Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-14
NOTHING BUT WATER.



lots. From half way up tine first story of
its dwellings the muddy surface of the Mis-
sissippi stretched across to the opposite
shore, distinguishable by low line of trees,
a distance of two miles or more.
A colored girl in bright, red dress seated
in slowly-moving ''dugout," furnished the
only bit of color to the scene. All sounds
of life were still. Through the trees could
be seen the remains of the colored Baptist
Church close against a big gum tree. One
gable and a part Of the roof, with the wooden
beliry and bell still hanging, was all that
remained of the modest structure.
THE NEGROES SUFFER.
Laconia Circle contained, previous to
March 25, about 5000 persons, white and
black, scattered over 10 plantations, the
owners of which had contributed time and
money to the construction of the encircling
levee. The planters saved their household
effects; in fact not more than two or three of
them were compelled to move from their
dwellings. All of the planters houses in
this section of the South are built above any
ordinary high water mark.
The negro cabins are merely wooden shells
or log houses set upon blocks two or three
feet above the ground. This accounts for
the great destruction OF this class of dwell
Circle have been washed away. On the
Britt place only one is left.
A score of miraculous escapes from death
are told. On the Rice plantation, during
the storm of Sunday week, a family was
rescued from the roof of their dwelling
which an instant after crumbled away. The
high winds have been responsible for more
damage than the floods.
WINDS AIDING WATER.
Twice since the overflow of two weeks ago
have storms OF such violence arisen that,
lashing the water into waves like mimic
ocean, they Frustrated houses that had sue
cessfully withstood the inundation. In the
effort to save human life the live stock was
left to its fate. Hundreds of cattle per-
appearance of great, quiet lagoon, dotted
with floating wrecks OF buildings and the
bloated bodies of drowned cattle.
The loss of human life would have been
very great had not it been for Mr.. c. B.
Blackburn, a nephew of Senator Blackburn,
one of the largest planters here, who char
tered tug at White river, and with barges
rescued the people and what live stock had
All OF the cattle and about 400
of the rescued negroes were removed to
Helena and Memphis.
Little or no practical relief in the way of
food has been given these destitute people
here. Memphis merchants have forwarded
supplies of provisions to various points on
the river, this place included, but the guam
tity was wholly inadequate. The planters
in the circle have about exhausted their
ability to help the families on their own
plantations
NECESSITY OF RELIEF.
Mr.. c. B. Blackburn, speaking of the
necessity for relief said: 1.-The overflow is
not the worst feature of our condition. The
hundreds of negroes crowded into ginhouses
through the Circle must be fed for a month
to come The planters will look after them
as far as 1t is possible, and will extend
credit through the plantation stores, but
this can only last till the water subsidies. |
They have no security for such credit save a |
mortgage upon their crops raised by the |
negroes who rent land from them or work it |
1n shares. If the water does not |
fall sufficiently to enable the hands |
% get to work within the |
next four weeks there will be little prospect |
If full cotton crop this year. The negroes |
nave lost heavily in live stock and feed, and |
even should they get to planting in time |
hey will be seriously handicapped. The |
planters have also suffered greatly in this |
respect. In many cases it will require sew
eral years for them to recover. Cabins and |
Iences have to be rebuilt and farm stock |
purchased. They are scarcely able to do
what they are doing for their tenants. Un-
ess there is a change in the situation within
he next four weeks the negroes and some
whites, too, will be in deplorable con-
lition."
ONE THOUSAND HOMELESS.
In the country north of Laconia, lying
between here and Beith's landing, and ex-
ending through to the White river, it is
that there are ], 900 people whose
ZONES have been submerged or swept away.
The depth of the overflow is about II feet on
he level. OF the above number of people
here are eight or ten white families on the
verge of want, and who require immediate
assistance. Most of the colored people have
ost the greater portion of their stock, and
nave nothing with which to begin life with.
If the planters have enough left they can
'ender them some aid. In the meantime,
provision for their sustenance must be fur
2ished from some other source.
For three weeks past not only Laconia but
Ill of the territory adjacent to it has been
,ut off from communication with the out
ide world except by boat twice week.
The DISPATCH correspondent was the first
stranger who had visited the little town for
/ week. Two miles from the river on the |
opposite shore is the Louisville, New Or |
cans and Texas Railroad, but all travel by |
t is suspended and all telegraph and tele- |
1hone lines are down. Even If they were
lot, nobody from the Arkansas side is per- |
nitted to land in Mississippi.
GUARDING THE LEVERS.
Armed men patrol the levees. The |
planters have organized system for the |
of these embankments. Whites |
md negroes armed with shotguns and Win
,hesters watch the levees night and day for
ear that Arkansas gentlemen. in the hope
If lowering the water level on their side OF
he river, will attempt to cut the dykes and
orm crevasse. Each guard has beat of
lbout one mile in length. A number of
strangers have been fired on, but no one has
)een hit as far as known.
The break in the Atchafalaya levee,
which occurred on Wednesday Two miles
outh Of Sims Port in Point Coupes parish,
S now 600 teet wide and feet Deep The
own of Sims Port is said to be about two
eet under water. The Cason levee on
he west bank, about II miles north of Mel
vile, broke about o'clock Saturday morn
ng. This break is said to be 800 feet wide
md 10 feet deep. Advices were also re-
'eived that the Big Bend levee of Bayou des
Ilaisea, eight miles west of Sims Port, was
,adly broken.