Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-04-04
THE OVERFLOW.
Vast Stretch of Water Three to
Six Feet Deep.

NEW OhLEANS, alAu - "A ocooAl'A
to the Times Democrat, from Morgan
City, dated yesterday, says:
tsFrom this city to Chucahohla, l9
miles in the direction of New Orleans,
the ecountry is one vaststretch of water,
varying in depth from three to SIX
feet. The water throughout this
section has risen five inches in the
past "a hours. At this hour, 10 p.
1m., it is rising at the rate of one inch
every four hours.
At Fayetteville, IA miles east of
here, the water is eight inches be-
low the food OF 1874, while
here it is four inches above that
mark. From Chuckahoula to this
place there is no land visible, save a
small mound at Tyeryille, and as you
approach Morgan City some small
sections of the land barely showing
above the surface of the water. In
many places the water reaches half
way to the ceiling of the houses, and
the fences are completely covered.
Wherever it is possible, the people
are clinging to their houses and liv-
ing on improvised floors. Nearly all
took warning in time and
drove their stock to Terrebon
Ridge or to this place, and
from here large quantities have been
shipped across the bay to the highs
lands on the western banks of Teche
Bayou. The wide diffusion of the
waters prevents strong current.
and hence buildings and fences have
not been materially damaged.
Morgan City to day presents a fair
parallel to the third district of New
Orleans, during the overflow from
the lake about a year ago. Five
sixths Of it is under water, vary
ing from six inches to six
feet in depth. Skifs and
perogues are utilized on the streets
for communication along the princi-
pal business blocks, and sidewalks
have been erected some four or five
feet above the banquets, and in most
of the buildings false floors have
been improvised. There is as yet no
special distress among the people
They meet their misfortunes with
cheerful patience, accepting the inev-
liable, but hoping for a speedy sub
sidence of the waters.
New IBERIA, La, April 1.-The
Teche is still rising at the rate of
eleven inches in twentysfour hours.
Father Coughlin, parish priest at
Lorensville, in Big Forche point, on
The east side, eight miles from here,
reports 1900 persons homeless on
account of the food, and applications
for shelter in his church and stables
are numerous. He is asking local
contributions. Their distress
is represented as appall-
ing. The Red River water
through Bayou Contrableau,
as we'll as that of the Mississippi,
and through the Atchafalaya and
Grand Lake, will bring US to the
level of the lake. We are now past
the high water mark of 1874, and
will probably exceed it two feet, or
more.
FRANKLIN, La, April 1.-The water
is rising an inch per hour. Thirty
six hours will submerge Franklin
and the back country. The prospect
is alarming. At meeting of the
citizens of st. Mary's Parish, held
to-day, a committee was appointed
to confer with the Governor, State
Engineer and President Morgan, of
the Louisiana and Texas Railroad
Company, relative to the alarming
aspect of the water, threatening
the inundation of the west as
it has the east side of Bayou
Teche, and request that an engineer
be detailed to examine and report
whether or not there exists any arti-
fetal distractions to the free passage
of the water to the tide level, and
whether or not the removal of such
obstructions in parish st. Marys,
Terra Bonne or Assumption, or
either OF them, will not pre-.
vent the overflow of the land on the
west side of the Teche,in st. Mary's,
and the destruction of the crops
thereon.
Resolved, That the people of st.
Mary's are clearly Of the opinion,
founded on actual observation, that
the Morgan railroad embankment
is the most serious artificial obstruc>
ton to the flow of water from the
immediate districts west of the
Mississippi River, and is now caus-
ing the water to rise at the rate of
one inch an hour, threatening the
inundation of the sugar lands on
the west side of the Teche, and a
consequent destruction of the prop
erty and crops of the value of mills
lions to the agricnlturalists of this
parish. We hereby specially and
distinctly notify said corporation to
remove said artificial distractions
to the free flow of the water to tide
level. In default of the water being
so allowed free passage to the level
we hold said corporation liable for
the damage and loss rasulting.
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