Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-27

A0ANI VA 49, INV 80 49, ~ 1A4 aRLA0
rather wet, The vicinity of Flowers
island is badly soaked; so is the bot
toms and fats Of Coles creek. This
is a fine timber country and large
quantities will be taken out not only
here, but all over the swamp area
this rise. Several hundred cattle have
been lost by the present food in and
about this neighborhood. An old
fisherman named Kline has lived close
by Fort Pillow for forty years, and
he ships liberal quantities of his
catch to this market. He is regarded
as a very reliable water authority,
and he says this rise has not reached
within ten inches of '62, though he
expects from appearances, it will get
within three or four inches of it before
Stacking up.
CARELESS SUFFERERS.
Meeting q native swamp ranger near
Fort Pillow, the following interesting
cOnfab ensued:
Have you lost much by this over
fowl"
Abundance Of stock"
How many in ALP"
81 lost six head. Others about here
lost altogether several hundred"
How did it happen?"
"Carelessness."
"How was that?"
"Why, it's been 80 long since we've
had an overflow, we didn't believe we'd
have much this time. VIZ heard twas
coming, but felt safe enough till land
began to go under. l started last week
with a Aatboat to get my cattle out of
the water, but twas a raw day and l
like to f-oze. Going within three
hundred yards of my cattle. | left them
to Waite a warmer day, and when |
went back they were all drowned.
One man lost twenty.seven head this
way, and all we're carried off by the
current, floating down with the river
drift into the bend of So"
This mans statement will do for a
good many others. With proper and
timely attention the lost cattle might
have all been roaming and browsing
in safety among the hills a few miles
back. But the owners didn't think it
would be much Of a rise, SO let them
run until they Aoated. A herd Of a
dozen or so were noticed on a little
mound as the steamer passed. Several
had waded out to seek forage in the
overflow, and one, a fine looking COW,
had stuck in the mud, with prospects
that it would soon die. Another man
had moved out of his cabin near the
river bank and left his chickens roost.
ing on his house-top, the only dry
thingaround, and the fowls were starv-
ing.
AT osCEoLA.
The front part of the city Of 0sceola
being outside OF the levee, is flooded
or the houses stand in the water, and
people wade or 20 about in skifs and
dugouts. A solidly built levee, the
old State structure, protects the rear
side OF the town and several fine plan
tations near. 0nc of these belongs
to Colonel j. w. Jefferson, of this
city. He has an even thousand acres
to be planted in cotton this season;
also other broad acres in grasses, corn
and stock feed OF various classes.
The Colonel had eight plows busy
Saturday, and will run twenty this
week. His industrious neighbors are
following suit very fast. There was
not a drop of overflow water on Col.
Jeffersons place last Saturday.
IMPROVING THE RIVER.
AT Plum Point, nearly opposite and
below Osceola, the River Commission
are busy with 400 men trying to
deepen the channel for low water
navigation. The force is to be in
creased to 1000 as soon as the water
falls. The plan is to drive piles
clothes pin fashion deep into the river
bed, lay a heavy tree between the top
forks like a stake and ridered fence,
then fill in below with willow mat.
tresses and stone in alternate layers.
By this plan a dyke will be run
from Bulletin to another towhead
some distance of, and a deeper
channel is expected TO be
the fruit of the labor. AS Plum
Point is one of the very worst places
on the river it is to be hoped that sue
cess will follow, the government hav-
ing appropriated a round million or
such a matter to carry outthe scheme.
The engineer in charge of the works
here is Captain Quinn, and he has APP
planes Of great magnitude about
him. Among other features is a
splendid wharfboat, with naval
stores and supplies enough
aboard to fill a big cotton
warehouse. On the upper deck of the
boat are richly furnished apartments,
where several families Of officers have
quarters, and this deck in front Of the
rooms is laid off with beautiful shrub.
berry, exotic plants, gravelled walks,
and empowered trellisses, a veritable
floating garden indeed. Captain Quinn
uses a swift little steam yacht to con-
vey him from point to point, and a
number Of steamers and pile drivers,
a fleet Of barges and other floating
property Of great value is collected
about to aid in carrying on the works.
The enterprise lisa vast one, and but
few know much If anything about it
except those engaged at the work.
When others are suffering. drop a
word Of kindnaes and .ymnathv IL