Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-01
FLOATING COUNTY.
Interview With & Resident of Desha
County, Ark, Which is Almost
Covered with Water.
The Poor People Living on the Dead
Animals Drawn from the Water
and Then Skinned.

Yesterday afternoon an APPEAL reporter
met Mr. J. p Jones, a well-to-do and intelli-
gent colOred man, and clerk of one OF the
courts of Desha county, Ark, who is on a visit
to Memphis 10 solicit aid for the distressed
people of his section. A large mass meeting
was held recently in Arkansas City, and Mr..
Jones was chosen 10 lay the cause of the
generally of Memphis and st. Louis. Mr..
Jones gave the APPEAL reporter most
REALISTIC DESCRIPTION.
of the terrible condition of affairs in Desha
county.
what we need" said he, dis bread and
meat. There is, of course, but little doubt
that Congress will help us, but you know
that a measure of this kind has to go
through so many formalities that we may be
all drowned or starved out before it comes
What we want is instant relief In the shape OF
FOOD, RATHER THAN MONEY"
Your stock is nearly all gomez"
YES; most OF it is lost, but a little hay
would not go amiss. You will gain some
idea OF the extremities to which the people
are reduced when 1 tell you that they are
pulling out the bodies of dead cattle and
skinning them in order to obtain food"
''Over how much of the county does the
water extendW
"Fully two-thirds of it. For probably
FORTY MILES
dust sixteen feet in diameter, in which are
buried seventeen bodies. As far as the eve
can reach there is one vast sheet of water
"a considerable number of lives have been
lost, them"
Yes; in the last few days nine or ten
people have
BEEN DROWNED.
A colored man and his wife capsized in a
dugout a few days ago, and two men were
drowned Saturday whore bodies have not
been found, and whose names are conse-
qusntly unknown"
How do the people live"
"a great many of the planters have cut
cuddyholes in their roofs, and have been liv-
ing with their wives and children
AMONG THE RAFTERs.
In the cabins of the interior / have seen
in room of 1s by 20 feet, COW and calf,
hogs, cats, dogs, chickens and four or Eve
people"
"Do you think the worst has passed?"
"No; think the suffering will be
FULLY AS GREAT NEXT YEAR.
There will be after the water has all left us,
q bad condition of affairs. The cotton seed
OF our part part of the country has nearly
all been bought up by the seed oil-mills, and
so little ls LETT that l. don't think there Is
enough to plant half the country. In this
opinion l backed up by the oldest and
most experienced planters. Now, our part
of the country is the garden spot of the land
for cotton, but it certainly looks black for US
this year."
HARD TO BE A BEGGAR.
Mr.. Jones remarked in conclusion: at
is rather hard for me appear as a beggar. 1
never begged for myself, and can't do it
gracefully for others; but it has to be done,
aud I expect to visit the Memphis mer-
chants and solicit food, and those who would
rather contribute little money will find
that it goes to those for whom it is intended.
While l want help for the people OF Desha
county, will frankly say that it will be to
my interest and to that of other large prop
erty-owners to aid the poor. When I left
there were nineteen strangers being fed and
provided for at my house. OF course
would be compelled to go under at that
rate"
Mr.. Jones comes we'll Endorsed and author
lied to solicit aid His credentials were
shown the APPEAL reporter. He is stopping
with the register, Mr.. Fred Hunt This
afternoon he will make a statement at the
Cotton Exchange at 8 o'clock.