Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-03
AMID THE WATERS.
FRESH TROUBLE IN LOUISIANA,
Alarming Condition of Things
About Morgan CItV-The Outlook
at other POInts-The Work of Re-
lief,

TcsecEudyy says cEOu bnlS City W NuuCd-
poulA, nineteen miles in the direction of
New Orleans, the country is one vast stretch
of water, ranging in depth from three to six
feet. The water throughout this section has
risen five inches in the past twenty-four
hours, aud at this hour 40 p. M is rising
at the rate of one inch every four hours. At
Fayetteville, fourteen miles east of here,
the water is eight inches below the food of
1874, while here 1t is four inches above that
mark. From Chucahoula to this place
there is no land visible, save small mounds
at Tigerville, and as you approach Morgan
City some small sections of land barely
showing above the surface of the water. In
many places the water reaches half way to
the ceiling of the houses, and the fences are
completely covered. Wherever possible
the people are clinging to their homes aud
living on improvised floors. Nearly all took
warning in time and drove their stock to
Tern Bon Ridge, into this place and
from here large quantities have been ship
ped across the bay to the highlands on the
west bank of Teche Bayou. The wide diff
fusion of waters prevents strong currents,
and hence the buildings and fences have
not been materially damaged. Morgan City
to-day presents q fair parallel to the Third
district of New Orleans during the overflow
from the lake about year ago. Five sixths
of it is uLder water ranging from six inches
to six feet in depth. Skiffs and
pirogueS are utilized on the streets for com
munIcation along the principal business
blocks, and sidewalks have been erected
some four or fiva feet above the bArquettes,
and in most of the buildings false floors have
been improvised. There is as yet no special
distress among the people. They meet their
misfortunes with cheerful patience, ac-
cepung the inevitable, but hoping for a
speedy subsidence of the water"
WASHINGTON, April 1.-The Secretary of
War to-day telegraphed to the Commission
era for the State of Louisiana, at New Or
leans, as follows: "Your telegram received.
The 150, 600 rations mentioned by YOU have
been ordered to be delivered to-day (A'ril
y I have also given directions to pui chase
and deliver to you 100, 900 more, making
$50 900 to-day. When and in what Install
ments will you wish further purchases and
deliveries?"
The Secretary of War is in receipt of $500
from the relief committee at YaDkton, Da-
kotS, to be used for the benefit of the suf-
ferers from the Mississippi overflow, with
the request that 1t be placed at the disposal
of the Red Cross organization. This contri-
button is the balance on hand from funds
contributed about year ago for the benefit
of sufferers from the Missouri OVERT Nv.
NEW IBERIA, LA April 1.-The Teche is
still rising at the rate of eleven inches in
twenty-four hours. Father Coughlin, the
parish priest at Lorenaville, on the east
side, eight miles from here, reports
that 200 persons are now homeless on
account Of the food, and that applications
for shelter in his church and stables are
numerous. He is asking local contribu
tions. Their distress is represented as ap-
palling. The Red river water, through
Bayou Courlarbau, as well as that of the
Mississippi river, through Atchafalaya and
Grand Lake, will certainly bring us to the
level Of the lake. We are now past the
high water mark Of 1874, and will probably
exceed 1t two feet or more.
FRANKLIN, LA, April 1.-The water is
rising an inch per hour. Thirty six hours
Will eubmerge Franklin ard the back coun-
try. The prospect is alarming. At meet
ing of the citizens of st. Mary's parish, held
to-day, committee was appointed to con-
fer with the Governor, the State Engineer
and President Morgan of the Louisiana and
Texas Railroad Company, relative to the
alarming aspect of the water threatening
an inundation of the west as 1t
has the east side of Bayou Teche,
and to request an engineer be detailed to
examine and report whether or not there
exists any artificial obstruction to the free
passage of the water to the tide level, and
whether or not the removal Of such OBJ
structioDs in the parishes of st. Mary's,
Trerre Bonne or Assumption, or any of
them, will not prevent the overflow of the
land on the west side of the Teche In st.
