The Evening critic., 1882-03-13
RELIEVING SUFFERERS
In tho Flooded Districts, South ana

The Secretary of War has sent the following
telegram TO Gen. Amos Beckwith, Assistant
Commissary General, 81. Louis, Mo:
''The following telegram has Just been seut
by the Chief of Engineers to Major Suter, at
ST. Louis: "Congress has authorized the use
OF the steamboats,, tugs and row-boats belong
ing to or now employed by the Government,
with proper crews, in the transportation and
distribution OF supplies to sufferers by the
recent overflow on the Mississippi River and
It's tributaries. Confer with Lieutenant-Colo-
mel Beckwith, Subsistence Department, st.
Louis, and furnish him with such steamboats,
and so forth as you may have available for the
purpose and he may need, the boats to be
manned by you. Expense of boats and crew
be paid from special appropriation Just
mnde.
"1tis the intention that not onlyGovernmen
supplies should be carried on these boats, but
any which may be furnished from any other
sources, and that they shall assist in the dis
tribution Of supplies already issued to the
state Commissioners as well as those yet In
your hands. You will communicate directly
with the state Commissioners to ascertain the
extent of their needs for assistance of this
character in making distributions Present
Information indicates that stores already Is
sued VIII last as follows At Memphis for
Mississippi, until Doth Inst, at Memphis for
Tennessee, until DIST inst: at Memphis for Ar.
kansas, probably the same: at New Madrid FOR
Missouri, until 31st inst; from Charleston,
Mo-, report Is, no immediate necessity for
sending more. No definite reports from
Mound City, except that destitute suppose to
number 5,oV0 PEOPLE, for whom there have
of Congress is, that these steamers ana
their small boats shall be used % mako
most efficient distribution OF stores at all
points where necessary. For this purpose,
the distribution should still be made by the
State officers, the boats being provided them
for the purpose. Would II not be advisable
for the four officers detailed by Gen. Sheridan
10 be on these boats and look after the distri-
buttons II they cannot perform the duties
they are already ordered on we'll in this
way, 1t would be well to have an Army officer
on each large boat al least and upon advice
from you on this subject proper orders, II
boats Will, Of course, be expensive, and 1t IS
important that an unnecessary number of
large steamers should not be used. How
many, In your judgment, will be required p"
The Secretary Of War has teiegraphed to
| Gov. S. NJ. Cullom, at Springfield ILL.,, as fol
lows:
''Mr. Townsend, from the Shawneetown dis
trict, has Information OF great suffering at and
around Shawneetown from floods. If you de-
sire relief sent there please name commits
| sioner and ascertain and advise me of num-
| Der in distress, and will render such assist
ance as Is possible
| He also teegraphcd to Gov. L. P. Blackburn,
| at frankfort, KY, as follows
| ''Capt. Benham, U. s. A., teegraphs from Co.
| lumbia, KY, that about 500 people need sub.
| sistence TO he distributed from Columbus. II
| you desire this to be done and telegraph name
| of commissioner to make distribution at that
| point will order 10000 rations sent.'
| The Secretary OF War also sent the following
| telegram TO Commissioners GILES and Scharck
| at New Orlesns:
''Telegram of 18th received. The present
| appropriation is nearly exhausted, so that the
| Department cannot place 5000 rations al
your disposal now. Additional appropriation
| is probable. In the meantime, telegraph me
| from time to time tho number of rations
| needed, and number of people being relieved
as your necessities require, and the Depart
| ment VIII endeavor TO comply