The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-07-15
A Strong Appeal for Help.
A Pitiable Picture of the Destitution and
Suffering Of the New River People.
DoNALDsoNyILLE, July II. 1882

/ u irritable Picture of the Destitutiou and
Suffering Of the New River People.
| DoNALDsoNyILLE, July ID, 1882
EDITOR CHIEF:
AS a member of the Jury Commission
OF this parish, a notice was duly sent to
me by the proper authority to meet the
Jury Commissioners this day at the Court
| House in the town Of Donaldsonville. fol
the purpose of drawing a Jury for the
next term Of District Court.
Had / not accepted the position with
the intention Of performing all it's duties
certainly would not have been here to-
| day. Disasters Of such nature have
happened to my unfortunate section
i-sufferings Of all kinds having invaded
it to such an extent, that being looked
upon by goodly number of my immedi-
ate neighbors for the little assistance my
reduced circumstances permit me to rem
der them, would not have left home
even for short time, except for the rea-
sou above stated.
Yesterday morning, from the very steps
Of my house, embarked in flat bot
toned boat, to work my way to this
town. Boating all the way in depth
OF water varying from one to three feet,
l arrived at the Conway sugar-house,
where it was my good fortune to meet an
old friend, Mr.. Robert Clarke, who was
kind enough to furnish me transporta-
ton and accompanied me to town.
The 9TH ward Of this parish, to which
I belong, and which is commonly called
the New River settlement, is and has been
under water since the 3rd of April last,
with the exception Of few ridges here
and there. For any one to imagine that
our section could possibly raise even one
fourth Of a crop Of corn this season would
be preposterous. We have reached the
middle Of July and, Judging the future
by the past, saying nothing of the rise Of
the Mississippi in the last few days, it
will certainly be two OF three weeks be-
fore our highest lands shall be uncovered
and dry enough to he plowed and planted.
Now, is there any man in this parish
who has raised a crop Of corn planted on
OF after the first Of August in any year9
What, then, must be the ultimate result.
Distress, destitutiop, starvation! When,
Mr.. Editor, I use this language, do so
with full knowledge Of its significance.
1t was only a few days ago that a wor-
thy priest from our section, in the pulpit
of the Catholic Church in this town, de-
plcted the distress and sutferings of our
people, admitting that after having Wis
tied the scene of misery, his heart had
failed him, and that he had started on
the holy mission Of doing all that could
be done to alleviate the troubles around
him. Most of our homes have been turned
into hospitals. Food and medicine are
needed. We can not help ourselyes!
Those Of us who would otherwise have
had a sufficiency for our families, have
shared our little with the most needy
consequently the distress is general.
Acquainted as l anr',in your town,
was not at all surprised to hear OIL all
sides the offers of assistance made to the
New River people; but it strikes me that
the Police Jury should lie the proper
body to take the matter in band. They,
| understand, at a meeting last Tuesday,
a week ago, appointed the member from
our ward a committee to report at their
adjourned meeting Of last Tuesday, the
condition of the people of our ward. He
has not only failed to report, but has not
even put in an appearance. There has
been a good deal of opposition to the is
suing Of rations to the sufferers, 10y some
parties in the ward. Can it be thai our
member has been influenced by that op
position, and he Blinded TO the extent Of
ueglectipg or refusing to perform such a
christian duty? hope not. There must
lie some mystery that the future, perhaps,
will clear up. It is we'll known in our
section-and our police member resides
within one mile of my house-that men
over 60 years old, widows aud orphans
have had to abandon their homes and
remove to the barren hills, where they
are now living in palmetto huts, destitute
Of bread or even medicine. I have had
many of them come to ME and in the
name of God, beg for little bread, say
ing that meat was luxury they would
do without. Now, Mr.. Editor, l hope
none Of your readers will imagine that 1
am seeking aid for myself Thanks to
Providence and to my good friends, am
comparatively above want. have con-
suited none Of our people, nor have l
been authorized by any Of them to appear
i'll their name. Ionly lay their condition
before you and say, as men, brothers and
christians, the people Of Ne,c Rirer need
and are entitled to aUyou can do to alleviate
their suferings from sickness and hanger.
JOSEPH GONZALES.
"The Villa Bohemia is the title of
very interesting little novel recently
published by Messrs. Kochendorfe &
Uric, copy Of which has been sent us