Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-09
THE VICTIMS OF THE FLOOD.
The Situation Daily Growing Graver
Further Official Correspondence
A Better Outlook at New Orleans.

MEMPHIS, March 8.-The river continues
stationary, with thirty-six feet on the
gauge, the highest point reached this sea-
son. There is no cessation of reports of
great suffering by the people in the over
flowed districts. In reply to an inquiry Of
the Secretary of War as to the number
OF destitute in his State, Judge
Mangum, the Commissioner for Arkan-
sas, replied that he had information
of 10000. but the number Is Increasing
daily. Commissioner Hemingway reported
lo,OOO In needy condition In Mississippi
and 5,OOO In Tennessee, making 43, 900 per
sons whose condition is such as to demand
prompt attention at the hands of the gov
ernment. The change in the weather has
increased the suffering, and many lives
must be lost from exposure. Gov. Haw-
kins has appointed H. NJ. James as Com
missioner for Tennessee to receive govern
ment supplies.
MEMPHIS, March 8, 6 P. M-The river
remains stationary here, with SO feet on the
gauge. Passengers, who arrived from below
levee at Helena was still intact
yesterday afternoon. A force of three hun
dred men was at work guarding all the weak
points. The river there was rising steadily.
At Austin, Mississippi, between Mem
phls and Helena, the river had
cut through the town, DESTROYING
the principal buildings, among the number
Masonic Temple. The Centennial Block,
q large brick building, is almost demolished,
the water being twenty feet deep all around
IL. Several storehOuses and dwellings were
washed away and carried half mile. The
loss OF stock continues. and the situation is
hourly growing more desperate.
NEW ORLEANS, March S.-No further dis
asters to the levees are reported, but the
people are thoroughly aroused and are
strengthening points all along the line. The
heavy south wind to-day produced swell
in the river, the water &C times breaking
over the levee at the head of Duval street
and at several points between the city and
Carrollton. This, however, creates no alarm
The gauge this morning showed the river to
be seven-tenths OF an inch below the high
water mark of 1874.
WASHINGTON, March The Secretary of
War has received the following dispatch
from L. Il. Mangum, Commissioner for
Arkansas, at Memphis
Have issued one hundred thousand ra-
tions throughout the overflowed country in
Arkansas to about Fifteen thousand suf-
ferers. These will last seven or eight days.
Affairs are very alarming. Suffering is on
the increase, and will continue so for forty
or fifty days under most favorable circum-
stances. There are not less than twenty
thousand destitute sufferers from the over
flow in Arkansas"
He also received the following from VIM.
l.. Hemingway, Commissioner for Missis-
sippi, at Memphis:
Eighteen thousand persons are without
supplies or the means for procuring them.
The number will increase rapidly during
the overflow. The rations issued will be
exhausted by the 18th inst"
Governor Hawkins, OF Tennessee, has
telegraphed to the Secretary of War as fol-
lows:
81 have appointed H. w. James Commits
sloner for Tennessee to receive and
receipt for stores at Memphis
Other points In Tennessee will be
supplied from that place. The number
of Tennesseeans made destitute by the over
flow is estimated at from three to five thou
sand"
The Secretary to-day telegraphed Gov
ernor Hawkins as follows!
Twenty thousand rations have been or
dered to be sent to Commissioner James at
Memphis"