The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-15
FrightfuI Condition of the People in the In.
undated Government Relief.

WAsHINGToN. March 13.-rhe Secretary Of
War has instructed Major Suffer, OF st.
Louis, TO furnish Government steamboats,
available for transportation of supplies TO
the sufferers by the overflow. Il is the in
tentiOn not only that Government supplies
should be carried on these boats but any
which may be furnished from any other
sources. and that they shall assist in the dis
tributiOn OF supplies already issued 10 State
Commissions. Present information indicates
that the stores already issued will last as fol-
lows: At Memphis, for Mississippi, until
the Goth inst. at Memphis, for Tennessee,
until the DIST; at Memphis, for Arkansas,
probably the same; at New Madrid, for
Missouri, until the 3lSt; at Gayoso, probably
the same; from Charleston, Mo-, the report
is there is no immediate necessity for send
ing more. There are no definite reports
from Mound City, exc, D, that tine destitute
are supposed 10 number $4,000.
The Secretary of War teiegraphed to Gov
eernor McCollom, OF Springfield, H., Us fol-
lows:
Townsend, from the ShawneetnwnDistrict has
Information of great suffering at and around
SnewneetOwn from Hoods and il Won desire re-
lief cent there, please name Commissioner, and
ascertain and advise me of the number IN dis
tres',and will render such assistance possible
He also telegraphed Governor Blackburn,
OF Frankfort Ky, as follows:
Captain Benham. OF the United States Army
telegraphs from Columbus, Ky, about SD people
need subsistence 70 be distributed from Column
bus, Ky. IL YOU desire this 10 be done aud tele-
graDn the name of the Commissioner to make
the distribution ~ That point, viii order 10000
ratiOns sent.
The Secretary also sent the following tele-
gram % Commissioners Giils and Scharck,
New Orleans:
The present appropriation IS nearly exhausted.
The Department can not place 100000 rstions at
your disposal now. An additional appropriation
is probable.
MENFHs, March 1S.-The river declined
two inches here TO-DAY, and now MARKS
thirty five feet seven inches on the gauge.
Captain ]. 5. Loud. one Of the Army officers
detailed by the Secretary of War to ascer-
tain the amount Of destitutiOn prevailing in
the river Counties between Cairo and this
city, arrived this morning. He reports great
distress among the inhabitants OF New
Marid and PenScOt Counties, Missouri; Lake
and Dyer Counties. Tennessee, aud Mis-
sissippi County, Arkansas. Penscot County
is wreck, and has seen submerged for
three weeks. Captain Loud thinks that
Government aid for the inhabitants of
these Counties will be necessary till Nay 1,
for when the waters decl1ne great destitu-
tion must prevail until some SOME showing
is made Of the coming crop. In many locali-
ties the water extends int the interior from
sixteen to sixty miles Commissioners
Hemingway and NaDgum to-day each dis
tributed $1,000 addditiogal rations fur
nished by tue Government for the relief of
the sufferers in Arkansas and Mississippi.
Three breaks are reported on the line OF the
Chicago, st. Louis and New Orleans Rail-
road, one near Grand Junction, one near
Michigan City, where Wolf River crosses
the road, and another further down.