The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-03-17
MISSISSIPPI FLOODS.

! APPEALS for aid are being received by the
Secretary of War from the sufferers from floods
in Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi
| and Arkansas In Pulaski county, ILL.,, 1000
| persons are in need of assistance. The relief
commissioners for Arkansas Mississippi and
! Tennessee report 43, 600 destitute persons Re-
| ports from every section of the Southern Mis-
sissfppi valley give accounts of restitution and
! suffering. Hundredso of poor coiored people
! have been rendered houseless by the water
losing everything, and have positively nothing
TO eat. The white people are poorly Off them
selves, nearly all of their stock being lost. and
being nearly impoverished owing to the bad
crops of last year. The town of Austin, Miss,
between Memphis and Helena, has been almost
entirely destroyed Hon. M. O. Harris, who was
sent to Desha county, Ark, by Gov. Churchill to
aid in distributing supplies to persons rendered
destitute by the overflow, reports that the suf-
fer1ng and restitution is beyond description
Scarcely farmhouse or residence in the bot
tom has escaped inundaiion. The people have
been compelled to build false doors in
their houses or seek safety on some
of the higher lands, where, ID rudely
constructed camps Of brush bonghs
and cane, they sit and wait for starvation and
death. 1t is appalling, and without Government
aid, literally and quickly hastened, there is no
telling where it will end. Many persons
have been feeding on carcasses Of drowned
O"usio's AoIouLidi lHVe5LlBaLlOn, as well as
assurances from reputable gentlemen, con-
WINGED Mr.. Harris that not less than
QUO families, averaging say six to the family,
In Desha county alone, are dependent upon the
charity of the Government. be
The indications point to long continuance
OF the overflow, the most sanguine hardly dar-
ing to hope for its subsiding before May.
CAPT. J. M. LEE, of the United States army,
who was ordered to Mississippi to report on the
necessities of the sufferers by overflow, re
turned to Memphis last week. He says the
restitution has not been half stated. The levee
between Memphis and Arkansas City was broken
in forty places, and at some points the Mis-
sissippi was fifty miles wide. His first estimate
made to the Secretary of War, that 360, 600
rations would be required to feed the $4,000
needy in the Stats of Mississippi, will he says
fall short, as the destitute will probably be
double the number first estimated Capt Lee
will telegraph Secretary Lincoln and await
further instructions here. Capt. Lee
said to reporter mo idea of the true condl-
ton Of the country oyerfowed can be imagined
without being seen. From point twenty miles
below Memphis, where the first break in the
levee occurred, the entire country is one vast
sea of water. The people all through this sub
merged region are utterly destitute ana ina
starving condition. Their stock has been
stables, lofts and the upper stories of cab
ms. Hundreds are subsisting on parched
corn. Many have been temporarily relieved by
the distribution of Government rations, but
others could not be reached, and their suffer-
ing is very great All published reports have
fallen far short of giving an idea of the dam
age that has been done or the restitution pre-
vailing." a69a r
John McElyen, of Desha county, Ark, had
thrilling adventure and narrow escape. The
story of his escape narrated in his own words,
is as follows: ATaaE
81 lived near what is known as Cypress bend,
In Desha county. I had a cabin situated on an
elevation which had never been oyerfowed,
and | thought never would be. Some days
ago the Mississippi began to rise, and Istopped
my children from going to school, fearing that
they would get drowned in the bayous with
which that country abounds. I had several
head of cattle further down the river, and
brought them home for q like reason. My
had better 60 to ARKANSAS City & 70 Ilu
as she felt in her bones that there would be
big flood. I laughed at her fears. but it wasn't
long before had better have followed her ad-
vice, for in short time the rising water cut off
communication in every direction. Geo plight,
over week ago, we went to bed oppressed with
dread, though still thought the water would
fall. had secured dug-out, and intended to
make an effort to reach Arkansas City with my
family unless there was change by the next
morning. 1t began raining early in the even
ing, and by the time night set in the rain was
coming down in torrents. l think it.was about
10 o'clock when my wife cried out Jack, the
house is giving away! And sure enough it
was The cabin slowly went to pieces, water
pouring in at every crevice, while my wife and
children shrieked and cried. Looking out, you
could see nothing but wide expanse of water,
and knew that we would all be ingulfed in a
short tIme and so l took the BEDFORD
of an old-fashioned bedstead and tied some
of the logs which had fallen in from one
end of the cabin together, and on this raft
placed my family, taking only a few quilts, and
leaving everything else. With fencs-rail
which had been intended for frewood
pushed out through the opening in the house.,
and the next moment we foated away.
have been in good many perilous scrapes,
but that nights adventure surpasses them all.
How we escaped, how we got tangled in the tree
tops, how we were picked up late the next day
not far from Arkansas City, 1 can hardly tell
1t is enough to know that we all are saved but
lost everything cattle, horses. farming tools
everything. I am thankful, of course, that
/ escaped, and expect to go from here TO st.
Louis, and hereafter I will live on mountain
tops. l have had an experience of floods that'll
last me lifetime.