Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-03-30
THE WESTERN DELUGE.

the main portion Of the Mississippi are reced-
ing and what few crevasses are open and doing
good in assisting the water to escape from the
swollen rivers and bayous. In some sections
the people are already going to work on their re-
claimed lands, while in other sections the
lands remain covered, and there is great des-
titution and suffering.
The correspond mt of the New Orleans
Democrat telegral is, under date of Friday a
graphic description of affairs in that section
and along Black River. At the mouth OF Red
River information was obtained that Hog
Point crevasse had submerged six large plan-
tations. Stock had generally been sent out OF
that section to the hills in Mississippi.
On the way up to Delhi the steamer picked
I'D several families who were in search OF high
ground. After reaching the mouth OF Black
River the entire country presented the appear
ance of a vast inland sea, not speck of land
being visible any yyhere. The houses OF the
squatters or small farmers were abandoned
and almost submerged, only the chimneys and
roofs of houses were seen above the flood. The
occupants had long since removed the STOCK
and household goods to high lands further up
the river. These people having no credit, can
not furnish themselves with provisions. Their
present distress must be relieved by the ration
agents at Troy and other points. Nearly all
the women and children in this section have
been sent to the hills, but the males, white and
colored, are living in ginhouses and corn cribs.
the floors of which are scaffoled up above the
water. They are working hard to save their
stock by carrying them in fiat boats to high
lands.
At least eight plantations on Black River
are submerged with nothing to mark their
locality but housetops. The water in the
fields was six feet deep and the only communi-
cation was by boats. Rats filled with fright
ened cattle, and poultry huddled together on
housetops, make the scene one OF utter desola-
tion and difficult to describe. ..
After leaving the town of Troy and enter
ing Tensoe River no land was seen until they
reached Bayou Macon hills, a distance OF IS
miles, and the trip through this section of the
State was more like sea than river voyage.
BY interviewing white and colored people 1t
was ascertained that along Tensas River very
little actual suffering for want of food pre-
walls, as colored people have so far been fur
nished with food by the planters.
The stock from this section has generally
been sent to the hills. Promninent planters
on the Tensas stated they were opposed to the
issuing of government rations, as there was
no destitution along the river so great that
the people could not relieve it, and rations
would demoralize the laborers. The planters
generally are able to feed their hands until
the flood is over. The negroes had already
refused to assist in conveying out stock, say
ing that the government would send them
rations. Other planters, however said many
of them could not get the city merchants to
advance supplies, and unless the government
furnished rations there would be great desti-
tuition among the colored people. Lieut.. RAN
dolph who was ordered by the war department
to investigate the condition of the people of
this section of the country, has carefully ques-
toned those whom he met, and from facts OBJ
tanned the conclusion was reached that at
present the only general destitution which pre-
walls is among white and colored squatters
who cultivate small farms, have no help and
have neither credit nor money.