The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-05
The NercjIess Floods,

MEMPHIS, March 1.-THE Mississippi, at
this point at 1 O'Clock this morning, had
declined an inch since 6 o'clock 4. NJ.
Yesterday, when ii marked thrty-lvc feet
and one ince on the gauge. Twenty-eight
miles of the Memphis and Little Rock rail
road across the river are under water.
Chief Engineer Fleming, with large force
OF laborers, is at work saving the track
from washing away. A large number OF
people are still coming from Arkansas 10
the Memphis side, being forced by the
backwatcr 10 leave their homes.
HELENA, ARK, March d,-The river
here, within the twenty-fouE hours end
ing at midnight yesterday, rose nearly
two inches, and the overflow in this city
il fully as much. 1t is predicted that we
shall have more than foot higher water
by old riyermcn, and this seems probable
when it is known that the It. Francis
river is rising very rapidly, and volume
OF water thrown upon Us from that source
is immense and enough to cause rise in
the Mississippi here ten DAYS after the de-
cline sets in at Memphis. The White
river at Clarendon i still booming at the
rate OF five inches q day. Everything is
made ready here for the distribution OF the
Federal rationS for this district.
TUE DEVASTATION ALONG TIE RED RIVER.
NEW ORLEANS, March 4.-Captain Rich
ard Sinnott, OF the Red river packet Jesse
h. Bell, who has Just returned from trip,
on being interviewed, said: - found
great distress prevailing on the Red river.
All OF the lowlands below Alexandria are
ovcrllowed. Above Alexandria the low
lands IN Vim, Grant, and Natchitokes
parishes are all covered with water. Clapp
Place, above Bayou Rapids, and all OF
the lowlands from ColfaX up 10 Mont
gomery are inundated. Alexandria is not
vet oyerflowed, and little damage has
been done between that point and
Colfax so far. The planters OF Bayou Bo-
cuf showed sufficient enterprise TO put their
hands TO work on the levees, and have
built quite = strong bank around AleXan-
dria, rendering it safe from the inroad OF
the water. The water is now coming
down the Mississippi very rapidly, and it
il OF this more than that OF the Red river
that the people are afraid. The water il
flowing through the crevices on the Tensas
and Black rivers, and is backing up into
Red river very rapidly. There is no tell
ing what damage may yet result. The peo-
pie are undergoing terrible hardships.
Many Of them are emigrants, who set
tied on the productive lowlands along the
river. improved the country considerably,
and were building 1t up. Some OF them
had only made one or two crops, and were
lust beginning to get their places In full
running order when the water came and
swept their crops and everything else
away. Those who could do so ran their
stock up to the hills, but most OF them are
ruined entirely, and are on the verge OF
starvation. helped them all could. and
| think it il the duty OF the Government
and all citizens TO assist those whose means
have been taken from them by the merci-
less food"
WHAT GENERAL HANCOCK SAYS ABOUT THE
FLOODS.
NEW York, March A reporter OF the
World called yesterday upon General Han
cock, who has recently returned from an
extended southern trip. Said the General:
- think there Is matter connected with
the southern people which should at the
present iuncture have attention called TO 1t.
The people Of the North do not realize what
the kilograms which they read about the
floods really mean. From what l saw /
believe the southern people, for over hun
dreds OF square miles, are literally drowned
out. Fences and cattle are gone. Their
houses have been swept away or are
uninhabitable; railroads are destroyed,
plantations ruined, and the country left
desolate. Nothing like it has been seen
for many years. The distress in the flood
ed regions is beyond the power OF words
to describe. Recollect, what ! saw and
have told you about was seen NJ a time
when the flood was not at its worst. The
first thing to be done is 10 extend necessa-
ry aid to these people. We must lace the
problem of feeding, sheltering, ana clothing
these people until such time as they can
raise food and shelter for themselves. The
southern people will do what they cssi, but
the northern and western people must also
come to the rescue. Even II II were right
to throw the burden Of such Nh unparal-
leled and widespread calamity, upon
southerners alone, they have had means OF
charity swept away With the means Of q
livelihood. We must help, and help at
once. II Is better to send money 10 Mem
phis, Mobile, or New Orleans, ana cities
where provisions and clothing may DC
bought. than to wait to send food ana cloth