more than ten thousand homes now lie
desolated beneath the terrors of a cataclvsm
that threatens the people of half a great COM
monwealth with pestiience as well as famine
IL you think, gentlemen, these statements
are exaggerated, hear the language of the
Hon. Mr.. Croell, commissioner from Boston,
and addressed to the Mayor of New Orleans
That gentleman visited our afflicted country
sitter his city had contributed $4,000 to our
relief, To see If their munifcsnce should not
be supplemented 10y additional aid He finds
that IL has ''caused distress and restitution
to greater extent than represented In the
first appeal TO the great cities of the union,
greater than is generally believed,
and greater than can be conceived
by those not acquainted with those
vast flat alluvial lands. The calamity
surpasses in ruinous consequences any that
ever occurred from fire, storm or flood dur
ing the present century," lie furthermore
says: 81 can not close without advising Won
To renew your appeal tor help. Your re-
sources for required relief ara altogether in
sufficient. Put before the people of America
the leading facts Of the unprecedented ca
lamity. A true knowledge of the condition
of your afflicted people will awaken prosper
Gus states, cities and associations to an active
sense of duty. These poor victims of the
flood must not be left to starve." That is the
language of Massachusetts,. forbear to enter
upon the details of all the sufferings now en-
duredin Louisiana; | shrink from the recital
of even a few of the dreadful scenes that are
hourly enacted upon that tragic stage. Such
would unnecessarily harrow those finer feel
ings that can awaken pity by softer touches.
L commend to you the example of Boston,
Send commissioner from your own people,
and let him be the Homer 10 describe the
woes of our sorrowing Iliad. 1 have been
asked whether the contributions 10 cur poor
have been
WISELY AND HONESTLY DISTRIBUTED.
Such al inQuiry. gentlemen, under the cir
very proper, for the plunderers and thieves
that infest Louisiana, throw a cloud on every
enterprise. The organization in New Or
leans, and in the rural parishes, for dispen-
sing relief, is so constituted tina. not even
calumny would be so bold as to asperse them
The general relief committee is located in
New Orleans, and is composed of gentlemen
whose high social position. and whose hon
orable lives eminently fit them to list i'm this
labor OF love. They are assisted by subsi-
diary committees established at convenient
points in the inundated districts. and these
committees comprise the first gentlemen in
the country. The commissioner of Boston
saws: Il have made a careful examination
OF the work of your committee. L find it
composed Of citizens of high character and
distinguished ability, who labor zealously
and constantly in the noble work to
which you have called them. Their rules and
regulations redistribution and relief meet my
approval in every respect By the system
adopted, the donations of the charitable are
sure to do the most good. Having shown
that the demand for relief in Louisiana is as
urgent as ever, if not more so; having
pointed out the probable duration of the suf-
feiing in that land; having shown the man
ner of distribution, j desire to show the in
adequacy of the relief on which we depend.
1t is expected that the general government
will appropriate 500, 600 for our relief but
this sum is not all intended ior Louisiana.
but to be shared equally with her and her
sister states of Arkansas aud Mississippi.
The contributions in money up to this time,
from all sources, amount to Sl65, 900; in pro-
visions and clothes, $50, 000-not more than
500 600 TO feed, clothe and care for 10000
afflicted and utterly helpless people. In
proof of the inadeQuacy Of this supply the
mayor Of New Orleans has just telegraphed
Al Z L,,k NJ