Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-21
TIE FLOOD
Gradually Shrinking Above
Here,
But Will Give the Country Below
a Rough Deal.

Inc condition OF the submerged
districts continues to improve all tn,
way from Cairo to the mouth of Whit
river. stretch of over 400 miles. A
total decline of nearly two feet is re
ported at the foot of Council Bend
fifty miles below here, and patches o
earth are beginning to show up a
many places which for three or foul
weeks past have been covered will
water.
Over in the St. Francis swamps Al
several points, a decline of four OF fyt
feet is reported, and the surplus watel
is rapidly flowing to its regular chan
mel between the banks Of the river
AT Cairo yesterday afternoon the
water was precisely six feet below the
highest point reached this season
which was on the 18th of last month
The government steamer General
Bernard, with $4,000 rations, intended
for distribution among suffering peo.
pie about Helena, passed down from
st. Louis this forenoon. Among those
on board was Mr.. j. II. q. Erwin. Of
the editorial staff of the st. Louis
Globe Democrat, who is acting assist.
ant quartermastermaste by appoint
ment Of Mr.. Lincoln, Secretary OF
War.
The steamer Bernard encountered a
rafting equinoctial storm on the
downward passage, but being a staunch
craft rode through the blow without
damage. Other vessels were seen
hugging the bank closely, thus seeking
protection from the force of the gale.
Mr.. Erwin wrote up an account Of the
storm and paid a hOrseman 50 to carry
1t across the country to a telegraph
station, from whence it was to be
transmitted for this mornings Globe.
Democrat. AT a point some distance
above the city, where the Bernard
tied up last night, nine families were
found in a destitute and pitiable con-
dition.
A man named Leroy Forsyth came
out from the overlooked timber on the
western shore and undertook to bar
ter a few sticks of wood for little
meal He stated thst the pneumonia
had broken out among the poor PEG.
pie OF the vicinity, and that a young
doctor from the Tennessee shore had
been practicing upon them, but could
10 nothing more for lack of a supply
d quinine, the same being exhausted.
Two children we're lying dead in one
)f the cabins, one having died of
scarlet fever. In another house cattle
had actually been hoisted into the
second story Of the house to save them
rom drowning. Learning the details
If the prevailing distress, the officers
N the Bernard left couple of bbls
It pilot bread aud quantity Of other
,atables.
Much complaint is heard regarding
he method in vogue of distributing
he public stores. An instance is re-
ated OF a landowner residing at Hell
ma who moved his laboring people to
high ground to care for them while
lis lands were submerged. Then he
Employed the men of the force at one
lollar per day to get slaves and timber
'ut of the swamps. He paid promptly.
'ut as soon as the squad heard that
government rations had arrived they
locked to Helena, and he has not
Deen able to get a single laborer since.
they refuse to work in the overflow
or a dollar day or any price as long
IS they can get food for nothing.
The tug Stafford, with tho Globe
Democrat corps on board, stopped
lear Island 81, about 100 miles below
lere, as she passed south a couple of
lays since. The opinion there was
hat the giving out of stores at
ocular towns and landings
worked badly. Well to do people
nd landowners along the river
AIRED for their hands in the time of
distress, as they desired to have them
It hand when the water goes of. It'll
vas ascertained that at Laconia, Con- |
orGia, Australia, Carson's and other
,oints many had received stores who
ould get along very we'll without
hem. Those really needing relief
Eere the poorer classes who are work |
ng for themselves and who have no |
Employers able to furnish them.
On Sunday last the Secretary Of the |
louisiana Board of Engineers re |
'Orted the following crevasses
'etween the northern boundary oil
Louisiana and the gulf. The Ashton
revasses have been open since 1867. |
They begin near the upper line oil
)arroll parish, and extend into Ar
ansaw; estimated length, eight miles.
n Madison parish there are crevasses
{ Omega, Buckner. Morganza. Mill. |
ems Bend, Delta Biggs and Diamond
sland Bend. The last named has
cen open since 1867. In Tensas
arish, at Woodburn, Buckner, Point
'leasaut, Ships Bayou, Hard Times
'Ord6eld, Hard Scrabble and Kemp.
n Concordia parish, at Claremont and
the latter open since 1874.
n Pt. Coupee parish, at Morganza
nd Pt. Coupee, the former open since
874. In Ascension parish, at Landry
lace. In st. John Baptiste parish,
t Bonnet Care, open since 1874. In
\. Barnard parish, at Story pIanta-
lon, six miles below New Orleans. In
'laquemines parish. at Liveoak Grove.
VI above are on the right bank of the
Mississippi river, except Landry,
Sonnet Carrie and Story, these three |
eing on the left bank. There are
revasses on Atchafalaya-Sutton's
y the left bank, in Pt. Coupee parish,
fellow Bayou and Upper Winn.
rick, in Ayoyelles parish aud Lower
VIM and Trick in Landry parish.
he last three named are on the right
ank. There is also orevasse on
Bayou Lafourche.
Landry crevasse, Ascension parish,
} sixty feet wide. A large force Of
aborers from the adjoining plantations
re endeaVoring to close il. Story Gre.