Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-03-23
from Memphis TO Plum Point.


mile tsi = up the river, was seen by an AP-
PEAL man yesterday, to whom ne gave a
detailed account of all he saw from the
hurricane deck on his way up. The first
place noticed, he said, was HopeReld,
Ark.-immediately opposite Mem phis-a
little town Of which the principal bust
ness is transferring the trains Of the Mem
phis and Little Rock railroad across the
river. Here, as well as could be Judged,
the water stood two and half feet up on
the sides ef the houses. and the wharfboat
had been gradually moved up until it
stood nearly quarter of mile from the
place where it formerly stood. No trains
were coming in or going out OF this interest
ing town, and the people, robbed of their
usual occupations, were riding about in
skitfs, dugouts and fatboats, fescuing en-
dangered animals and doing whatever
else they could to protect their persons
and property from the encroaching waters.
All the country above Hopefield was
Just like the town-under water from two
to ten feet, and Mound City, some five
miles further up, is no better off. Skiffs
and canoes have taken the place of
wagons, and instead of roaming at large
over grassy fields, the poor COWS, horses
and hogs are penned up and elevated
above mother earth on scaifolds. There is
little stream, an old
ARM OF THE RIVER,
running into the main river Just above
Mound City, which, under ordinary con-
dltions, is "navigable for boats" only, as
the STUPID boy in the Third Reader said.
But then the steamer Overton was making
regular trips up it as far as Marion, some
five or six miles back from the river. On
her route she passes, and, am told, runs
over part of the famous Hadden farm,
where the great jurist of that name loves
to spend his Sundays, listening to the
rythmic cadence of his gurgling bottle.
But there is SO much aqua PtrG III the
neighborhood now that it no longer has
the power to lure the judge away from
Memphis, Notwithstanding the blue Sun
day law.
On up the river the same peculiarities
prevailed, water, water everywhere"
the banks on either side being inundated
to such an extent that where the plow-
share should have been turning up the
rich soil the skiff PROV was plowing up
the muddy water.
At Harrison's plantation the same dreary
desolation marked the view. All the houses
nearer the river bank were surrounded by
water, and the residence, which is several
hundred yards back, could be reached only
by boat. There was some high Sand back
of the house out of water, where the stock
was corraled and cared for. Mr.. Harrison
is an Ohio man, who
SETTLED IN THIS COUNTRY
some twelve years ago, and during that
comparatively short tine has amassed a
snug competence, even in the face of dis
astrous floods with which he had to con-
tend-an evidence of the fertility of the
soil and the value OF energy. Some
miles further up the river is the Brad.
ley place, beautiful tract of land, at pres.
ent leased aud operated by Messrs. Park &
Wormley. The dwelling, located about
100 yards back from the river, was blocked
up eighteen inches Just before the high
water, and with that elevation barely es.
capped with dry floors. The stock
was penned up and kept out oi
water by the system OF scafolding in
vogue in all the low places. One solitary
turkey cock was observed perched upon
the top of the warehouse, with dropped
feathers and woeful countenance. He
looked gloomy and peculiar, ii not grand
The steamer, in making her landing here
passed over ground that produced cotton
last year and will be put under cultivation
this season. This is beautiful tract o.
land, cleared and cultivated two mile:
back from the river. Between the Bradley
place and the Kansas City railroad lies
the Clark place, owned and operated by
Mr.. Cleveland Clark, president of the
Pioneer Cotton Mills of Memphis. i
suffers like its neighbors.
On and up the river sped our good shiI
through the
BoUNDLESs ExPANSE OF WATER,
stretching out on either side as far as the
eye could reach. No break in the monot-
ony of fat, drowned out country was me
until 10 naonfc leland tah lio.
just at the head of Centennial cutoff
some thirty-five miles above Memphis
This valuable property, embracing some
| 1000 or 5000 acres of the most fruitful al
| luvial land, is owned and worked by Mr.
| Horace Andrews, whose residence is a
| Memphis. The place was improved fo
/ many years and made somewhat famous
| by the efIorts OF the late Capt Andrews
| who was well known aud liked through
| out the entire valley.
At Osceola an incident was related
| which speaks volumes, and tells more o
| the love and esteem in which Capt. An
| drews was held than would whole col
umns of print. An old and wealthy citi
| zen of that place on one occasion wa
notified OF the arrival of q package o
| freight from Memphis addressed to him
which came in on one of the larger boats
but refused to receive it. Take il bacl
to Memphis" he said, "and tell them
want it shipped on the Osceola Belle AM
no other. No man except Capt. Andrew
shall haul my freight"
The town of Osceola, and, indeed, tn,
whole of the adjacent country,
OWES MORE To CAPT. lNrHrws
than to any other man. It would not b
saying too much to assert that he estat
lished the trade OF 0sceola and the neigh
boring corn.r-. He first began in tina
trade with very small boat, and az
cepted in payment for freight any com
modify the farmers had to dispose o
from cord-wood TO poultry. The countr
was gradually built up, and Capt, Al
drews purchased larger boat, but moth
ing grew faster than the planters regar
for the captain. To resume, the Andrew
place was quite q contrast to other scene
described. The water lacked some tw
feet of reaching the top of the bank. ST
or eight spans of fat, sleek mules wer
plowing in the rich fields; the ring
the woodman's az added It's music to tn
songs OF the b,ris and the noisy gable G
the barn-yard. Two big four-horse wagon
loaded, one with corn, the other with co
ton, were standing near the landing; haT
py little pickaninies gamboled and dance
among the fat hogs that grunted out the
satisfaction as they rooted round the ST
ble-yard in the sunshine. The who
scene was delightful change from VIII.
had been previously looked upon-a graf
full break in the desoiate panorama, an
may be considered as sample of what II
WHOLE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
will be in a few years when ii has bee
protected from the disastrous floods. Pri,
to 1876, when Centennial cutoff was mad