The Democratic advocate., 1882-02-25
Disastrous Floods in the South and
West.

A. NJ
ment of the disasters that have overtaken the
planters of the Mississippi Valley, caused by
the overflow of the Mississippi River between
Memphis and Vicksburg. For three weeks 1t
has rained almost daily, and now there is a
dreary waterv waste extending fully htteen
miles inland from either bank. The destruc
ton to dwellings, stock and lands cannot now
be estimated. There have been many breaks
in the leveeS, and the outlook for the present
is ANYTHING but hopeful Cattle and hogs have
been drowned by the hundreds, barns have
been swept away, their contents wasted. and
mules and horses are suffering. The loss to
planters by these mishaps cannot but have its
effects in cramping their facilities for putting
in a crop for the year. This condition OF at
fairs exists to an alarming extent in Cntten-
den, Lee and Phillips counties, Ark, and IN
I De Soto. Tunica and Coahoma counties, Miss.
These are the largest cotton growing counties
in the Mississippi Valley, and what Is true OF
them is also true of others that have suffered
in a similar manner Starvation is threaten
ing many poor people whose homes line the
banks of the streams that have overtowed.
In some instances cabins can be found in
which are negroes, hogs and mules, all gath
cred under one shelter, awaiting the receding
of the river, that has in its mad fury driven
them to seek safety by flight in the highlands.
The latest break occurred last night about
500 wards above Austin. Miss. This will over
flow the entire country between Austin and
Friar's Point a distance of thirty-fve miles.
MENrHIs. Feb. l9.-The latest adyices from
down the Iiyer are that the break IN the levee
which occurred just above Austin on Friday
/ night extends nearly all the way up to Ma
homes Landing, a distance of about three
niles The leyee which protects the Laconia
circle in Desha county, Ark, broke on Thurs
day night. and all the circle Is under water.
The break occurred in the rear, and Is about
fifty yarls wide. There are eighteen large
plantations IN the circle, several OF them own
/ ed by Gov. Lake Blackburn aud his relatives.
! The planters are all hard at work trying to
save their stock. which. wherever possible. Is
( being boatsd away to the ridges. Great fear
/ exists that the rise now coming down the Ohio
River viii check the decline that has set in,
and add to the disaster that overwheims the
I inundated sections. Al Helena. Ark, the
water has backed np into the city, covering
{ the greater portion Of 1t 10 the depth Of tOGr
/ feet and Il IS rising ~ the rate Of foot day.
Z The citizens are conveyed to their dwellings
I by means of skif's. Planting throughout the.
section of the country from Memphis as far
down as Nickshurg mHsi necessarily he de
layed this season.
CtSctxxArl. Feb 2D.-Heayy rain has been
falling all the morning. The river at IL n. M.
was tily five feet aud rising two inches an
hour All the cellars below Third street are
flooded, practically suspending business in
that part ot the city, rs great force Is kept
busy removing goods The Plum street pas
seneer station l. Inaccessible. and trains de-
Z liver passengers AZ Wood street. MaddaN
Hobart /. distillcry and the Giol.e Rolling Mill
1 have been compelled "a close operations. The
former have driven away all their stock.
Other disiilIeries Ia the same locality viii be
compelled 10 close to-day. ii the rain shonld
stop nov. il i estimated that ihere viii De Eve
feet more Of a rise. and Nhat Will come wIth
more rain would make the highest water ever
kncwn.
MAulSoN, Ind. Feb. 2a.-The Oh5o river
AZ this point Is Overlooking IT, banks, causing
a suspension of business along the ryer front,
aud doing considerable damage 10 pF0psrty.
The river Is still rising two inches per hear.
and a jrizzling rain j. still falling.
LarIsvIlLE. Feb. 2a.-li has be,,n raining
here necessarily for The las, ,hirty-siN hours
The river has submerged the entire wharf
front and aFivcR many people oUi 81 their
homes. The city Is surrounded With water.
RspoFts frpm AL points along the ohi0 and
Mississsppe rivers Err most discuuraE'nE.
Farms arr inundated and harms and other
baildings are tiosiiug awaY. The uVrg y siili
rising here tonight
CHlcaso. Feb "a There Nas heavy Fssin.
fall oa the hacs of the Chicago aud Alton.
