Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-08
THE DELUGE.
Further Disastrous Breaks Along
the Mississippi.

the Mississippi.
WASHINGTON, March g. Gen Sher>
idan has detailed Captains Lee, of the
Ninth Infantry; Benham, of the
Seventh Infantry, Land, of the
Ninth Cavalry, and Page, of the
Third Infantry, to visit the flooded
regions of the South where relief is
being distributed, and report to the
commissary of Mr.. Beckwith, of st.
Louis, upon the condition and needs
of the people. These officers are
instructed to report promptly by
telegraph. Postmaster Pearce at
Vicksburg, telegraphs the War De-
partment that the levee is broken all
along the river front, many
drowned and asking for prompt
assistance. Gov Cullom, of Illinois,
telegraphs that the people of Pulaski
County, Illinois, are appealing for
aid, having been inundated by the
overflow from the Ohio River. AS
sistance will be sent. The depart
ment also ordered five thousand ad-
ditional rations to points in south.
east Missouri to be named by Gov.
Crittenden.
New ORLEANS, March Ga special
to the Times says: "Up to this time,
Governor McEnery has received
petitions from Richland parish, ask
ing for $500 rations; from Calaha-
bula parish, asking for rations for
four months, and from persons in
Concordia parish, asking for relief.
Some of the signers of these
petitions are wealthy men
and independent planters. One
of them makes more than 10000
bales, and has more than $150,000
deposited with a cotton house In
this city. This appeal for relief is
contradicted by responsible citizens
who have written to the Governor
that there is no need for relief, and
it is generally looked upon as a
dodge to obtain provisions from the
government free of charge. Not one
of the points is affected by crevasse,
and the Governor is watching the
matter closely so that the generosity
of the government shall not be abus
ed by the crafty politicians or penu-
rious planters.
MEMPHIS, March ga o'clock
this morning the gauge at the river
indicated 36 feet above low water
mark, showing a rise of four inches
since yesterday morning. doubtless
caused by the local rains which fell
in torrents yesterday afternoon and
last night throughout the entire
country tributary to Memphis. The
telegraph wires between Memphis
and Helena are down, and nothing
can be heard from that point.
Great fears are entertained that the
rains of yesterday have caused seri-
GUS damage at that place, as the
rise here was unprecedented, and
must have been fully six inches at
Helena All streams between here
and Cairo were pouring out foods
this morning, and greater disaster
to the country below must neces-
sarily be the result.
New ORLEANS, March IA special
from Greenville Miss, says: The
back water is still rising and spread
ing. It is now from six inches to a
foot higher than in any overflow
since the country was first settled.
There will be very little land above
water from the river front to the
hills beyond the Yazoo River.
Greenville is secure from any posi-
BILE overflow, though the low points
were at one time threatened. Refu-
gees from the overfowed plantations
are congregating here, and our re-
sources to feed and shelter them will
be severly taxed. So far, the relief
agents have not communicated with
our local authorities. Our board of
supervisors have asked that some
government rations be sent here;
the need is immediate.
The sheriff of Bolivar County has
lodged his prisoners here. He re-
ports very few plantat; ;ons in his
county with even strip of land
above water; consequently the loss OF
stock there will be almost total.
The levees are thronged with ne-
groes and stock, whose condition is
most deplorable. As it's extent be-
comes known, this calamity begins
to appeal for sufficient means to re-
build levees.
The above would be almost insup-
portable, but that is only an item.
The laborers have lost their stock
and moyeables and are in a panic
stricken and demoralized condition.
Could transportation be secured
there would De an exodus from here
to the hills. The dependency Of
the planters and merchants is deep
ening. At first, this blow was re-
garded as a disaster involving losses
and hard times, but now it il
assuming graver and greater
proportions. The most thought
full, as well as the most sanguine
look upon it as disaster greater
than has ever before befallen the
bottom country. Tt will almost
destroy the feeling of security will
which our local capacity to hold the