Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-09
THE FLOODS.
Continued Distress in Arkaiias
and Below.
Thousands of Negroes without
Food or Shelter.
Reports by Letter and Steamer.


MEMPHIS, May S.-The Relief Commit
tee this morning received large numbers of
letters and applications for relief from the
overfowed districts, particularly from the
lower portion Of Arkansas where the desti-
tuition is greatest, and where the following
extracts from letters will give good idea
Of the suffering and destitution, and appeal
10 the philanthrOpic throughout the land:
A well known planter writing from Ber-
nard, Chicot county, Arkansas, says: There
are needed in this section rations for a
thousand persons, and forage for their stock,
whose lands are under water. The desti-
tuition here will be very great, nearly every
one in the oveTfiowed district having lost
their stock, and having nothing left to aid
them in purchasing the necessary rations.
These parties all require help until they
can raise some corn. Help US all you can.
Our people are truly suffering, and unless
We get aid to make at least some corn, this
portion Of the country will be abandoned
by fully one half Of the laborers-
Earnest Appeal from Negroes
A petition from $50 colored laborers, from
Arkansas City and vicinity, is forwarded
by }. w. Dickinson, formerly cotton fac
tor here, which says: The undersigned,
colored people Of Arkansas City and neigh
boring plantations, would respectfully state
that we are in desperate condition, only
few of us having few days ratiOns, and
they have been furnished by the owners of
plantations who now have not enough left
for their own families. The water stands
as high as four feet above the floors in many
Of our houses. Some of us have had to
move out and herd with Others as best we
can. Over all the plantations the water
stands from to ) feet. The levees are all
| broken, the fences gone and our stock has
been greatly reduced from drowning and
starvation. Our friends, the white people,
have done all they could and can do no
more now. We can see nothing but star
vat.on and death to many Of us, unless
the good people will aid US and that
soon.
Mr. Dickinson, in forwarding the pet;-
tion, says: IL does not make the condition
as bad as il really is. Some Of these fami-
lies are on my place, and have been feed
ing them for four months, three of which
they have been eoOped up in their houses
on platforms three feet above their floors.
l cannot feed them any longer, but hope
something will be done for these poor ne
groes. They will suffer. Some Of them
have not enough left for their own families
long, and the others are living on hOminy
alone or parched corn.
In HississiPpf-HOw Arkansas POu-
ties Obstructs Charity.
On the other side Of the river from where
these letters are written, there is consider
able restitution, but Gov. Ames and other
| State officials are taking steps to relieve
| them. But in Arkansas, owing to the
troubled condition Of affairs at the Capt. oil,
nothing is being done for them, and they
are entirely dependent on the charities of
| other States. The Relief Committee here
is doing good work, but cannot relieve but
a small portion of the immediate district.
At Hopefeld, opposite here, which has
been submerged for nearly two months
there is considerable distress, but it is being
relieved.
Reports of Steamboat Officers.
The following information concerning
the overflow is cleaned from the officers Of
boats arriving last night:
The rise in St. Francis which set in a
few days since has overlooked banks in
two or three places, plantations under
cultivation have been drowned out. There
Is but little deStitution IN this valley, ant
planters are hopeful ofthe water soon running
offand being able to resume planting. The
rise has broken the levees in several places
near the mouth, Including Jefferson amidst
Glars rivers, near island 63, and threat
ems several others. The levees at Helena
and Friars Points are reported in danger.
While the river is inside its banks down
to Augusta and below there planters are
vet hopeful of being able TO make 4 crop
In the lower Arkansas river tho water i:
off of all the plantations except Rowlin.
and the planters are at work.