Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-14
THE SOUTHERN FLOOD.
A Graphic Description by Register
Correspondent.
To the Editor Of the Register.

To the Editor Of the Register.
POINT PLEASANT, La, April 10.
SIR-Supposing it might be of interest
to the readers ofyour valuable paper to
know the effect ofthe high water in our
beautiful Sunny South" l write you
as correct description as l can give, OF
the situation in this section (which is
higher than most places in the alluvial
lands of this country. On account OF
the open winter, we expected general
overflow; but none of us looked for any
thing like this. The high water of "a,
the horrors of which most of you are not
unacuuainted with, is now regarded as
a mere shoal. There are places along
the river front here that never have
been known to overflow, over which we
now travel in boats.
Up to a few days ago there were about
seven hundred acres of land on one OF
the places three or four miles below
here, that had been saved by the owners
building a levee, at considerable ex-
pense. On these seven hundred acres
a quadrilateral figure almost III the
shape of square-cOuld be seen twenty
five tenant houses, around some OF
which were beautiful gardens, well
cultivated, full of the choicest vegeta-
bles, and some very pretty shrubbery.
Most of the yards were dense with fruit
trees in full bloom. The grazing in
the field was fine, and vast numbers
of cattle and work stock were pastured
therein. There had been no rain for
two weeks, and the road running
through the field was very dusty. What
a relief it was to go out ahd romp over
that stretch of land, that appeared to us
vast. But the water against the levee
was several feet deep, and the pressure
was too strong. The levee gave way! Il
pause for the want ofability, tOprocced.
Those who have seen crevasSe can
see the picture would draw; those who
have not, can never realize the situation.
In less than an hour there was not
speck of land to be seen large enough to
sprOut mustard seed. The frightened
cattle were wading in water three feet
deep, and the hogs were swimming
about aimlesSly. Some of the cattle
were caught in low places and drowned;
and many of the hogs went under be-
fore they could he driven to platform
that was few inches above the water.
Men, women and children stood in the
water in their homes, screaming for
help. They were rescued aud carried to
barn lofts and the gin house. The stock
were shipped by first steamer to the
"Bluff City" Natchez, Miss. The
steamboat landing was under water,
and it was q sad sight to see the poor,
frightened animals being dragged aboard,
and beaten mercilessly by the cruel
deck hands. Day before yesterday |
went out riding in my modern gondola;
and after pulling a considerable length
of time, saw land-but it was only a
little mound about three feet wide, and
eight or ten feet long. On it were poor,
starving cattle-as many as could stand
that must have been "fasting for
many days" One was dead. How
horriblemust have been that death! In
other parts of the country it is even
worse than it is here. The picture of
destruction is perfect; and were it not
for the aid the government is rendering
to the overlooked sufferers, starvation
would stare most of us in the face.
This aid is the only palliatiOn to the
fearful and terrible situation. But the
water has begun to fall, slowly, and If
it recedes as fast as it came up, good
crops will be made and our now sad
countcnances will beam with joyous
smiles in the Fall. APoS.