The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-15
THE FLOODS.
TIE p1srHEssED DISTRICTS.

some Improvements Reported From the
Inundated Bottoms Government Aid
Furnished.
WASHINGTON, March S.-The Secretary Of
War continues TO receive dispatches repre-
sentiug the distress as Increasing in the
overfi0wed districts of the Mississippi Val
ley, and stating the Tations sent will soon be
exhausted. Twenty thousand more rations
will be ordered sent from Memphis.
AID.
LOUISVILLE, March s.-A public meeting
Of the Board OF Trade adopted the follow
ing resolution:
Congress the prOpTiegy OF making sufficient APP
DroDriations 70 enable the War Department 90
continue its work OF relieving the pressing wants
of sufferers by the overflow Of the Mississippi
River.
At meeting Of Merchants on Change at
o'clock to-day, Governor Crittenden made
an earnest appeal for aid for the sufferers in
the overlooked districts of Southwestern
Missouri. About $1,000 in money and pro-
visions were donated at once and the Relief
Committee appointed some days ago in
structed 10 solicit additional subscriptions
General Beckwith, OF the Subsistence De-
partment, United States Army, has sent
1900 r3tiODs to- Mound City, ILL.,, and 5000
ratiOns each to PsmiscOt and Mississippi
Counties, Missouri, and more are to follow.
NO FURTHER BREAK.
New ORLEANS, March s.-No further dis
asters TO levees are reported. The people
are strengthening them all along the line.
heavy south wind to-day Produced a
swell in the river, the water at times break
ing over the levee at the head of Canal street
and at several points between the city and
CarroltOn. The gauge shows the river seven
tenths of a foot below the high water mark
of 1874.
TERRIBLE STORY OF DEsTITUTToN.
LITTLE Rock, March S-M. c. Harris,
sent down to Desha County by Governor
Churchill to aid ia distributing Government
supplies to persons rendered destitute by
the floods, returned to-day. In an interview
with a Gazette reporter he said: Along
the river front of Desha County 100 miles
in length, the destitutiOn is beyond descrip-
tiOn The water has reached an unprece-
denied height Scarcely a farmhouse or
residence in the bottom has escaped The
people have been compelled TO build false
floors IN houses or seek safety on some of
the higher lands where, in rudely construct
ed camps of brush, boughs and cane, they
wait for starvation and death. 1t is appslling
and without Government aid. literally and
quickly bestowed no telling where il will
end. Many persons have been feeding on
carc2Sses OF drowned cattle. 4 personal In
vestigation, as well as the assurances from
reputable gentlemen, cGnvinces Mr.. Harris
that not less than COO families, averaging,
say, six TO a family, i'm Desha County alone
were dependent upon the charity OF the
Government. lie believes it no exagger-
alton TO place the gross number of
old and young at $500, distributed
approx mateiy IS follows: knOwltOn's
Landing. 100 families; Laconia, 100 families;
mouth OF White River, 20 families; mouth
of Arkansas River, 20 families; Arkansas
City distributing point for Cypress Creek.
BOggy Bayou and the back country 80
families. The indications point 10 a long
, continuance OF the overflow. The breaks
in the Mississippi leyees caused a temporary
decline IN the waters on this side of the
river, but the fall was 50 insignificant IS TO
furnish but HJJle relief The restitution
and suffering can not be measured or de-
scribed, and unless prompt and liberal aid
is extended there IS 10 telling what will be
the end"
TIE RIVER RISING At HELENA, ARK.
MEMPHIS, March S-'The river here, &C.
cOrdiug 70 the Signal Service officers report
has declined one inch, ana now marks
thirty five feet eleven inches on the gauge.
A steady rain has fallen all day and con-
tinues tonight. which will no doubt check
the decline, and perhaps again cause rise.
What provisions the general Government
has sent have been distributed by Commits
siOners Mangum aud Hemingway.
The Avalanches Helena, Ark, special
says the river has risen half inch in the
past twenty-four hours, and now marks
fOrty-Seven feet two inches on the gauge,
which is six inches above the late rise, and
ten inches above the highest water since
1862. The steamer Dean Adams reports the
levee broken at ST. Charles. The situation
at Helena remains unchanged.
AN ENTIRE COUNTY SUBMERGED.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. March Sc. H. Moore,
, an attorney residing at Rosedale the County
seat of Bolivar County, Mississippi, was a
passenger on the steamer Dean Adams
which arrived tonight at midnight.
He reports breaks in the Hush Pull
kama and Lake Charities levees which
occurred Monday night. The Hush Pull
kama is the largest levee in Mississippi, and
these breaks submerged the entire County
of Bolivar. AT Rossd8le the water is ten
feet deep in all the dwellings. OF its 300
inhabitants only three families vet remain
ana they are living in the garrets of their
houses. All others have fled and
sought safety elsewhere. A portion of
the levee immediately in front OF ROsedale
is crowded with negroes to the number OF
about 500, who have no shelter and are ex-
listing on cattle. which they kill. Their
condition is terrible, exposed, as they have
been for the past two days, to cold. drench-
ing showers, that have fallen. Mules, cat
tie and other stock have been drowned by
hundreds and are hourly dying of starva-
. ton.
Further TIdinss From the Destitute People
of the south.