Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-10
FRESH CREvASsES.
Additional Breaks at Lake
Charles and Pushmaiaha.

By the arrival of the steamer Belle
Memphis from below this forenoon,
news of additional levee breaks are
reported.
The latest crevasse occurred above
Australia Landing, l40 miles below
here, and all the plantations about
Australia are likely to be flooded by
these fresh disasters.
The break at Lake Charles occurred
about two o'clock last Monday morn
ing. The levee there was an old cot
ton ridge, not sodded, and built par
TALLY Of sand. 1t was about five feet
high and thirty. eight or forty feet
base. The back water and that flow
ing along the river front gradually
undermined the sandy foundation, and
despite the watchful care of a force OF
men kept working night and day t.
strengthen the weak places, it gave
way all at once for a distance of 250
feet, and food of water poured over
Jenkins, Simpsons and Jones plan.
tations, extending on down to
the places about Australia.
ten miles below. On tie three places
named nearly a thousand acres Of til
liable land is now under water to the
depth OF from two to six feet.
The family of Mr.. jenkins was
taken out Of their flooded residenc,
to the bidge near Lake Charles. The
colored hands in the vicinity, som,
one hundred in number, were camped
on a patch OF dry levee, upon whlci
women, children, cattle and mules
were seen huddled, all without shelter
and with very little to eat. The mules
we're saved by swimming them behind
dug-outs to the levee, where they are
now collected.
Many Of the hands waded about all
day Monday and Tuesday to their
waists in water, trying to save pro-
visions, farm implements and plunder.
1t was rough on the poor people, but
they were all saved from drowning by
timely action.
On yesterday morning just before
dawn the new levee at Pushmataha,
three and a half miles from Lake
Charles, gave way 10 ten different
places. These crevasses were caused
by the high westerly winds of yester-
days early hours. The levee there
was about four feet high and thirt,
feet or so base. all new work like the
other and partially sand, which, among
those familiar with leyees, is known to
require close watching.
The Pushmutaha breaks were all in
front of the Anderson plantation and
near the camp of Mr.. st. Clair Arnold
who had force Of men at work pro
tecting and STRENGTHENING the levees Of
the vicinity. His camp was suddenly
submerged and his men were aroused
from their slumbers by the roaring
waters. They had to hustle out in q
hurry, and even then didn't reach
levee patch without wading to their
waists.
Nearly all Of the camp equipage, in
Guiding wheelbarrows, tepts aud i'm
plements, were carried away by the
waters. A portion were saved and
housed near by, Mr.. Arnold had been
at the place named for a month past,
and worked force of from fifty to
eighty men faithfully night and day to
keep the levees from giving way. The
fresh earthwork, however, could not
Withstand the wear of the water both
from front and rear. If the levees
had been properly strengthened at the
proper time, saw six months ago, they
would still be intact,
The ten men, in company with Mr..
Arnold, left the scene Of disaster yes
terday afternoon by the steamer Belle
Memphis, which vessel arrived here
this morning, They report having
boarded the steamer by means of a
small raft upon which the men foated,
the steamer not being able to approach
near enough to take the party from
the levee, The water bound laborers
waited patiently on their dirt pile and
improyised raft for ten long hours to
get a steamer, and when they boarded
the vessel they were wet cold and
hungry.
Mr.. Arnold says the distribution Of
rations is having very demoralizing
effect upon laborers where work
can be performed. Many are
quitting work entirely and huddle
about in spots where they believe free
food is to be handed around by the
government. He says if any rations
had been left in his neighborhood
while there was hope of saving the
levee, he would have dumped the
whole business into the river.
Now, however, that the crevasses
have occurred and the country around
is flooded, there is no more work, and
a few rations would not only be ac-
ceptable but are necessary.
Properly guarded, the free ration
system is a good thing, but carelessly
managed, it is fraught with evil.
Complaints are heard ofrations having
been bestowed upon unworthy objects,
but up to the present time no bill OF
particulars has been made out or
special instances given.