Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-09
he Worst Of the Floods About Over
A Better Feeling Prevailing
at Helena.
The Situation at Arkansas City and
Skipwith-A Trip to Marion
and Return.
A Large Portion Of CritteHden County
Under Water-The Submerged
Plantations.
Reports from Bolivar and Washington
Counties FaVorable-Lstest from
GreenYille.

Ateo IN affobJ Afk.s tafoofh Ma nourtaay FOL
Capt. Fogleman, OF the popular ferryboat
John OvertoD, and took observations from
the pilothouse, aided by Mr.. Charley Lyles,
who gave many points that otherwise
would have escaped the casual observer.
We found Hope6eld and all the country
round about covered with water, excepting
here and there 3 high point barely raising
its crown sbeve the surface. The lower floors
Of the houses, which are generally built
high from the ground, are out of the water
m olives stand on the submerged railway
tracks. The banks of the river can be desig-
mated by the breaks in the water line, and
are said to be caving all the way up from the
point TO Cheeks Landing. Ammonss and
Neely's, known as Mound City, is about six
to ten feet under water. This is the point
where the government work was in progress
when the river began rising. Here a strong
current is pouring across the country
and re-enters at Four-mils bayou, about
five Lilies below Memphis. All the levee
has either been washed away or is SUBJ
merged. We saw the government feet, con.
sisting OF the ]. Z. Meigs and the fats,
barges and RATS, safely moored in Mound
City Island chute. At Mound City there is
about six feet of water over the bank, ex-
cept single dry spot about an acre square
right at the landing point in front OF Hatha-
wsy & Malone's store. All in rear of that
is under water to depths ranging from ten
inches To- two feet. At Mound City the river
had fallen two inches from the highest point
reached this season. The Marion road is
all under water from Mound City out, and
looks like the channel of a small stream.
Here is where the John Overton enters Ma
rion lake by going through an old break in
the leyee. At Mrs. Trice's place, some 500
yards above Mound City, there is dry
spot probably five acres in extent. On
this We saw a number of horses, mules,
COWS and other stock, which had
taken refuge from the overflow. Several
hundred yards further on we came to the
mound, from which the landing takes its
name. The mound is some ten feet above |
the present overflow and affords safe re-
treat for stock, and many had taken ad. |
vautsge of il. The old military road, run.
ming out fromsHope6eld, passes this point,
aud is about four to seven feet under water.
Further en- we found fields OF cotton still
unPicked, and under water averaging one to
one and half feet. A citizen st9ted that q
greater part of this cotton, which is yet out
OF the water, can be saved if the river recedes
two feet within the next ten days. This is
the Dunlap place, in which il is said ex. Gov.
Porter has an interest. The field embraces
about twenty acres. The next place of I'M
porlancs was that of Mr.. r H. Weaver, who
il al
This farm is all under water, with few dry
spots here and there, and very strong current
is pouring through it, but as yet the fencing
does not seem to have suffered much. The
Bledsoe place, about two and one half miles
up the Marion road, alongside the lake, is
under water on an average of two feet. The
Hadden place president Had2en, Of the
Taxing DISTRICT ID also under water-as a
particular friend of his remarked, he will
raise splendid crop Of frogs and crawfish,
il the dry weather don't set in too fresh en-
him. A little further up the Marion road
is the Charles Lyles place-all under water
except the front yard of his residence. He
has built what is krown as a run-around
levee iu front of his house which has served
we'll 10 protect him from the encroachments
of the overflow. The Cox place is 10 about
the same condition., but both have
suffered mostly from the late rains.
Mrs. Hawley's place ia also under water
and suffering somewhat more than the
places next above mentioned. None Of thee
parties have lost any stock so far, as they
took the precaution TO move everything to
places of security before the high water
came on them. All of them have lost cotton
in the field, more on account Of inability 10
get labor to pick it out before the overflow
came. 1t can be saved il the water falls as
much as two feet-at least hall of it il this
occurs within ten days. Marion is all out
Of water, but the immediate vicinity is
pretty we'll covered, excepting places here
and there where farmers could have been
cultivating their fields but for the late rains.
From Marion great deal OF high ground is
visible, which controver;s the sensational
stories that there is an unobstructed sea OF
water from New Madrid to the mouth of st.
Francis river. All traffic from Marion ia
done in skifs and other small craft, some
going distances ranging from ten to twenty
I've miles. No particular distress could be
heard of in that vicinity, and every one we
talked with were in most hopeful spiriis--in
fact they say that the farmers in that region
have mere work than they can get workers.
The railway builders on the Kansas City
road are at work. The only loss OF any mement
heard of all along this route was by Mr. j.
NJ. Wheeler, on the Neely place, near Mound
City chute He lost forty head OF hogs and
three Jersey cattle, besides a good LOT of
corn. At Charlottesville, nine miles west Of
Marion, the low plains are under water, but
there are thousands of acres high and dry
aud ready for the pillow. Ten miles north
west of Marion the farmers are generally
out of the water, and no loss Of
| fro RBlackfish lake and TyroDza river is
rel a cd falling. The latter stream emplies
| int st. Frarcis river. The above informa-
ton was gleared from personal observation
and from reliable citizens resident OF the To-
calities embraced in this report. The return
OF the John Oyerton wss.Without interest,
save the novelty of sailing through the
forests on a steamer, which we found time to
enjoy on the way back. The distance from
Memphis to Marion by this route is about
ten miles-making twenty miles the round
trip-and certainly ii affords an excursion
as enjoy bic ae any that could be partioipa-
ted in. The Overton will make a special ex-
cursion Tomorrow, of which notice will be
| given. When the river begins 10 decline ii
will tske bat few feet fall 10 make the lake
uHnavigsble.
INTERVIEW WITH CAPT. MARK CHEEK.
Capt. Mark R Cheek, of the splendid new
cosst packet Kate Adams, was interviewed
|
between Memphis and Arkansas CITY. He
reports that the Totten levee broke Monday
night, about 200 yards above the break Of
last yesr. The water is now pouring through
gap seventy-fve or leo yards wide. The
back country, including the places of Ar
rington & Sherrod. Baush, Spring field, Col
Richardson's "Greeu Grove" place and 9th
ers, will be flooded. The water will find it.
outlet through the Hushpucksna bayou
Capt Cheek says that while there exists som,
alarm among those who were victims of las
years disaster, the knowing ones feel conf.
dent that the worst is about passed. Mr..
W. Gardusr, the obliging mail agent on tn
Kate Adams, confirms the captains state
ments. They confirm the reports Of the con
ditions as heretofore published in the Ar
PEAL, from which no changes have takel
place, except what is reported above.
Bat Little Change al Helena.
Special to the Appeal
HELENA, ARK March s.-Ths situatiol
is but little changed from the report Of yes