New-York tribune., 1882-03-10
THE SPRING FRESHETS.
GREAT DISTRESS IN ARKANSAS.
OF PEOPLE on THE VERGE or srARvA-


uON-wHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS.
CHICAGO, March GA dispatch from Little
Rock. ARK, says: Governor Churchill said to-day: I:
The extent OF the disaster hardly be measured and
feel greatly depressed the situation received
this morning a number OF letters from prominent
In the oyorhowed districts In Arkansas who draw
gloomy and graphic picture OF the death sni suffering
around them. I also IN receipt OF nu-
merous kilograms every day appealing for
aid. The situation is simply appalling. Ash
ley County reports 1000 persons on the verge OF
starvation and Chicot and Desha have each NJ many,
not Cross, Crlttenden Mississippi, Lee st. Fran
cis Monroe and Phillips Counties have thousands OF su
ferers in destitute circumstances should judge that
there nearly not fully. 15 900 persons needing aid
in the State to-day. They tenants and farmers OF
small means, who have lost their all By the overflow
houses farming implements stock-eyerything has been
swallowed up IN the food To them the outlook IL
gloomy for matter how industrious they may be they
cannot Immediately get employment, and must there
fore be fed at public expense for time at least fear
that many will die OF actual starvation.
"Rclief Boards are busy distributing ratiO1s az all
available points throughout the over1owed districts. The
work is going rs rapidly could be expected but
the trouble is th0t there many in need
that will be almost impossible TO supply their wants in
time to prevent suffering II actual starvation. Judge
Jangum, whom appointed Commissioner on the Relief
Fund, Is working zealousy. He has appointed sub
agents for all counties, and Is conducting his work
efficiently. His headquarters are at Memphis, Tenn
whence supplies to the agents In this State I
hardly think the amount voted will be sufficient IL will
be many weeks before the sufferers win be able 70 help
themselves and the threatening aspect ~ the weather
indicates that the worst has not yet come 1t may be
that the generous people Of the whole country will bs
appealed 10 for aid"
General ID. McRae Assisapt.secretary Of State said
to-day that the overflow had set Arkansas back ten
years. 1t would he impossible, he thought, 10 raise
crops the overfowed lands this year. other than cot
ton and that could be done uness the waters sub
sided shortly and allowed the ground TO dry in time for
spring planting. Experience demonstrates that corn
Will not grow on land immediately succeeding an over
ow and thus thousands Of acres will be rendered wholly
worthless unless the recedes and gives planters
an opportunity TO plant me lands In cotton
would be to drive hundreds OF people from the state that
the colored people the overOwed districts were already
numbers, aud that others would follow whenever they
could get q boat TO carry them away.
chcot cSuntCs Hsary ali Of whom have Interesting
accounts to give in connection with their pilgrmage
is T known t az Cypress Bend IN Desha County had
cabin situated on an elevation which has never been
ago the Mississippi began TO rise, and stopped my
children from going school fearing that they would DO
abounds Ny wife suggested that we had
better to 10, 4ssqsss .5s ase,. e s a o
think about 10 o'clock at night when our cabin
SwS Teye Go S aud sEd and
Looking ont you could see nothing but wide OF
short time aud took the bed cord Of olfashioned
bedstead aud tied OF the logs which had fallen In
from end OF the cabin together aud on this raft
placed my family, taking only few quilts. and leaving
everything else With fence rail, which had been In
tended for rewoOd pushed out through the opening In
the house. and the moment we Oated away. have
been in good many perilous scrapes but that nghts
adventures surpasses them all How escaped, how
became cntan lied in trectOps, how were picked
up late the day not far from Arkansas CITY, can
hardly tell 1t is enough TO know that We all were saved
but lost everything"
LITTLE Rock, March On. G. Harris who
sent down to Desha Couuty by Governor Churchill
10 aid In distributing Government supplies to persons
rendered destitute by the overflow, returned yesterday
To-day he said that tho water had reached unprece
dented height Scarcely farm house the bottom has
escaped the foundation The people have been compelled
to build false floors Ia their houses and TO seek safety
higher lands, where IN rudely constructed camps of
brsboughs and cane they sit and for ST arvatipn
and death. Many persons have been feeding on tho
circasses OF drowned cattle Personal invesg alton, as
well the OF respectable people, convinced
Mr. Harris that not less than 800 families averaging six
persons to eaeh in Desha County alone dependent
upon the charity Of the Government. He thought thae
the number would reach $500 persoas.