The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-03-30

ties from the nelghborhood Of LAX
Z Concordia and Tensas rivers report grea
destitutiOn. The water rose so fast tina
many people had to place piCkets acros
raiters in their houses and take refuge
there, having no means of getting away
and many of these houses are tottering from
the force of the current Tensas river IL
rising five inches in twenty-four hours, ano
if it continues at this rate the lives of thest
,,eople are in great danger unless speedily
| y lieved.
Perfect panic prevails among negroes
many of whom are 50 terrified as to be una
BILE to make the least effort towards saving
themselves or families, until reused by the
whites.
MEMPHIS, March 25.-The river is falling
steadily all the way from Cairo to below
Vicksburg, and decline of four feet will
' put the water within banks.
| HELENA, ARK, March 25.-The waters
are falling slowly, but hunger and distress
still abound. Negroes. planters and coun-
try people will be as destitute as in the
earliest settlement of the state. In Laconia
Circle, particularly rich and tlourishing
section, there is great suffering existing.
The iegee which broke there, built at cost
of $3.50, 900, was thought to be impregnable.
This faith has caused a great
loss of stock, for when the
break came it was too late to save any
considerable amount. Houses are being
used for refuge both for cattle and human
beings. In one house whole family are
living in the back part OF their house while
their mules quarter in the front room and
on the porch. Lieutenants Satterlee and
Richards left to-day together for points
for further investigation, the former
to Mississippi county, Arkansas, the latter
out on the hon Mountain & Helena rail.
road to Mariana, to consult with Colonel
Hewitt, sub-commissioner of that district
The steamer Dick Jones, just returned from
Sunk Lands, reports the horrors more and
more terrible. The people were still eat
ing drowned carcasses and some few little
boiled corn.
VICKsBURG, MISS, March 25.-The waters
are receding. a majority of people are in
better condition and hopeful for the future.
New ORLEANS, March 2S.-W, II. Dartin,
formerly state engineer, under the Louisi-
ana Levee company, i'll an interview to-day,
expressed the opinion that up to the pres
ent time the damage done in the sugar dis
trict is not alarming. The greatest damage
had resulted from Pointe Coupee
breaks, and those along Crosse Tete and
other bayous in that region. If the water
receded in twenty days, enough cane will
be made for seed and fair grinding. The
cool weather and water has started growth.
Where the cane has gained growth enough
flow for ten or twenty days will do no harm.
He mentioned a case where cane submerg-
ed for thirty-fve days produced better
crop than cane not overflowed. Where
cane is entirely submerged more than ten
days he thinks it doubtful whether it will
live or not.
The state commissioners continue receiv-
ing appeals from all overtlowed sections.
They to-day shipped $1,000 rations for
Boeuf river, and 10000 for West Feliciana,
Concordia and Madison parishes, They
also shipped to the same localities the fol-
lowing, which they received from the citi-
zens' relief committee: Corn, oats and
salt for stock also 10000 feet of lumber to
Live Oak Grove, Pvinte Coupee and Port
Allen.
NATcHEz, Miss, March 2S-During Sun
day and Monday about three inches Of rain
fell here. About 10 O'Clock Monday morn
ing slight tornado passed from the north
west mile north oftown, tearing off the
roof of one building, uprooting trees and
tearing down fences. Not much damage
was done, as its path was narrow. The
river is forty-seven feet eight inches and
stationary.
Vidalia, Louisiana, is covered with water
from three co six feet deep. All the resi-
dents of that town have removed to
Natchez.
The steamer Minnie arrived here yester-
day morning. with stock from the over
flowed district, having come all the way
from the Tensas river, distance OF twenty
seven miles, overland. This shows how
high the water is over /Concordia parish,
when a steamboat cap travel above wagon
roads. Such a sight was never witnessed
before in this section. Government sup
plies have lately been received at Vidalia
for tn" overfowed people of Concordia
parish, but not in sufficient
quantity to relieve their needs, and unless
more are sent soon great suffering must en-
tail on those who had to abandon home and
everything to save their Lives from the
flood. All bottom lands on the Mississippi
side as far as Fort Adams are under water.
Here also great destitution prevails. Cap
tain Lam bert, sheriff, and other prominent
citizens of this county, are making strenu-
Gus effort to obtain relief.
NICHsBUEG, March 2S.-Commenting on
the flood the Herald says; Within forty
wears there never has been two disastrous
overhows of the Mississippi valley in one
year. Sometimes the rise comes one
month, sometimes another. In 1880 il
came as late as June; in 1867, in April; in
1914, in May, and in 1852, in March. There
has been but one overflow in June
there was no overflow in the spring.
ST. LOUIS, March 2S.-Captain Bonham,
of the United States army, has telegraphed
to General Beckwith, from Helena, Arkan-
sas, that $1,000 rations left there by the
government steamer, which will supply the
people until April 5th; but he says 10000
more should be sent at once to be followed
a week later by 5000, and then another
week later by 25,0O0 more. This amount he
and State Agent Mangum think will carry
the state through the period OF want.