Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-31
THE FLOODS.
st. Louis Contributes to the Relief
Of the Destitute.
Fifty Tons Of Food and Clothing
Sent Out.
Enough on Hands to Satisfy
Pressing Wants.

ST.. Louis, March 29.-The govern
ment steamer General Barnard, loads
ed with 100000 government rations
of meala bacon, and about so tons
of food and clothing, contributed by
the citizens, left here last night for
Memphis, Helena and Vicksburg, in
charge of Captain Mullins, U. S. A.
General Beckwith has just receiv~
ed a report from Lieut.. B. a. Ran,
dolph, of the Third Cavalry, dated
Delhi, La, in which the later sums
up the situation as follows:
In the district from the Red
River to the Arkansas line, about SO
miles west of Mississippi, there has
been no loss of life, except a few
children on Black River, and
there is no actual starvation
or destitution at present
The supply of rations, if judi-
ciously husbanded, will satisfy all
pressing needs until April 10th,
when, should there have been no i'm
provement in the situation before
that date, there will exist general
destitution among all the people,
both white and black Should the
food fall decidedly by April 10th,
I think, at most, there will be needed
only half rations of bacon and meal
up to May 1st for $4,000 persons
who constitute a class of small
farmers, white and black. If there
is no change for the better before
the 10th of April, there
will be about $4,000 persons
without food or credit. Should the
water fall decidedly by April 10th,
the probability is that planting can
be done by May LIST, and with this
prospect in view the planters will
prefer to feed their own hands !;
whereas, if the water continues to
rise the whole system of credit and
working will be upset, commission
merchants will decline to advance to
country merchants and planters, and
the latter will not be able to feed
their laborers. I cannot too strong
ly recommend that all issues be dis
continued Immediately upon the sub
siding of the water, SO that planting
can be begun.
NATcHEz, MISS, March 29.-The
river is stationary, with a slight
tendency downward. The back,
water in Vidalia is receding slowly,
there having been a fall of one inch
in twenty four hours. A better feel.
ing is beginning to pervade the
planting community at the prospect,
and hopes are entertained by them
of making fair crop.
Information has reached this city
of the destruction of Ralston gin,
near lake st. John, in Tensas Parish,
La, by which one hundred and
twenty refugees lost their lives.
This gin was one of the
largest in North Louisiana,
and was packed to overfowing, with
negroes from the adjoining planta>
tions.
The steamer Natchez brought
down to this city, large number of
colored refugees, quantity of stock
and small amount of. rations. Ref
ugees have been focking herefrom
miles around, SO that, now, Natchez
is fairly crowded with them. Many
of them have been offered work here,
at fair wages, but refused it, pre-
ferring to remain in idleness while
the government feeds and provides
for them.
New YORK, March pa Telegram
reporter was informed at the Pros
duce and Stock Exchange that the
effort to organize movement in be
half of the sufferers from the Mis-,
sissippi overflow had been abandoned.
About $4,000 has been contributed
by the downtown business men for
the benefit of the sufferers.