Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-11
THE FLOODS.

NEW ORLEANS, La, March SIN
response to numerous letters receiv~
ed from planters and others, repre-.
senting the danger caused by the
waves of the steamboats,, Maj. r. B.
X. hardson, chief State engineer,
makes, officially, the request that
pilots and capita as pass their steam>
boats as far away from the levees at
the exposed and threatened points, as
possible, and to run slowly and care>
fully when passing near such levees
as are unstable. 1t has also been
specially requested, that, if possible,
steamboats, cease running in Bayou
La Fousche, altogether, for the pres
ent.
A dispatch from Alexandria, La,
says that the levee there gave way
at o'clock.
A dispatch from Capt. M. L. Sco-
vile, of Shreveport, reports that the
weather at 8 a. m was clear, but that
previous to that time rain had fallen
for forty hours, and the river was
rising rapidly.
A dispatch from Bayou Sara, res
ports that two bad breaks have ocs
cured in the Point Coupe levee, be>
tween Red Stone and Red Church,
endangering a large district of val
liable sugar plantations.
CHICAGO, Ills, March "a
special dispatch frcm Little Rock,
Ark, says Governor Churchill
was found this morning in
his private Office examining letters
which had been received from the
sufferers by the recent floods, and
debating dispatches in response to
the kilograms for immediate aid.
The extent of the disaster can hard
ly be measured. He said, in answer
to an inquiry: Il feel greatly
depressed over the situation. I
received this morning a NUNS
Der of letters from prominent
men in the overfowed districts in
Arkansas, who draw gloomy and
graphic picture of death and suffer
ing around them 1 am also in res
ceipt of numerous kilograms every
day appealing for aid. The situation
is appalling. Ashby county reports
10000 persons on the verge of star,
vation. Chicat and Desha have
equally as many, if not more. Gross,
Crittendon, MSS, Lee, st. Francis,
Monroe and Phillips counties have
thousands of sufferers in destitute
circumstances. I should judge that
there are nearly, if not fully, 49,
| 900 persons needing aid
in the State to-day. They are ten
ants and farmers of small means,
who have lost their all by the overs
flow; houses, farming implements,
stock, everything has been swal-
lowed up by the flood. To them the
outlook is gloomy, for no matter how
industrious they may be, they cam
not Immediately get employment,
and must therefore be fed at public
expense, for time, at least. [ fear
Il y Iany will die of actual starva>
ton. Relief boards are busy dis
tributing ratios at all available
points throughout the overflowed
districts.
Work is going on as rapidly as
could be expected, but the trouble
IS tfat there are SO many needy that
it will be almoG5 impossible to sup-
ply their wants in time to prevent
suffering, il not actual starvation
Judge Manguin, whom I appointed q
commissioner on the relief fund, is
working zealously. He has appoint.
ed sub-agents for all the counties
and is conducting his work efficients
| lg. A considerable quantity of the
rations have been distributed.
hardly believe that the amount
voted will be sufficient.
Congressman Dunn is of the opin
ion that an equally large quantity
will be needed. 1t will be many
weeks befo q The sufferers will bt
aole to help themselves, and th,
threatening aspecS of the weathe
indicates that the worst has no. ye
: come. 1t may be that the generou
, people of TIE whole country will b,
appealed to for aid No one withou
| the experience of such disasters cal
form any correct conception of tn
present troubles.