Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-05-15
LOCAL NEWS.
THE MISSISSIPPI FLOOD. The following are

THE MISSISSIPPI FLOOD The following are
extracts from letter, alluded to in the Gazette
yesterday. received in this city by friend of
Mr. ". E. H. Claggett, lately engaged in the
s,ore of Mr. lawson 10 this place, but who is
now working plantation in Louisiana: After
having such bright prospects, the water came
and overhowed US ten feet deep and over, In
some places. The water is four feet deep 10
our yard, (iu Louisiana mean,) and it was
impossible to 60 out, except in boots, and In
this way had to feed our stock. We had to
make extra floors in our gin, and on planta-
zion lust below us the negroes had to leave
their quarters and seek shelter up in the gin 10
the lint room. You cannot form the least idea
of what an overflow is-stock dying around
from hunger, with no place to stand except in
the water. This, you know, made their legs
swell and killed them. One of my neighbors
lost forty-6ve cattle; one ten mules-nearly
every one suffered more or less. After the
water was over U.s. we, like the balance, thought
il best to bring our mules to the hills to save
their lives; their legs would swell so severely
Standing all the time, aud the "bull'' gnats
we're commencing to kill them. These "bull'
epats get in their nostrils and ears and under
their threats and aanxs in such plumbers that
they kill them 10 day or TWO. They are per-
fectly awful on man and beast. A gentleman
killed several deer that We're bitten by them,
and declining to eat them himself, gave the
meat to his dogs, and everyone died from the
pephbors and myself, with twelve hands, start
ed with large fat containing twenty-five
mules to Vidalia, just opposite Natchez. to
pasture them 10 the hills of Mississippi. For
tuuately, We did not bring all we had. had
on fourteen and my neighbor eight. We had
TO come nineteen miles. We had delightful
day, and had nearly reached our destination.
About half past eight p. N. the moon shone
beautifully, aud everything seemed in our
favor. We had only about half mile to 60,
when, almost instantly, terrible hurricane
came up, such as [ have never seen before
We we're on the upper edge of an open field
two miles wide The wind literally took Us up
aud dashed US through the angry waves, roll
ing six or eight feet high, at the rate of twen-
ty.6ve or thirty miles 40 hour, into the woods,
smashing our fat in about fifteen feet Of water.
Fortunately for US 20 man was lost. just be.
fore we struck the trees, we all caught hold of
the limbs that we're hanging down and saved
ourselves. | supposed that nearly everyone
would be lost The yells aud walings and cry.
iog OF the negroes were perfectly awful: God
forbid that | should ever witness the like
again. lost ten mules and my friend lost six.
We had to swim about TWO miles; some got
gu bridge, very high one, over Bayou, the
top of which was just out. Fortunately small
boat came along to our assistance had also
very small skif along and rowed about two
miles through one of the severest storms |
have ever witnessed, to get assistance. l
reached my destination in safety and sent
large boat down, not daring to return in the
skif l suppose it will be the first of June De.
fore we can 60 to work; then it will be too late
ure so dreadful on late crops.