Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-25
The WATERS RISING.
Eioht Plantations Submerged by
the Floods.
People Living in Corn Cribs and Gin
Houses.
New ORLEANS. March "a.


snecial saws a steamer arrived at Delhi
La. YESTERDAY. At the mouth of the Red
river information was obtained that Hog
Point crevasse had submerged six large PLAN
tations.
The stock had generally been sent out of
that section to the hills in Mississippi. On
the way up to Delhi. the steamer plcaed up
several families who were in search of high
ground After reaching the mouth of Black
river. the entire country presented the ap-
pearance of vast inland sea. not spot of
land was 10 be seen.
Houses of squatters or small farmers were
abandoned and almost submerged. Only
chimneys and roofs of houses could be seen
above the flood. The occupants had re-
moved their stock and household goods to
the high lands further up the river. These
people having no credit cannot furnish them
selves with provisions.
The present distress will be relieved by
ration agents at Troy and other points. Near
Nv all the women and children in this COM
munitv have been sent 10 the hills, but the
male population. white and colored, are lv-
ing in gin houses and corn cribs. the floors
of which are scaffolded up above the water.
They are working hard to save the stock
by conveying them by means of fiat boats to
high land. There are at least eight planta-
tons on Black river, with nothing to mark
their locality but numerous house tops. Wa
ter in the fields is six feet deep. and the only
means of communication is by boats. Rats
filled with frightened cattle, and poultry hud-
died together on the house tops caused the
scene to be one of utter desolation, and one
which was difficult to describe.
After leaving Troy and entering Tensas
river, no land was seen until they reached
L.
miles. Through this section it was more
like a sea than river verge BY interview
ing white and colored people it was ascertained
that along the Tensas river very little suf-
fering for the want of food prevails, as the
colored people have far been furnished
with food by the planters. The stock from
this section had generally been sent to the
hills. Prominent planters on the Tensas,
stated that they were opposed to the issuance
| of government rations, as there was no des-
tituton along the river great that the peo-
pie cannot relieve, and rations would de-
moralize the laborers. The planters, gen.
| orally, are able to feed their hands until the
flood is over. The negroes had already re-
fused to assist in conveying out stock, say
| ing that the government would send them
rations.
| Other planters, however, say that many of
them could not reach to the city merchants to
advance supplies. and unless the government
| furnished rations there would be destitution
among the colored people.
| Lieutenant Randolph, detailed by the war
| department to investigate the condition of
| the people in this section, carefully ques-
! toned the people, and from facts obtained a
conclusion was reached that at present the
| only restitution is among the white and col
ored squatters who cultivate small farms,
who have no help and have neither credit nor
money. The Democrats special says the
steamer is rendering good services in this
section removing stock, etc.
\ Delhi special says: The Black Tensas
and Bayou Macon rivers are rising rapidly.
and there are fears that the stock scaffoded
along these streams will be drowned. The
| loss of stock is now estimated at $50 600,
and of fences 100000 Along these streams
IS 600 people live, and they cultivated l00,-
900 acres. The overflow in Concordia Par
ish extends back to the Mississippi river. So
miles in Tensas Parish from the Tensas
| river and Bayou Macon to the Mississippi
river 30 miles in Franklin Parish, from
| Fensas west to the Onachita river 10 miles
Tensas river since Saturday has risen five
| feet and is rising eleven inches in twenty
four hours Along the Tensas and BAYOU
Macon it is three feet higher than in 1874
and the unprecedented flow is accounted for
| by the breaks in the levees at Milikin's Bend
and Goodrich's Landing. The rations which
| have been sent up in this section are sufficient
to supply the destitute for quite while, I'M
less the floods become more disastrous The
people are all in good health, and say that if
the water subsidies by the middle of May
| they will make full crop. and may f the
water gets down in the early part of June.