The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-04-25
THE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
Among the Bayou People In Wander
burg and POsey Counties.
An Interview with a Member OF the
indianapolis Board OF Trade
Facts and Figures Concern
ing Their Condition.
lSunday Sentinel.l

nected with his trip wiz 'ne Neiiei OoN'
mittee to the food sufFe'Ns having Dee'
communicated to the Sen .aN'el ofhee oy
friend, reporter was detailesN 70 car upo-
him tor al interview. Mr.. sailup wa
found in his office, and kindly fs& Seu'eu
be questioned concerning the dist-z's wnio'
he visited and the condition in vzsAt u TIL
people were found.
ReporteT-When did you leave II-ssaA \
apolis. and what Wis the special occasions On
your visit to Vanderburg and Poser
Counties?
Mr.. Gallup left on the 10th OF April.
The special purpose was to see what could
be done to assist the farmers, particularly
in the Counties named, TO produce another
crop, who had been great sufferers from the
February floods, and who could not do 20
without aid from come source.
Rep What point did you first visit?
Mr.. C After reaching E Evansville, accom-
panied oy Senator Rshm and Albert h am oh,
Trustee of Union Township, Vanderburg
Comfy. we started in skiff down the river.
On the Kentucky side, after leaving Evans
vile. the country was entirely inundated
for miles from the rise of the Ohio. The
river was within nine and one-half feet of
the highet point reached in February, and
was at a point which IL only reaches on an
average once in seven years. We proceeded
on down the river, and our first stop was
six miles below Evansville. The inst man
called upon had lost 1000 bushels OF corn,
three sets of harness, sixty acres OF growing
wheat and had paid $50 to get his live stock
bCated to Evansville daring the February
iood, leaving him his live stock
o. Q man had lost 1000 Bushels
OF c)rn, several piows, his hay and provis-
10, of every kind. Some colored families
WI o had lost all they had were relieved
tt sixth party visited vas found to be in
peculiarly distressing condition, having
been sick since the flood. They had no
money and had sold their last cow to pay
the doctor, while three Of the children were
baTefooted They were given $50 10 money
and other supplies. Another distressing
Gaze was a man who owned thirty-two acres
of land. and who had built q house and barn
within two years. He lost his house and
barn, two horses, one cow and all his furni-
ture. He had picked up some lumber ana
built a little shalty of one room, where
himself, his wife and four children were
Saving. He was furnished with plows, pro-
visions and $50 in money.
Rep.-What point did you next visit2
Mr.. G. From this point We crossed oyer
10 Henderson on the Kentucky side, and re-
manned there over night. At O'Clock in
the morning We We're again on the river.
The first man called on had lost 5000 bush
els of corn eigat stands OF bees, and most
of his potatoes. He was furnished with im-
plemeut5 aud other supplies. The
next family had list 5000 bushels
of corn, 5eO0 feet of lumber
ar.1 vx-olu IA al
given $40 to repair her furniture
While big tears ran down her face, she said:
II thank you a thousand times" which she
repeated over and over again. The next
man had lost ], 800 bushels of corn and most
of his farm implements, and still another
had lost 9, 500 bushels of corn. These men
were literally aided. Another sad case was
a widow. whose husband had died with pneu-
MONA during the food She had lost 1000
bushels of corn, her household furniture
and most OF her farm implements. She will
have to go out and work for living. The
next man had lost all he had, including
I,5OO bushels of corn. His little boy lay dead
In the house and he had paid S26
to get his mules over the river. The
child during its sickness h ad had no medical
attendance because a physician could not be
reached. The family lad no money and
the father had gone TO Henderson to see if
he couId get trusted for coffin. The
wife was given SO and they were
furnished with other supplies. The wife
said. 81 thank you" and cried bitterly. The
next man had lost 2 500 bushels of corn and
all his farm implements He was asked il
he could raise another crop. He said: Not
without backing" anu that he would
have to quit the farm and go TO work by
the day, unless he was aided. In al
tWeuty-six families were visited whose loss
had been about in proportion to thost
nan ed, and in Union TOWNSHIP there were
in all about eighty families in that cOndi
ton. In knight Township there were abou
twenty families in similar condition, anC
some cases required special attention. IL
one family six small children were found
and everything had been swept away. The.
were given $50. A widow with seven small
chi dren was found who had lost everythin,
she had. She was given $50. In anothe
fan lily FIVE children were found, and boz
seventeen years old was nearly dead will
consumption from exposures during tn
food. Fifty dollars was given them
Another family, consisting OF father enc
mother and four children, was found, all o
whom were down with the smallpox. The,
had lost 2 600 bushels of corn and all the.
had, exceOt two mules, which had swan
ashore. Fifty dollars and other supple
were given them.
Rep.-How many supplies in all were lef
in Vanderburg County,
Mr.. G.-The supplies left in Vsnderbur
County were 145 plows, eighty-four sets o
harness, SIS bushels of potatoes, twenty-five
bushels of beans. and about 81, 600 worth o
clothing and provisions.
Rep.-What can you say OF the soil o
Vanderburg County?
Mr.. G.-The soil of Vanderburg County
along the river, is as rich a tract of land a
there is in Indiana, and Union Township i
capable of producing as much wealth as an,
Township in the State. Corn is the princi
pal production, though some wheat i
raised. 1t has nine school houses and fou
Churches The school houses are painte,
nicely, and, in architectural design, are a
fine as can be found in any part of NeT
England One school house and one Churcl
had been badly wrecked by the food.
Rep.-What can you say in general wa,
of the inhabitants?
Mr.. The inhabitants are mostly Gel
mans, from thirty-five to forty years of age
They are an honest, industrious hard-worh
ing people. Some of them were asked wins
per cent of their debts they could have pal
but for the loss of their corn. They reptile
they could have paid all their debts and ha
money left, varying from 500 to 5000
Rep-What was the attitude of Evan
vile towards the food sufferers?
Mr.. Cat the time of the flood Evan
vile declined to take any proportion {
the money voted by Oh
State, and said that Vanderbur
County could take care of its own poo
This they sadly failed. however, to do I'll
charitable people of Indiana and other par