Mary's, and the destruction of crops
therein.
"Resot,ed, That the people of st. Mary's
are clearly OF the opinion, founded
on actual observation, that the Morgan
Railroad embankment is the most serious
artificial obstruction to the free flow Of
water from the inundated districts west Of
the Mississippi river, and is now causing
the water to rise at the rate of one inch an
hour, threatening the inuHdation OF the
sugar lands on the west side OF the Teche,
and the consequent destruction of property
and crops to the value of millions to the
agriculturIsts OF this parish. We hereby
specially and distinctly notify said corpora
ton to remove said artificial distractions to
the free flow of the water to tide level. In
default of the water being so allowed a free
passage 10 tide level we hold said corpora
ton liable for the damages and loss result
ing"
VICKsBURG, April 1.-The news from the
overnowed districts shows that the planters
are taking every advantage of the declining
waters for plowing and planting as the ex-
posed condition of the lands will permit,
and are becoming more cheerful every day.
New ORLEANS, April 2-The Times Dem
ocrdt st. Martinsville special says: "The
water here on the eastern side of the Teche
in the Parish of st. Martins is higher than
in 1874 and reaches nearly to the bank of
the Teche. Houses, fences, stock, corn,
fodder and provisions of all sorts have been
swept away. Hundreds of our citizens
with their wives and children are without
shelter and without bread. The desiitution
in the overflowed section of our parish is
unprecedented" This message Is from
Afford Voorhees,, the Representative of st.
Martins parish in the Legislature.
New ORLEANS, April "A dispatch from
Morgan City, dated midnight last night,
says: 1.-THE water rose five inches at this
point during the past twenty-four hours, and
is now thirteen inches above the high water
of 1874. Many families are leaving the city
and In other cases the women and children
are being sent west to high lands. Several
buildings are considered In great danger,
aud the stock is being moved to Belle Isle on
steamboats,. Mr.. Judson, of the New Or
leans Times Democrat, was In consultation
with several Of our prominent citizens to-
day in regard to the best method
of relief, should the occasion de-
mand it. The announcement made to day
by railroad officials that no more trains
would arrive from New Orleans caused con-
siderable anxiety. The stock Of provisions
is limited, and, unless relief comes by the
boats In a few days, there must be suffering.
This town relies upon railroad and swamps
for its support, and the stoppage Of trains
will throw many persons out of employ
ment, while the swamps are too high to
work to advantage. At least two feet more
of water is expected"
Tines Democrat specials show th at the re-
lief work is continued by General York
with the boat Susie on the Black and Tensss
rivers, and that rations and forage have
been distributed in sufficient quantities to
supply present needs. The buffalo gnats
are reported troublesome. The fall OF the
water at Rodney, Miss, was checked to-
day, 1t being less than one inch. The cause
Is not known.
The river is stationary at one foot below
the rise of 1874 The Landry crevssse will
probably be closed in few days. The work
is progressing favorably. The Arizona Gre
vase is now reported eight hundred feet
wide and ten to twelve feet deep. The
water finds it's way into Lake Marepas and
is doing less damage than was expected.
Active relief work continues. Govern
ment rations are being shipped to all points
requiring them, and the local relief commit
tee continue to supply forage for stock.
To-day they shipped 62O sacks of corn and
223 of oats to the Tensas river and Bayou
Macon; also IS barrels of corn meal to
Crosse Tete.
Messrs. Gillis, Tcherck and Bush, the
Louisiana Commissioners for the distribu-
tion of government rations, will tomorrow
publish their reports, showing the disposi-
tion OF $50 600 rations received from the
War Department through Major F. f.
Whitehead, United States army, on March
"a and "a. The report gives full particulars
as to shipments, consignees, etc.
As 735 applcants were furnished