The Osceola times., 1882-04-08

~ ahoNti " hiitiN Va Nb' -p'"'l
then wrote to Memphis Head Quar-
ters of Commissioner there, and have
never received an answer TO my let
ter, not even one word have ! got
and none Of us in the bend from
Golden Lake to Pecan Point, the
distance Of FIVE miles, ever received
a thing yet in our distress. Sheriff
Haskins of our county, and resident
of Osceola, county scat, went down,
we learn, and got a large. supply Of
provisions for we sufferers and dis
tributed it all out in and around Os-
ceola, he being the only one we have
heard of receiving any yet here, but
we also heard that others of our in
fluential men having heard of our
asking for aid, say that it is cheat,
a swindle, we are trying to defraud
the government, we are none Of MS
ON suilrance, and they will do all
they can to prevent the thing being
done. Now will make you plain
statement, and you do your own
reasoning: have told you our con-
dition and situation in my other let
ter, it was true the water is falling
slowly, but yet we can do nothing,
and if it continues to fall it will still
be a month before we can do any
thing to amount to anything. We
have our country stores here, kept
by these large land holders and in
iluential men, but they will not let
us have, or at least, do not want to
let us have anything until our crops
are planted, then they will let us
all we need, provided, we mortgage
them our crops, our stock, and some
their all, which is their little home.
So now, you see just how it is; there
are those in this FIVE mile scope !
name, in fact, all between the two
stores or post-oilices are in just this
condition. Do you not think we are
such as need help and protection
from these ever grasping money low
ers? | have told you the plain un-
vanished truth, and ask you to write
to me and tell me are we entitled to
your help, and in what way we will
proceed to get it; hoping to hear
from you soon, am as ever,
Yours, Respectfully,
JAMES DENRosslTTE.
The above was referred to Col.
Mangrum, and by him to Sheriff
Haskins, with request by the latter
to look into the matter, and "if this
fellow is a fraud, he aught to be ex-
posed"
If his own words, in the above let
ter, is taken as evidence, his neigh
bors, who are in a better position to
Judge, certainly declare him fraud.
In Justice to Sheriff Ilaskins, we
would state that the supplies sent
here for distribution was issued by
three Gisinterested commissioners,
who were elected by the people in a
public meeting assembled, and were
distributed by them according to in
structions, to those actually in need,
and rendered destitute by reason of
the overflow, as near as that fact
could be ascertaincd. Supplies were
sent out to the different parts of the
county, especially in the interior,
where the loss and distress OF the
people was known to be greatest,
and made known. Supplies We're
sent to Golden Lake, not because of
any loud wall of distress from chat
section, but it was thought by those
having charge of the distribution.
there might be a few in that neigh
borhood who might require some
assistance. From gentleman who
came upa day or TWO since, we learn
that these pro' isions lay at the land
ing several days before any applica-
ton was made for assistance, and
that he believed some supplies were
yet on hand uncalled for. After the
supplies sent here were cXhauscd,
sheriff Hsskins borrowed flour, meal
and meat from the merchants, and
some he bought and paid for out of
his own pocket, and distributed to
the needy who had been overlooked,
and others who were too sensitive to
make known their distress.
We have been reliably informed,
time and again, by those competent
to Judge, and who live in the lower
end of the county. that that section