Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-10
THE MISSISSIPPI FLOOD.
It Has Become an Appalling
Calamity.
Thousands of People on the Verge
Of Starvation.
LITTLE Rock, March, 9th.

LITTLE ROCk, March. ?th.
II. C. Harris haa been sent down to Dasha
county by Governor Churchill to aid in dis
trituting government supplies. He reports
that along the river front of Jesha Co., hun
dred miles in length. the destitution is be-
yond description. The water reached an un-
precedented height. Scarcely farm house
or residence on the bottom has escaped in
undation.
The people have been compelled TO build
false floors in their houses or seek safety on
higher land, where, in rudely constructed
camps of brush boughs and cane. they sit and
wait for starvation and death 1t is appall-
ing, and without government aid, literally
and quickly bestowed. there IS no telling
where it will end. Many persons have been
feeding on carcasscs of drowned cattle. Per-
sonal investigation, as well assurances
from reputable gentlemen convinced Harris
that not less than 600 families averaging six
to each family in Desha county alone. are
dependent on the charity of the government.
He believes it is no exaggeration to place the
gross number of old and young at $500 In
dications point to a long continuance of the
overflow, the most sangune hardly daring TO
hope for its subsiding before MAY.
Incessant rain has fallen here, since one
O'Clock yesterday morning. The rain fall
already measures one and thirty-nine hun
dredths inches. Cumberland river is rising
rapidly tonight. and will reach line of ~
feet above low water mark by tomorrow
forenoon. Another flood is anticipated. Ten
RATS have been lost since last night.
The rain storm of tonight extends from
Texas eastward to Georgia, thence northward
to Ohio, thence westward to Kansas. 1t is
predicted that there will be additional and
still more destruction by the floods in the
Mississippi valley.
HELENA. Ark, March ..
No hope now that the flood can be kept
from. the town and at any moment the alarm
bell may ring out the news that the water is
flooding the streets. Those who occupy the
houses in exposed places have moved to sec
ond stories Ofbusiness houses and to the build
ings on the highest point.
The overflow from the backwater occupies
two-thirds of the town, and is still rising.
Regular business is done by boats and scows
carrying people from the Overfowed district,
and scores of big boats are at work moving
furniture and other property. News from below
tells of great distress, and increasing loss of
stock and buildings.
The break at Bolivar, Miss, is one of the
greatest ever made in the levee system. and
floods vast territory. Water can be seen from
tow steamers dashing through to the fields be-
low with the force and roar of cataract. Ter
rene, Miss, because of its central position,
has been made the point for distribution for
the section around Bolivar and Riverton, and
every boat leaving this place for the country
below carries supplies to the sufferers and
yet cries for help comes up from every hand.
MEMPHIS, March 9.
The river this morning at seven indicated
36 feet and inch on the gauge. rise of
two inches since yesterday afternoon. caused
day and last night. Today, there is regular
March weather, a strong wind is blowing
from the South causing waves to form in
the river, which may prove disastrous to the
levees at Helena and Friarspoint.