Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-26
SHEER STARVATION.
Meeting Of Citizens OF Crittenden C0un-
ty, Arkansas, to Take Action for
the Relief OF sufferers
By the 0veril0w-A Terrible state Of
Affairs-Many Deaths Reported
from Absolute Want.

MARION, ARK, February 25.-The citi-
zens Of Crittenden county met in the court
house, in the town of Marion, for the pur-
pose of taking some action looking toward
the relief of the suffering of the people of
that county, occasioned by the high water
and overflow heretofore and now existing in
said county. On motion of Colonel J. F.
Smith, Judge K. B. Barton was called to the
chair, and Major r. +. Crittenden Wac
chosen as secretary. Alter the object of the
meeting had been stated by the chairman,
Colonel J. F. Smith, David Ferguson, Dan
iel w. Lewis, r. II. Henderson, John
Swepston, james T. Barton, George
K. Badgett and Major R F. Crit
tenden were selected az a committee
of eight to prepare and present suitable reso-
buttons to our representatives, in the Congress
of the United States, and to the Chamber of
Commerce, in the city of Memphis, and State
OF Tennessee, setting forth and expressing
the terrible distress and suffering of the PEG.
pie OF the said county of Crittenden. There
upon the meeting took recess until o'clock
pm. to await the report and introduction of
such resolutions in the judgment of said
committee would reflect and report the true
status of the distress aud suffering now exist
ing in said county.
At o'clock the meeting reconvened, and
the following report was read:
1--WE, the committee, beg leave to report
the following facts:
WHEREAS, Owing to the long, continuous
4 H., -
unprecedented in the history of the county
within the memory of the oldest iuhab-
itant), and the extreme drouth and short
crops of 1881, many persons and citizens of
said county are without means and money,
upon which TO live; in some instances
many have died from absolute and sheer
that the people who are most
in want Of present and immediate
aid, are those who have and
that they live and reside upon the land upon
which they expect to raise and cultivate a
crop during the present year; that many of
their landlords feeling and having felt the
seriousness of the overflow and the drouth
and short crops of 1881, are unable to fur
nish and provide them with rations
and supplies upon which to subsist;
in many instances the lands are owned by
non presidents Of the State, who is no manner
OF their tenants; that owing to the early sea-
son and the threatening prospect of an in
crease in the waters now overlooking the
they are unable to secure meat and
bread, by the way of a mortgage or deed Of
trust upon the crops they expect to raise dur
ing the present year from the merchants in
the county or elsewhere as they have
heretofore done, notwithstanding the I ct
that the statutes of the State of Arkansas and
-. Il LII A.
mortgage executed upon crop yet to be
planted is good and valid; that said persons
and citizens for whom relief is hereby sought
and urgently asked, are identified with all
the interests of Crittenden county, having
long been citizens thereof; that they have no
means of transit or travel in their neighbor-
hood, save by way of dugout, and in some
instances at present subsist upon the carcasses
of animals drowned in the overflow. There
fore, be it
"ResOlred, That our representatives in the
Congress of the United States, now in session
at Washington, are respectfully but earnestly
urged TO use all honorable and fair means in
their power and under their control to secure
prompt and immediate relief from the gen.
eral government for the distressed and suffer
ing people of Crittenden county.
"Resoiued, That a copy of these proceedings
be furnished the daily papers printed in
Memphis for publication, and thst another
copy be furnished the Chamber of Commerce
Of the city of Memphis for its action.
"ResOired, That we recommend J. F. Smith,
John Swepston, G. r. Badgett, James I.
Barton and C. H. Organ be appointed a COM
mittee OF five to receive, take charge of and
distribute any and all contributions fur
nished for the relief of the people of Crit
tenden county, from any source whatsoever.
submitted,
y F. SMITH,
DAVID FERGUSON,
"And others of Committee"
On motion, the above report was received
and unanimously adopted, and the meeting
adjourned.
R. B. BARTON, Chairman.