Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-03-15
HIGH WATER IN THE MisSIsSIPPI
RIVER.

HIGH WATER IN THE MfSSISSIPPI
RIVER.
MEMPHIS, March g.
Reports received from the flooded districts In
Eastern Arkansas ara Of the most dishearten-
ing character. The damage is much greater
than first announced. Refugees from Desha
and Chicoh counties give graphic and thrilling
sccounts of the floods which drove them from
their homes. Ono man says he was awakened
at midnight by roaring sound, and aroused
his wife and three children under the impress
sion that cyclone was sweeping across the
plantation. Some minutes later the house
was swept frop, its foundation, and ii loated
of on a sea of water. The wreck was
almost instantaneous, and the occupants OF tha
dwelling could not realize the situation until
they were forced to seek shelter on the roof.
They were rescued the next morning. Many
incidents OF q similar nature are related. The
Governor Of Arkansas says the num-
Der OF persons requiring assistance ip
that ate alone will reach $4,000.
The Governor of Missouri telegraped the
Secretary of War to increase the ratons
ordered for the flood sufferers. Secretary
bad already gone forward TO the inundated
portion of Missouri, and that the Arkansas
Commissioners ask is, 600 rations for forty
days, which will exceed the appropriation.
Eight army officers will be detailed 10 invest1-
gate the needs of the people. and it is thought
is TO be asked to furnish the poor with seed
corn.
ACCOUNTS OF the floods along the Lower Mis-
sissippi country grow gloomier as the days 90
by. Whole towns have been swept away by the
angry waters, plantations destroyed ard i'm
mense stretches of fertile country IN ArSar sas
and Mississippi inundated. The dest -uc-
ton OF property has been apPall-
ing, and famine threatens the unfortunate vic :
Tins of the overflow. A dispatch from River
ton, Miss, says that when the current struck
that town it was impossible TO pull q boat
through, and the people took shelter upon the
housetops and upon floating pieces OF fences,
sides Of buildings, etc. II was about an hou r
before Rosedale was flooded, and the people
there had time to save some OF their
clothing and the most valuable OF their
light personal property. As soon as possible
the ladies and children were removed to the
wharf-boat at Terrene, where a temporary
shelter was found the men staying by their
property and homes, seeing all they possessed
swept away by the torrent of angry waters.
The color.d people Jared the worst and many
were lost III the immediate vicinity OF
RIverton.
Hon. L. II. Mangum, of Arkansas, in
an interview with an Associated
counties OF Misslssppi, CriItenien, Lee, Pom
sett, Cross, Craighead, St. Francis, Phillips,
Desba, Chicot aud Monroe, in Arkans ~, he
had information of about 10000 destitute peo-
pie, who would have to be fed by the Govern
Inent for at least forty days. These counties
do not include those bordering on the Rcd
river, where great suffering is said to exist.
Senator Garland says the cities and towns OF
the State are responding literally; but they are
burdened by refugees from flooded districts.
He also says The present distress is only begin
ming.
Commissioner w. L. Hemingway, Of Mis-
sissippi, said the inhabitants Of Tunica, Goa
homa, Desoto, Quitman, Bolivar, Washington.
Issaquena YaZoo, Talahatchee and Sunh owe =
counu,s in his State, TO the number OF 1900.
were ID Ike suffering condition. Those coun-
ties in Mississippi are all above Vicksburg, and
there are other counties below that city that
have suffered by the floods q
Three thousand Tennesseesns residing along
the Mississippi river arc reported by Gov. Haw-
kins in destitute condition. The Governor OF
Illinois has asked the Secretary OF War for re-
lief for the sufferers from the overflow OF the
OHIO in Pulaski county, Ill; Secretary Lincoln
has ordered relief TO be sent.
APPEALs for all are being received by the
Secretary Of War from the sufferers from food,
in Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi
anu Al CUuuty, Hi, 9.VV
persons are in need OF assistance. The relief
commissioners for Arkansas, Miss ssippi and
Tennessee report 43, 900 destitute persons. Re
ports from every section Of the Southern Mis-
sissippi valley give accounts of destitution snd
suffering. Hundreds Of poor co'ored people
have been rendered houseless by the water,
losing everything, and have positively nothing
to eAt. The white people are poorly OF 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. NJ. O. Harris, who was
sent TO Desha county, Ark, BY Gov. Churchill h
aid in distributing supplies TO persons rendered
destitute by the overflow, reports that the suf-
fering and destitution is beyond description.
Scarcely farmhouse or residence in the bot
tom has escaped inunds,ion. The people have
been compelled TO build false floors In
Their houses or seek safety on some
OF the higher lands, where, in rudely
constructed camps Of hrnsh boughs
and cane, they sat and wait for starvation and
death. 1t 10 appalling. and without Government
aid, literally and quickly hastened. there is no
telling where il will end. Many persons
have been feeding on carcasses Of drowned
cattle. Personal investigation, as well a
assurances from reputable gentlemen, con.
vinced Mr.. Harris that not less than
600 families, averaging say six 10 the family.
In Desha county alone, are dependent upon the
charity OF the Government.
The indications point to long continuance
OF the overflow, the most sanguine hardly dar-
ing TO hope for Its subsiding before May.