Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-18
A DEVASTATING DELUGE.
GREAT DISTRESS IN LOUISIANA
AND TEXAS.

Crops Virtually Ruined and Planters
Unable to Work on Account of the
High Water-Live Stock Housed For
Three MOnths-An Appeal for Gov
ernment Aid.
NEW ORLEANS, May ia dispatch
from COushatta says: "The river here is
even with the March flood and is rising
eight inches a day. All lOwlands subject
to overflow are under water. Fears are
entertained that the river will go two
inches higher. Planters are throwing up
temporary levees to keep the water off the
lands not yet submerged. The banks are
caving badly. Some planters were Obliged
to move their buildings and fences to pre-
vent their going into the river. There
have been heavy rains for the past three
days. Cotton crops are needing work.
The weather is still Threatening. The
corn crops, with few exceptions, are look
ing well. Three negro children playing
on raft were drowned. A negro man
plotting a gentleman through swamps
was drowned.
TEXAS AGAIN DELUGED.
GALVESTON, May 1T.-Specials from
points in Northeastern Texas report an
other very heavy rainfall in that section,
which embraces the largest area of cul-
tured land in the State. Wheat rust has
vatiOn will be retarded from two to four
weeks. In some instances cotton plants
have been flooded out, which will necessi-
tate planting anew.
URGENT APPEALS FOR AID.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-Appeals forre
lief continue to pour in upon the Secre-
tary of War and upon Gen. j. Floyd King
from residents of the flooded districts Of
North Louisiana. Almost the entire Con-
gressional district represented by Gen.
King, an area larger than the State of
New Jersey, is under water, and the con-
ditiOn of affairs there is most distressing.
From about 200 kilograms and as many
letters received by Gen. King one letter is
given herewith as fairly indicating the
tenor of the whole. 1t IS as follows:
WILDWOOD p. o.,
CATAHOULA PARISH, La, May II. lSS4.i
Hon. j. Floyd King:
SIR-The water is now as high as when we
received the first government ratlOns and the
people are in much more distressed circum-
stances, for their stock are very poor and we
need grain. Many of us planted cotton on
high ridges of land that peeped out and that
has been again oyerfowed, or Is dying f2r
need of work, which cannot be given
1t while the water is so near
the surface. Therefore we are
much discouraged, ana see no light ahead
unless the government will assist us. The
negroes seem willing to work at anything, but
can't get employment, Of course, while the
whole country is inundated. The mules and
horses have been housed for two months, and
at the present rate of the falling Of the water
it will be two months longer before the low
lands can be planted. DO for us what you
can. Very respectfully,
MRS. II. E. BOWMAN.
Mrs. Bowman is Postmistress at Wild
wood, the nearest dry land from where is
thirty miles, days journey in row boat.
HAIL ADDED TO THE WATER.
GALVESTON, May II, II 2. M.-Specials
from Mckinney and Bonham, Tex, re-
port severe and damaging hail storms.
In the neighbOrhOod of Mckinney hail
fell to an average depth of four inches,
destroying fields of wheat, cotton and
oats. Fruit trees were stripped re-
markable feature of the storms at both
places was the size of the stones, hun
dreds of them being larger than hens
eggs