The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-02
BREAD UPON THE WATERS
Continuation of the Charitable Cruise
of the Indiana Relief Boat.
A Call the People Who Live in Boats on
Green River-Dstress at Enterprise
Losses at LeavenwOrth.
,srom Staff Correspondent of the Journal.

sands of farms are still submerged, the water
in most instances has receded from the
houses, there having been a fall of four or
five feet from the highest point reached. But
the people who were driven from their
houses to the hills are not yet able to return,
as the water-soaked walls are anything but
conducive of good health. The same scene
of isolated farm-houses peering up in the
midst of the general deluge is to be wit
messed still along this portion of the river,
but the worst is passed, and a sense of relief
is experienced Houses lodged in drifts are
to be seen occasionally, and some are seen
that have careened and toppled off their
foundations The scattered corn from scores
of burst cribs is beginning to emerge from
She food, revealing grievous loss to many
, bottom" farmer But from Evansville to
this point there is little to challenge attention
to the general calamity.
The Isabella made two-mile run up the
Green river, to visit the various water craft
that winter there. These are all of the hum
blest description, and seek this harbor on ac-
count of the fact that the Green seldom
freezes over, thus preserving an open chan
mel free from the dangers of floating ice.
We found some seven families in greatest
need, and while they may have been able to
sustain life by some means, the bountiful
provisions left them will doubtless go far to-
ward relieving distress and shielding them
from sickness consequent upon the exposure
they have undergone. The boats were of the
rudest description, consisting of scow bot
tom surmounted by a little shanty scarcely
larger than eight feet by fourteen in dimen-
sions, and in such rude habitation whole
families were crowded, the ever-present dog,
or dogs ebowing the children in the
scanty quarters. With the necessary two
beds, for the accommodation of per-
haps seven or eight persons, there
was left but barely room enough to pass and
for stove that served the double purpose of
kitchen-range and base-burner. With not
enough in the larder to keep cat from
getting hungry, and with no wood whatever
visible, their miniature arks are now swing
ing in the woods fringing Green river, miles
from dry land, and dependent upon the
slenderest shifts to keep soul and body
together. Still, there they are, scores of
them, in accomplishing apathy, awaiting
the fall of the river Little children among
them, pale and pinched with hunger and
disease, pent up in those floating prisons
whose odors are as rank almost as starch
factories. Many of these people, doubtless,
are so situated by choice or on account of
lack of energy that presents no choice. But
their sufferings were genuine, and the COM
mittee sent to relieve distress brought tenn
porary plenty to many hungry and not
ungrateful family. One instance is note
worthy: A man occupying one of these
wretched boats had been sick four months,
and in that time had not left the craft more
than four times. How his old and decrepit
wife managed to gain a livelihood was more
than any of their Indiana visitors could I'M
derstand. In another boat, not more than
ten feet wide and twenty-five feet long, were
gathered three families, and these, unlike
the others, had been driven there by the
flood One of the women-Aunt Mary
Ringer-said she had just got aboard the
cockle-shell OF boat when her house went
off with the tide. She confirmed her story
by pointing down to some willows in which
a cabin was tilted up in a jaunty manner,
while hundred yards up stream stood the
deserted fireplace and chimney, apparently
an indignant spectator of all the mad gongs-
ON of its capricious companion. In another
the husband and father of a family died
few days ago, and his body was carried in
skiff to the high land miles away, where he
was buried, leaving wife and several chill
dren totally unprovided for.
q Our next stop was at Enterprises sorry
msnomer for collection of some score of
houses on the Indiana shore. Here every house
bad been flooded and the inmates of nearly
all of them had taken refuge on the hills
back of town. There was great suffering,
both for food and bedding, and Major Bran
ham had weeks supplies set off for sixty
persons, together with the necessary bedding
for five families All the houses are still
standing save one, which fell off its under
pinning yesterday as the owner was cleaning
1t up preparatory to moving back into it.
The river has fallen enough to leave all the
houses free from water, and the towns nor
NAL condition will soon be resumed
The boat touched for q few min utes at
Greensboro, on the Kentucky shore, but no
supplies were called for, nor were any de-
manded at this place, which is high and dry
above all possible floods. At IL O'clock last
night the fires were banked and the Isabella
was laid up for the night.
ssiA ITEMS ON THE ISABELLA.
'@ DR.. Elder is suffering greatly on account of
not having brought comb with him, and he
has been obliged to part his hair with
towel
Captain Bob Hornbrook, commander of
3he Isabella. is one of the safest and best
men on the river, and has won the esteem of
every member of the committee, no pains
having been spared to make the trip agreea-
Bile and a perfect success. He was member
Of the Eleventh Indiana, under General Lew
Wallace and General McGnnis
y The Isabella, chartered specially for this
expedition is a snug little passenger steamer
1903 feet long and one of the best and fastest
coil nm, riv Exrorx bod ,~la
with her, and there has been no sea-sickness
Charley Jones, the cook, is doing his duty
nobly, endeavoring to satisfy the table wants
of passengers and crew. He has been voted
success, and the honor is attested in an indis-
putable manner at meal-time
With an eye to the main chance, DR.. Elder
and Sanitary Policeman Griffin improved
nna shining hour dinnin q snsSn Ernn ront