Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-14

seventy miles below, on the Mississippi
side, and tells sad story of the sufferings
of her own family. The high water
broke through the levee IN front Of their
place. The unexpected flood forced her
family at once into the second story Of the
dwelling, and allowed not moments
time to Law in provisions or remove the
stock. Two days ago a passing steamer
was hailed from the house top, and, round
ing to, approached as near to the half
floating dwelling as the timber would
permit. The husband then first took his
child in his arms, and half-swimming ard
half-wading for over hundred yards
made his way to little hillock, told his
story to the Captain, and he sent out a
yawl, which brought the child and its
mother to this city to buy food, the father
remaining with his three other children.
To add TO her misery her small amount Of
money was stolen on the boat; but she
will be provided for. When she started
up the water was so high in her house
that the children were sleeping on shelves,
and the cooking stove was raised upon
the dining table.
There are no supplies in that section,
and even if there were the people in most
cases have no means of reaching them.
The strong current of the rushing water
with the timber and heavy drift, render
it hazardous, if not impossible, to prOpel
crafts, and all the poor souls can do is to
remain in their houses. Owing to the
isolation of the country there, as well as
along the different streams named, the
true condition Of the inhabitants is not
known to the public, and their suffering
VIII not be known until this great deluge
subsidies. Then we fear it will be found
that many have starved to death in their
houses. Many homes in the bottoms, far
from railroads or the river, have been de-
serted, and hundreds are thus left with
out food, clothing or shelter. In many
instances entire settlements have been
cut off from all communication with the
upland country by the rapid rise Of the
water, and are compelled to remain in
churches and halt-submerged homes,
with but scanty allowance of food. No
provisions are to be had, for none can be
purchased or got to them.
The swift current has stripped the plan
tatiOns Of stock, wagons, farming nipple
ments Of every kind. To sum up, might
Say that the whole country south of here,
along the valley, is submerged. Planta-
lions are devastated, the inhabitants i'm
prisoned by the deluge, and, without food,
are undergoing fearful Affections. This
is the situation between here and Vicks-
burg and only parallel to that below
there. The water at the city last night
was forty-tye feet eight inches above low
water mark IN the river, and had found its
way through behind the rear of the ele-
vator, covering the railroad track, and was
foot deep in some of the stores. Delta,
just opposite there, is only saved from
being washed into the river by the almost
superhuman efforts of its inhabitants
men, women and children working to-
gether, night and day, to secure the levees
and keep the top above the water-level
The entire Ouachita Valley, from Camden
down, is one vast lake. There, too, the
suffering has been great, and the worst
has not yet come.
In most all Of the Louisiana parishes
distributing committees have been organ
lied to attend to the proper distribution
Of food and supplies, and at the different
landings below mere | am informed the
same course is being pursued. It will
take some time, however, to get these
committees organized, and there will be
great suffering before perfect system of
distribution is arranged. This should not
deter or delay a single contribution. Any
thing in the shape Of clothing or food
would be acceptable, and in donations
sent here for distribution your reporter
would suggest that they be addressed to
the Howard Association, as we have as
yet only a soliciting committee. The
Towards will attend to the shipment
by boat of anything sent, and the boats
have all signifed their willingness to
carry free OF charge and distribute all that
NAV he sent