Wabash, 81 Louis and Pacihe. Chicago, Bar
lnEfon and Quincy. and IndIsnarolis and -.
Isnais railways in southwestern lllinois last
night and this morning,
The grades and tracks ef eli shciF lines arr
washed out - mHny psaces, ard Through traiHs
between Chicago and 81. Louis havc b=sn sus-
pended
-. LarIs. Feb. so.-Nearly .iN Inches Of
rain has fallen here aucs SATURDAY Eaorpsag,
and considerable daaaage has heru dons. al
trains were fsum lunr 20 eight hours .ats IN
arriving The morning. AZ Cave Cliff. ga the
Iron Mountain Railroasi, theFr ! an exieHsiyg
sashnat, ard tso IassroEUr tFsins which lsfi
the tusun Deepest last atehi Nerc obliged q
lay over ail rixhs Al Caruuaeles. and aFc sal
there. A scafsuld erected ssr the ne 81 wnrk
Inen while repairing the -. Charles bridge 90
The Wabash Railroad wa- washed away hy the
suddra risc in the Missouri riveF ihss Hsarnsag.
The river has riscu als0af ten feet ssace yes.
terslay. The rise WAs 81 unex xpcetcd that con
siderable freight. Rhieh sas isiug On fhr lsxes
near the old short hne, sas swepl awAy. Al
other property has heea morrd further mp the
hank o. taken away altogether to-day. taal
40 farther damage eaR b. done. The east
bound train on the Ohio and Mississippi Rail
road and tbs Eest bouud train on the AissouEl
Pacific Railway wcrc the 0niy trains which
departed to-day. Al trains GA the other roads
hare returned on aecoant II the EashOnts.
A special frpla -. Charles says that the
three temporary spans and the two wooden
piers. supporting The middle ircstles q the
81. Charlcs bridge, were carrlsd aWay si p.
m. to-day The eastern Howe truss spans and
supporting pier are still standing. The rteI
Is rising rapidly. and rain IS fAsiiag e0ntinu.
ally.
WAsmxsraN. Feb. 20-Mr Daaa. Of Ar.
kansas, introduced = resolution IN the H0nsc
to-day authorizing the Secretary II War g.
grant immediate relief hy issuing rations to ths
destitnie citizens II Arkansas and contiguous
territory Of Louisiana in the Red River Val
ley The resolution was referred to the Ap.
preparation Committee, with Instructions 80
make an early report 10 the House Mr..
Damn SAYS relative 70 the urgency If this liil
that. while the state Of Arkansas i accredited
with 30 per cent. Of nm average crup, the plant
en- aud farmers Of tkis particular section,
Owing 10 the drought, made hardly more than
~ per cent. and that several hundred thoas-
and persons are already in a destitute e0ndi'
ton that the recent overflow Of the river has
flooded four million acres of land aud driven
back upon a section already impoverished
thousands more Of starving refugees. He es.
Inmates that al least 10000 persons will re
destita,ion and actual starvation.
Dispatches on "Wednesday give the details
Of the great suffering caused by the overflow,
which was followed by iatense cold on Mon
day and Tuesday, causing much suffering
both to persons and cattle. In many places
the wafer was from eight to seventeen fee
above the highest point reached IN ls47, which
was the most disastrous food known in that
section. Fresh breaks in the lefees are re.
ported and il looks as If the destruction "a
houses, land and farm stock would be irrepar
able Fortunately only few lives have been
lost. Traffic on many railroads has been stop
ped. No estimate can be given Of the dam
age. The details would occupy several col
umns of the ADVOCATE.
The food is practically over at Cinein
mats. AT midnight Wednesday night the river
was 50 feet, and falling two inches per hour
The weather was clear and cold. The people
had ample warning Of this food, and the
damage win be chiefly by delay 10 business
All trains were running on Thursday.
The --latest.
The cold weather in the West has stopped
the overhowing of the rivers, and the rail
roads, WHICH were the principal sufferers, are
rapidly repairing damages and resuming pper
ations. The Ohio and Mississippi rivers arr
falling, hut considerable portion of the low
er Mississippi valley is still under water, A
on;y;IIa tba rivar e "a nllio0 ~ tho rate af nnf