The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-03-10
THE FLOODS.
Distressing Reports from Arkan-
SaS.
THE PEOPLE FORCED TO FEED ON
DROWNED ANIMALS.
Breaks In the Leyees Feared at Helena.

LITTLE Rock, March an. @. Harris, sent
down to Desha county by Gov. Churchill to
aid in distributing government supplies, re-
ports that along the river front of Desha coun-
ty, 100 miles in length, the destitution Is pc
yond description. The water has reached an
unprecedented height. Scarcely farm house
or residence on the bottom has escaped lnunda-
ton. People have been compelled to Dulld
false floors in their houses or seek SAFETY on
some of the higher lands, where, in rudely
constructed camps of brush, boughs and cane,
they sit and wait for starvation and death; II
is appalling, and without governments ald u0-
eraily and quickly bestowed, there is no TELL
ing where twill end. Many persons have
been feeding on the carcasses OF drowned cat
tie. Personal investigation, as we'll as assur-
ances from reputable gentlemen, convinced
Mr.. Harris that not less than 600 families,
averaging six to the family, in Desha coun-
ty alone, are dependent upon the charity OF
government. He believes it is no exaggeration
to place the gross number of old and young at
$500. Indications point to long continuance
of the overflow, the most sanguine hardly dar-
ing to hope for its subsistence before May.
NEW YORK, March 9.--An Helena ARK
dispatch of last night says: "There is no hope
now that the flood can be kept from the town,
and any moment the alarm bell may ring out
the terrible news that the water is flooding the
streets. Those who occupy homes in the ex-
posed places have moved to the second stories
of business houses and to buildings on the
highest point. The overflow from the back
water occupies two-thirds OF the town., and Is
still rising. A regular business is done py
boats and scows carrying people around tbs
overflowed district, aud scores of big boats are
at work moving furniture and other property.
The news from below tells Of great distress and
increasing loss of stock and buildings. The
break at Bolivar, Miss, is one OF the greatest
ever made in the levee system and floods vast
territory. The water can be seen from the
steamers dasbing through the fields below
with the force and roar OF q cataract. Ierrene,
Miss, because of its central position, has been
the point for distribution for the section around
Bolivar and Riverton, and every boat leaving
this place for the country below, carries sup
plies to the sufferers, and yet the cries Tor help
comeifrom every hand"
MEMPHIS, March 9.-The river this morning
at O'Clock indicated ,56 feet one inch on the
gauge, having risen IL inches since yes
terday afternoon, caused doubtless by local
and today there is regular March weather A
strong wind is blowing from the south causing
the waves to form in the river, which may
prove disastrous to levees at Helena and
Friar's Point.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-Secretary Lincoln
received tonight a Geographic report from
Capt. Lee in regard to the damage and suffer
ing coused by the flood in the State of Missis-
sippi. He says, 81 am satisfied that this
overflow is the most disastrous and widespread
that has ever occurred, and the resulting des-
titution is correspondingly great. My
information will pertain exclusively to coun-
ties in the state of Mississippi lying between
Memphis and Vicksburg fronting on the river
and the tier of counties just back of those. All
these counties are wholly or partially over
flowed.
New ORLEANS, March "a Bayon Sura
special says Pointe Coupee levee, three miles
above here, gave way last night. The break is
now 300 feet wide and widening.