Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-12
UNDERSTANDABLE
Is What Every Man Says Of the Sitaa.
tiOn Down About Arkansas City
Statement of an
ye-Witness-Hundreds Of People in a
Starving Notwithstanding
Must be Done.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK, March 1I.-Lieuten.
ant Saterlee, of the Third United States In.
fsntry, has been ordered BY the war depart
ment to proceee to the overlooked district
and inspect the supply stations. Adjutant-
General Churchill, of the governors staff, is
also ordered down, and both will leave to-
morrow far Arkansas City.
4. II. BALTIMORE,
Of Philadelphia, arrived tonight from the
overlooked country. He said to a Gazette
! reporter: Friday | went around the neigh
J borhood of Arkansas City on an inspecting
| tour. While rowing through the woods il
skif We came on a half-submerged log house.
Rowing alongside an upper window, we
looked in and found that man, his wife and
two children occupied the place. The man, on
being questioned, said We did not
expect a break in the levee. The other morn
ing We zwoke and founa water all around
the house and that the Hoor was lifted up by
its pressure. We had no means Of effecting
an escape. As we live great distance from
the river, we have no boat. We cid not think
that the food would become so serious. l
have been living here for ten years, and
have never before suffered any inconvenience
from the water. did not think it would
become very deep, or we could have uaded
out at first. ] was fool enough to think the
break in the levee had caused the over
hoW and that other breaks would oe-
cur shortly and distribute the water
but it kept on rising till we were
forced TO go upstairs. For two days We
have had nothing to eat. The water is
gradually rising, and but for this timely de-
liverance We must have soon drowned
We took this family to land, about ten miles
distant, and provided food for them. Going
out in the skif again we came upon a
knoll where six or seven people had taken
refuge. They had been driven from home and,
unable to get out of the bottoms, had re-
manned on a little knoll, although it could
be but temporary relief. Starvation, if not
the flood, must soon come. An old man sat
near the edge of the water and looked with
indispensable sadness out on the great wstery
waste. He said his name was Mansion, and
that he had lived in the neighborhood
for nearly twenty years. Il was liv-
ing with my daughter he said The
other night the food rushed in upon US. We
did not have time to make any arrange
ments. l called to my daughter to follow
me, but just then a swift current struck me
and bore me away. l heard my daughter
scream, and attempted to answer her,
but was strangled. 1 was borne on the
IaPid waters. Striking a tree | seized
hold of it and chung TO it. Lifting
my head above water, called to nv daugh-
ter, but the mighty rush of waters was the
only response. When daylight came saw
that the entire country was flooded. 1 swan
from the tree and by accident reached the
knoll, and our boat was sgain brought into
use.' The poor people were nearly starved,
and when food was given them they ate raw
enously. There are hundreds OF peo-
pie who have not yet received
government aid, and their condition is so
deplorable that something must be done.
The government, of course, is doing every
thing possible for the relief of the sufferers,
but tell you the sight OF view supplies
would be a glorious picture to a great many
people 1 have recently seen. Every man
says the situation is indescribale lean only
repeat the expression"