The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-18
cALAMITIES.
The Southern FlOSds

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! The Southern FlOsds
The present inundatlon from the extraordl
nary rise of the Mississippi river and breaking
of levees is probably more destructive than
any that ever preceded it, Vast regions IN Ar.
kansas, Mississippi aud Louisiana that here.
tofore had been regarded as entirely Hood
proof, are now among the greatest sufferers.
From the many columns of dispatches IN the
daily papers we gather IL few such extracts Is
will serve to give general idea oi the situs.
ton:
DoLEFUL ACCOUNT FROM MISSISSIPPI.
MEMPHIS. March lO--W ii. Harvey and
IG. j. Marshall, two reputable colored men,
representing relief assuclgton organized
Monday at Grcenvile, Washington county,
Mississippi, arrived this morning on the steam,
or Belle of Memphis. They bring a doletul
account of the suffering Of the residents OF
Washington county, where the lands have
been covered by water, now coming down
through Williams bayou from the break in
the evec at Catfish Point. The evees along
the bayou have given way. Deer Creek is
flooded. and all the country back of Green.
feet. The town Of Greenvlle itself Is at pres
ent protected by temporary lcvee hastily
thrown up the past week.
THE SITUATION IN ARKANSAS.
MEMPHIS, March 1l.--Capt J. NJ. Lee, an
army officer appointed by the secretary of war
to ascertain the condition OF affairs IN Missis.
sippl returned tonight at 10 o'clock from Ar
kansas City on the steamer Dan Adams. In
an interview with the Western Associated
Press reporter, Capt Lee said the true cOndi-
ton of the country overhown cannot be imag-
med without being seen. From point TWEEN
ty miles below Memphis, where the first
| break in tie levee occurred, the entire country
| is one vast sea of water. The people all
through this region are entirely destitute and
| in IA starving condition. Their stock has been
drowned They are living in gin houses, sta
bic lofts, ana the upper stories of cabins
Hundreds are subslsling on parched corn.
Many have been temporarily relieved by the
distribution OF government rallons. but Others
could not be reached, and their suffering Is
very great. The levee along the river front
is breaking in forty different places between
Memphis and Arkansas City and at some
points the river is fifty miles wide. All pub.
ished reports have fallen far short of giving
an idea of the damage done or the destitutiOn
prevailing His first estimate made to the
secretary of war was that 100000 ratiOns will
be required to feed the 1900 needy in the
state of Mississippi. This will, he says, fall
short, as the destitute will probably be double
the number of the first estimate. Capt Lee
will telegraph Secretary Lincoln aud await
further instructions here.
A. II Rathman, of Arkadclphia, arrived TO-
night from the overlooked country. He said
FRIDAY went around the nelghborhood OF
Arkansas City on an inspecting tour. While
rowing through the woods IN Il Skin we came
across IA half submerged log house. Rowing
alongside an upper window we looked in. A
man, his wife and two children occupied the
place. The man, upon being questioned, said {:
I'VE did not expect a break IN the levcc. The
other morning we uWoilr and found water all
around the house ana that the floor was lifted
| up by the high pressure We had no means
| of etleCting an escape. As we live IA great ais.
lance from the river we have no boats We
took this family H. land about ten miles dis
tant and provided food
Going out in the skill again we came upon
Il knoll where SIX or seven people had taken
refuge They had been driven from home,
and, unable to get out OF the bottoms, had re.
NAMED on the lttle knoll, although IL could
be but IA temporary roIiei, as starvation, II not
flood must soon come. An old man i'll dcjcc-
looked with inexpresSlblc sadness out upon the
great watery waste He said his name was
Mansion, and that he had lived IN the neigh
borhood for nearly twenty years. II was Inv.
| ing with my daughter he said. The other
night the flood rushed IN upon u.s. Ne did
not have time to make any arrangements.
called To my daughter 10 follow me, but Just
then q swift current struck me and bore me
away | heard my daughter scream, and at.
tempted To answer her, Dui strangud, ~ | was
borne onward with the rapid waters. Striking
a tree, seized hold OF it and held on. Lift.
ing my head above the water, | called for my
daughter, but the mighty rush of waters was
my only response When daylight came saw
the entire couary was flooded. | swain from
the tree, aud by accident reached the knOll."
Our boat WAS again brought into use The
poor people were nearly starved, and when
food was given them they ate ravcnously
| Indian Bay, forty-tiye miles southwest on
White river, has sustained the worst blow ever
known from an overflow, and from u beautiful
Village in one OF the hnest rCglOlsin he state,
which contained houses that transacted bust.
ness of 100000 per annum, 1t was reduced 10
a great lake, SO deep that steamers can run
| through the principal streets without trouble,
and worse than this, is unable to support the
hundreds of colored people dependant upon
| them. l nc mcTCndnts tuetnsCINcs' IL luc iIoo'l
continues any considerable length of time,
will be fit objects for public aid, Thus far
but one thousand rations for two days have
been sent to the Indian Bay country.
Speaking OF the situation At Arkansas City,
dispatch of Monday says:
| Their" 81. ~ q. N.'ls' :" ~" place 'ht' Wa.
iuul suunerged la trUu tuiCe IA tea icct Va va
tier All the business houses suffered consider
able loss of goods. One or two of them at
tempted to keep their trade going while the,
sold goods from "a platform high above th,
tops of the counters. Dunaway X Co, propri
etOrs of a large drug house, were h cavy losers
A great deal Of the cattle had been shipped
away by rail, but some fifteen or twenty
; head belonging to different parties were saved