The Portland daily press., 1882-03-20
THE SOUTHERN FLOOD.
Not a Very Cheerful Outlook.
PEOPLE IN A STARVING CONDITION

New ORLEANS, March 1S.-A resume of the
week shows large increase of area covered by
floods from Helena to the mouth OF the Mis-
sissippi river. In the Yazoo valley the water
Is reported to be rising rapidly, -Four steam
ers are constantly traversing the section, car
ying supplies sni bringing out people and
stock. In the Yazoo delta from Vicksburg to
COldwater, a distance by the river OF 400 miles,
and from the hills ON the east to the Missis-
sippi on the west, 40 to 60 miles in width, and
the greater part OF the lowlands, are su6merg-
ed, including Cold water, Tallahatchie, Yazoo,
Sunfov er and Deer creek. Some loss of life is
reported. fs
The government steamer Anita left Vicks-
burg yesterday to distribute rations and render
assistance. Her commander, Capt. Lee, tele-
graphed Gen. Beekwith that the greatest des-
titution and destruction of property prevails in
the back counties. Several thousand rations
per week should be sent to the state agent at
Vicksbutg for them, until the floods Subside,
and 100000 rations per week TO the state agent
at Memphis for the Mississippi counties on
river points, also tents for both places. Great
reaches of Milliken's Bend levee in Madison
parish, Louisiana, gave way yesterday, the
crevasses aggregating some two miles in length
The water from these will cover the greater
part of the parish. The joint water of the
crevasses in Tensar and Cordia flow into Bayou.
Macon, Black, Onachita and Atchafalga riv-
ers.
The whole country about Eagle Bend is
under water, and terrible suffering is expe-
rienced. Houses are floating for miles in the
country.
Steamer Cannon arrived at Vicksburg YES
terday. Capt. Campbell says he rescued over
200 head of cattle, mules, &c, also a number of
families from the ends of levees. At one place
he rescued about thirty people from the
swamps who were literally starving. The pi-
lots report five feet of water over Newton,
Miss, and all below except Natchez is sub
merged.
Much suffering is reported in the overhowed
section from Camden, Ark, to the mouth OF
Bayou Bartholomew and from % miles below
Monroe to the mouth of Black river Govern
ment rations for fifteen days have been sent to
this section. The water along the lower Ona-
chta is six inches higher than in 1874.
The recent crevasses on the west side of the
Mississippi will probably carry the water there
still higher, though the Onacbita is reported
falling slowly. At Monroe the Red river is
also falling.
Considerable damage is caused by the Points
Coupee crevasse which is now quarter OF a
mile wide, but so far the damage is not as
great as expected.
So far the damage to the sugar producing
section of Louisiana is comparatively light
VIcKsBuRG, Miss, March 1S.-The river rose
two inches the last "a hours. Gov. Lowry and
Commissioner Hemingway were in the city to-
day giving attention to the needs OF persons in
the overhowed sections. Judging from tele-
grams received by them the whole country
above and below here is submerged and great
restitution prevails Officers of steamer Paris
Brown report passing three "foaters" below
here.
Business on the levee district here has been
entirely suspended and everything in the way
of floating property has been brought into
requisition for the benefit of the sufferers. The
commissioner says that the whole country from
Ellis Cliff to Fort Adams is submerged.
The steamer left this evening for Big Deer
Creek with large amount of supplies for the
needy on that stream.