Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-27
THE FLOOD In LOUISIANA.
$4,000 PEOPLE STARVING.
CATTLE DYING FOR WANT OF
FOOD,
A Gloomy Prospect-.-Efforts for the
Relief of the Sufferers.


Capt Blanks in letter to member of the
relief committee says
81 have just returned with the steamer
Ouachita Belle from Camden, Trenton and
Monroe, through the overlooked district Ct
North Louisiana, and see that efforts have
been and are beingsm to relieve the suf-
fering. have also seen tabular statement
which was presented by you to the meeting
Of citizens, from the ov erfowed district, held
in the Senate chamber some time last week.
From personal knowledge and direct infor-
nation from others within few days, l am
satisfied that said statement is by far too low.
As ysu have been requested by three public
meetings held in the overfiowed districts, to
represent their wants and condition / now
present you statement of the localities and
numbers needing help at once, so that you
may present them"
Lower Block river 800
Morder, excluding that part of Concord
Parish on Block river 400
Trinity. excluding Fonsas, Bayou and
Little river, 1900
Harrisonburg, including Bayou 1000
Louis 1000
Starbs Landing, including Braine Land
ing $50
Bunker Hill, between Ouachita and
Bayou, Bouef, 1900
Columbia, including Franklin and Gu.
acbta on the Bouef, or between Gu.
achita and Bouef river 1000
St Adams, including the bottom on
both sides, 1900
Harpswell and Waco, including the
back swamp up to Ouachita line 1000
Numbers 1900
Total, 1850
A. ~, A. ~. 4
said to be in actual want, and many have
been so for days as they have now been I'M
der water for some two or three weeks. They
have lost all their hogs and nearly all their
cattle are lost or starving. The people them
selves have neither money or credit, no place
to 20 to and nothing to do.
But this estimate by no means discloses the
number of those residing on the small bayous
and creeks that have been overlooked BY the
back water and floods of rain. The people
geneally have been ON land but have lost
much of their stock and improvements and
are out of money and provision, and the
prospect of making crops are so discourage
ing that none are willing or able to advance
them supplies. Those too must suffer or re-
ceive help. If these he added to the number
needing help there is not less than twenty
Ave thousand.
me citing assembled to- day 5000 people of this
section and represented the suffering for food
A committee was appointed to procure sup
plies.
The mayor of Trenton telegraphs: 1--WE
are all overlooked. Send us 5000 ratons by
Ouachita Belle, if possible. The colored
population are particularly in great distress.
Large quantities of provisions have been
shipped to the sufferers to-day.
Another great rise is coming out of the
Red and Ouatchita rivers.
Mayor Cobb of Boston to- day telegraphed
Mayor Waltz to draw at sight for $4,000
making $4,000 contributed by Bostonians for
the overlooked.
The relief committee are fairly at work.
The demands are far greater than was ex-
pected and is increasing.
&c. The river has fallen two feet below
high water mark.
The Mobile & n. o. r. r., lose bridge
or have washout every few day.
Seven days mails are due here.
Monroe, "a, 6 p NJ, 1t 10 impossible to
give an idea of the extent of the overflow
here. The water is higher than was ever
known before. The town 10 an island 2 l-2
miles long by half mile wide, from which
there is no exile except by boats or swim
ming. From the crossing of the railroad and
several streets back 10 one wide sea Boats
come and 60 from Oakleys. People living
in the rear have been driven in. All the va
cant houses have been taken, and several
families are living in the court house. Bust.
ness is almost suspended. but the houses are
open. Fully one thousand people have had
no rations for three days, nor money to buy.
Stock Of every description are starving on
Desert Island. Almost all the plantations
are under water. OF one thousand acres be-
longing to Capt. Phillips, only about one hun
dred and fifty remaia uncovered. What has
transpred below We know nothing about.
At Pargoud's Home place the water is two
feet deep in the yard, and there is no passing
below there. Trant0n is under water beyond
the business houses of the town. Cotton is
brought in and goods are sent out to Clar-
bourne, half mile distant. On the flats at
Heads and Standefers the water 10 two feet
deep in the yards. On tho river banks the
front fences are nearly all washed down. A
steamboat could be run down Cotton street
The river rose one inch last night. 1t has
rained slowly since day light, and is still rain
| ing. There are no crops to speak of, and
not FIVE days work has been done along the
river for four weeks. Hills land is washed
| badly, and what has been done toward max
| ing crop has been thrown away. What the
people intend to do, God alone knows.
25. The river has risen over an inch in "a
hours. Another break in Pargands upper
levee has precipitated a heavy volume Of
water on the back part of the city, and the
! rise there at some time has been i've inches.
26. The Onachite river rose a quarter of
an inch last night, and the back water an inch
and half.