Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-15
THE FATHER OF WATERS.
THE OUTLOOK IN THE FLOODED
DISTRICTS.
Arranging for Distributing Supplies
More and Spe dy R lief Needed
Gloomy Prospects at Monroe, Il u
fsfana-Helena's Pluck.

tsfana-Helena's Pluck.
ST. LOUIS, March 14-The government
steamer Anita, which left here Yesterday
with quantity of provisions on board for
the sufferers from the Mississippi floods,
will go direct to Memphis, where she will
be taken in charge by an army
officer, probably Major Benjaurd, and
will then proceed to Friar's Point,
from which place number
of boats will be sent out over the submerged
bottoms, and all the people now huddled
together on the banks of the broken levees
and other dry spots, but still surrounded by
water in that region, will be transported to
places where they can be more comfortable
and properly provided for. The Southern
Relief Committee, of st. Louis, will issue
to day an appeal to the citizens generally
for money, food, clothing, medicines and
anything that can be of service. The officers
and passengers of the City of Baton Rogue,
which arrived here Yesterday from New
Orleans, says that the river has an average
width of forty miles nearly all the way from
Cairo down, and with the exception of some
sixty miles above and below Vicksburg, the
levees are either washed away or covered
with water, and of no practical benefit.
General Beckwith, of the Commissary
Department, who has charge OF the distri-
button of government rations from this city
to the flooded districts of the lower Missis-
sippi, has received the following dispatch
from Capt. j. 8. Loud, dated Memphis:
81 have just arrived mere. l found Pemi-
scot county, Missouri, in a distressing con-
dition, being almost entirely submerged,
and about twelve hundred people entirely
destitute. The supplies sent to Gayouso are
being carefully distributed, and will last
until about March 25. More should be sent
through. They will be in just as bad
q con dition when the water goes down.
The government, to prevent starva-
ton, should care for them at least
until May let. About one hundred
people are destitute at Hathaway, Tenn.
$50 at Tiptonville, 200 at Holes Point, in
Tennessee, $50 at Bayfield, Point, and 1,500
in the vicinity of Osceola, Ark, are desti.
tute and badly in want. Some stores have
been received at Osceola, but they are in
sufficient"
Gen. Beckwith has also received the fol-
lowing from Captain Lee, dated Memphis:
81 returned here on Saturday night. My
dispatch OF the 9th inst. falls short of repre-
senting the actual destitution and
the magnitude of this overflow.
If an additional appropriation is made,
500 900 rationG of meal and meat should be
sent here as soon as possible In large INSTALL
ments for the sufferers In the State Of Mis-
sissipi. This is In addition to any rations
that may not yet be sent from first appro-
priation. The destitution is general and In
creasing, and there are 600 destitute per
sons in Bolivar county alone. My estimate
will carry the sufferers through to the 10th
of April, and possibly the food may sub
side by that time so that the sufferers can
begin work"
Captain Lee has been directed by General
Beckwith to take charge Of the steamer
Anita, which left here yesterday, and pro-
ceed at once on the mission designated for
her, the picking up OF parties of destitute
people ia the flooded districts and taking
them to dry land and to where they can be
comfortably cared for.
General Beckwith has sent instructions to
have the government steamer Gen. Brainard
and the towboat Cool Cliff, and the barges
now employed by the Engineer Corps at
Keokuk, Iowa, sent here at once. These
vessels will be loaded Immediately on their
arrival with government rattons and sent
down the river to distribute supplies to the
sufferers by the floods. Secretary Lincoln
telegraphs General Beckwith that If he has
not boats enough at his command more will
be provided. The Secretary has also ordered
the largest steamer at Little Rock to pro
ceed at once to Memphis and report to
Captain Land, and Captain Lee will take
the little steamer Anita on her arrival at
Memphis and go up the Yszoo and Sun
flower rivers and distribute supplies, and
lar yuh OF 70 IN IN
need.
NEW ORLEANS, March 14.-The breaks on
the lines of the Chicago, st. Louis and New
Orleans Railroad, caused by the overflow,
have been repaired, and through trains are
now running again to Cincinnati.
Hon. Gee. W. McCranie, of Ouachita,
telegraphs the following to the IanleS-DenlO-
crGt from Monroe, La: "The situation here
is extremely critical. A visit to the levees
above and below this afternoon showed that
they are In great danger, though a large
force Of men is at work on them. There is
not five inches to spare. The water is OoZ
ing through the levees in many places. The
river here is six feet higher than its natural
bank, and more than ten feet higher than
the rear of the city, where the overflow is
higher than in 1874, and is still
rising. The river is rising at the rate of
one inch in twelve hours. A boat
down the river, which is only three and one
half inches below the rise of 1874. Nearly
all OF Trenton Is under water, and In some
places 1t is three feet deep. Business Is
suspended and roads are impossible, COM
municatfon being carried on entirely by
water. Planting along the river has been
suspended, and the stock Is huddled to-
gether, many diving from starvation and the
buffalo gnat. The situation is worse now
hnfnrQ lynnUn TN Pot
is threatened to-day, and should it come,
Monroe, the highest point on the east bank
of the Quachita river, will be inevitably
submerged. The condition of the country
is truly alarming"
MEMPHIS, March 14.-The river continues
falling and now marks thirty-fve feet six
inches on the gauge, and is declining at all
points down stream.
Commissioner Mangum, Of Arkansas. has
been notified that henceforth all supplies
for the sufferers in Arkansas are to be sent
to Helena. Commissioner Mangum also
states that the supplies which have been
sent to the destitute, and which he thought
at the time would last until the Goth instant,
have already about given out. The number
supplied far exceed his calculations.
The AppeGrS Helena, Ark, special says:
HThe river continues falling at the rate of
2% inches in twenty-four hours. The over
1t Is generally conceded that the backbone
of the flood has been broken, and that the
worst is over, although there is little or no
alleviation for the suffering, except the aid
furnished by the government, which is
but medium compared with what
the country requires to save
its starving hosts. The breaks in front of
Williamson's and Apperson's plantations
have thrown an increased volume CT water
on the places which had been successfully
fortified against the previous break, and it
is feared that much suffering and greatly
increased losses will result therefrom.
There has been no great amount of ex-
aggeration in the reports of the
overflow and it's disastrous consequences,
but f1ighty alarmists have greatly Injured
our section by their unguardedly aud mag
nifed statements. 1t was reported that the
Helena Lumber Company's property was
greatly endangered by the high water. The
only damage has been temporary suspen-
sion of business. The business of the city
is partially paralyzed, but the people are
about as live lot of citizens as can be
found"
WASHINGTON, March IA The Secretary
of War has seLt telegram to General Beck
with at st. Louis, looking to the sending
of army officers to the various points in
Louisiana to make detailed reports of the
doefftutfnu hu the overflow