The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-26
Tho Great foundation,
sUFFERrSGs AND DEsTIrur1ox OF THE PEG.
PIE.

FROM tne accounts published in our cit
e contemporaries we CLEAN the following fact
concerning the extent of the inunda,io,
q caused By the overflow of the Mississippi
and its tributaries, ard the sufferings o
OF the people residing in the ove1fowet
districts. resident Of Northern Leuisiap a
at public meeting, gave the following
account of the condition of that part o.
country
He stated that the high lands back oil
me ouachita, Black and Little Rivers,
were covered several feet with water. AL
most all the stock was lost, every thing
was Ioss. There was hardly food enough
IN that country TO last week. The mum
Der OF people suferisg and in need of cup
plies from the overflow on Black and
Onachita Rivers, including the parishes of
Catalonia and Concordia, is roughly est
mated as follows :: For Black River 5000,
Little River 1000, Lower Tansas 1000.
| Ouachlta up to Harrison burg 1000, Lower
bfuf River 100, Cald we'll parish at Col
umbla, Bunker Hill and others 30O0; Up
per Caldwell and Lower OuacLita $500,
Monroe 1c0O, Upper Bout River $500
These people are of both colors, and
totally without provisions, money, or ere
dit. The town of Monroe does not con-
tain enough food to last its people over three
days. In two days time the whole of this
country will be literally starving; many
of these people are in that condition now.
The Governor had been interviewed, and
had promised to relieve these persons, but
he was unable legally to draw from the /
general furd. The support of these people !
must depend on charity.
The St. Francisville Ledger of the 18th |
says:
Notwithstanding the many efforts made |
to prevent the levees which surround
Bayou Sara from breaking, Saturday night,
about o'clock, the levee between Capts.
Reid and White, near the railroad depot,
gave away, and in a few hours the town was
covered with water. On Sunday, at about
y o'clock II the levee in the rear of C.
Bockels residence was also broken, and
away small buildings, and even large
houses were shaken from their foundation.
Although the people had had warning en-
ough, yet but few families had, up to
> nnday at noon, moved from town.
All seemed to cling to their residences,
their floors; but in this they were mistaken,
At O'Clock P. n. Sunday, every house in :
Bayou Sara had been invaded by the
streams of water pouring in from'the Mis- .
slsslppi. The bedding and household goods !
Of all were floating on carelessly toward
tie foot of the hill, being driven there by
The force ofthe water entering town. The -,
,rles of women and children, mingled with
hat of the dogs and cattle, made it
.cene which forced tears of sympathy to =,
dow from the eyes Of all who beheld this
scene of desolation.
Monday the floors Of most of the build
ngs were from six to twenty four inches
1nder water. The loss of property is i'm !
nense: Thousands of dollars in merchau- :
1Ise, buildings, fences, ETC., have been
,"ePt away. Business is at an end in
3ayou SAL, for at least two months to q
.ome. [
FROM the Valley of the Amite comes the y
anne distressing tale, through Capt. Porter, a
If the Str. Alice. The whole valley is I
lnder water, the farmers and merchants !
esiding there have all been driven away,
and restitution Of the most hopeless kind /
prevails. Capt. Porter says he has never q
een such a food in that region before. /. !
The river generally has a bank of twelve =
IT fifteen feet, but now the water is S
our feet deep over the banks, and has {
Washed away houses, implements, etc. +
The Inhabitants have fed to the highlands,
where they now abide, in inme date peril |
If starvation and in dire need Of help. '
The graphic description given by our 8
pIaquemine correspondent, Pelican, in t
'notLer column of our present issue, will
ave some idea of the extent of the devas-
alton in the great parish Of Iberville and
n the parishes which surround it.
The Board of State Engineers, in answer Q
o an inquiry from the North, have given f
heir opinion that 25O,O 900 acres of cotton =
ands are overfiowed, 10000 acres of "
ugar lands ruined, and $4,000 people
tarving and homeless and asking every L
id possible. c
In this terrible afliction the people of our !
lty and of the whole country have mani "
ested the most generous concern. Con-
ributlons have been pouring in to the a
formed for the relief Of the suf el
sre1s; up to this date no less than $50, 900 al
avlug been received. The City of Boston. pt
the fact recorded to its credit, contribut ga
$4,000. Nor has the Federal Govern r.
lent been dilatory in taking action. for AL