Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-16

Special correspondence OF the Appeal
CAIRO, March 1O.-The steamer Cons Mil
lar has made but few landings since leaving
NJ .mphis, consequently the information OBJ
tained by your correspondent concerning the
overflow has not been of the fullest and most
satisfactory kind. From the roof of the boat,
however, a wideIy-extended view has been
obtained, from which conclusions are readily
drawn, and it is not difficult to perceive that
so far, at least, as the bottom lands are con-
c1rned-no crops can possibly be made this
year Planters and small farmers alike share
in the disaster, and among the poorer
cIasses-the farm laborers, the snters, aud
others who usually live fro N hand TO mouth
the destitution aud suff ring Is certain to be
widespread and terrible. All along the river
the hitherto comfortable homes of the plant
ers and the cabins OF the laborers are
abandoned to the remorseless waters,
and desertion, silence and desolatlon
brood with dropping wings over nearly
every hearthstone. Occasionally we espy
a small and narrow strip Of land. a
little more elevated than the surrounding
country, which still rises above the seething
watt rs that have swept over and eDgulfed all
else; but these islands are few and far be-
tween, and each and all are crowded with
the fleeing people, who have brought thither
their household goods and live stock for
safety. Here and there are seen the cabins
having nowhere else 10 go, have erected frail
platforms about their homes, upon which
they have placed their most valuable posses
sions, including horses, mules and cattle, and
are waiting in grim defiance the worst that
fate may have in store for them. The dug
out is the only method of travel and COM
munication between neighbors and b.tween
the towns and the adjacent country. Pro-
visions and other supplies are almost ex-
h., fzI ln-a ha rIU al Ia n
aid is sent, privations of the most appalling
kind will overtake these people.
The scene from the passing steamer Is at
once awe-iuspiring and dismal. Save for the
occasional patches of high ground referred
to, as far as the eye can reach the yellow
waters of the mighty river extend. There
are no banks; the food has overleaped them
aad slrges dark and terrible through the
lonely forests, where neither man. nor beast
or bird is to be see1, the very waterfowl
having abandoned their usual haunts and
sought other and more inviting fee ding
grounds There is no sign of industry or
trade anywhere. Those who would labor
cannot for the waters; those who would sell
can obtain no customers, and those who
would buy cannot go to the towns, il, even,
they have the means of purchasing. Every
face bears the impress OF anxiety and dread,
and doubtless the faces reflect the feelings Of
awful present. with still more awful future
to come inevitably, and the soul that would
quail in the presence of no danger with
which it could graPple shrinks faint
and sick from a conflict wherein strength
aud proves and bravery go for
nothing, and the result of which must be
bsggary, starvation AMI h0meles5ness for
their wives and little ones, Unless speedily
and generously relieved, the necessities of
these people will be beyond portrayal, and
gzunt famine will stalk abroad the uudis-
puted sovereign of this fertile region.
At Hickman your correspondent hoped to
obtain some more definite il not more cheer
ful particulars, but our stay was very short,
and ths only man had an opportunity TO
interview knew or at least could lmPart
nothing OF interest. The fact is, just now
communication is almost cut of from the
country, and such news a. is re-
ceived is of general character and does
not deal with details. Most of those
you meet are oppressed by sense OF calam-
ity, and have no heart to talk about 1t, SO
that, until the waters have suosid-d and the
weather cleared, it will be xt to impossi-
bic to obtain accurate infOr stIor upon
which TO base an estimate Of the losses,
present and prospective, inflicted BY the
great overflow. But that those losses will