The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-22
SUFFERERS BY THE FLOOD.
A Deplorable situation In st. James
and Ascension Parishes.

WASHINGTON, April 2L-Sscretary Proc.
tor has transmitted to the House the report
OF Quartermaster General Robinson in re-
gard to the condition of affairs in the over
flowed district Of St James and Ascension
parishes, Louisiana. Gen. Robinson says
that in pursuance to orders he went to
Whitehall and Conv ent, st. James parish.
Convent is at the lower edge of the great
Nita crevasse; Whitehall, above 1t, is
further back in the vesley. Below, at Con-
vent, except near the levees, everything is
flooded for about ten miles down and far
back of the same at intervals above the
crevasse toward Whitehall and for five
miles.
A DEPLoRABLE SITUATION.
He says the situation is deplorable, and
hundreds Of planters have lost their crops.
while thousands Of laborers win soon be
thrown out of employment. At Grande
Point, where there wera probably sixty to
seventy families, the people escaped in
skiffs, and the whole precinct is under
water. Opposite the levee break at Nita
numerous poor whites and colored people
lost all but their lives. He recommends In
slant action tending to the relief of the
sufferers by the United States. There is
liable to be in st. James, st. John and
Ascension parishes total of 5000 persons
destitute within month.
RISE AT NEW ORLEANS.
NEW ORLEANS, April 21-A brisk east
southeast gale accompanied by a drizzling
rain, and occasional showers set in last mid
night and continued until O'Clock tonight.
causing high tide along the gulf shore
and rise of six inches in tine river at the
head of Canal street. the reading at o'clock
last night being fifteen feet eight-tenths,
and at noon to-day sixteen feet
three-tenths, since which time there has
been no apparent change. The gale
has also carried the gulf water through
Lake Borgne and Mississippi sound entirely
over the Louisville and Nashville railroad
track in many places between Tichon and
Lookout station, causing washouts between
the II and 16-mile posts, and delaying all
trains The weather is still unsettled, but
the wind has abated somewhat, and Supt
Marshall thinks they will be able TO repair
the damage, and send out mail trains to-
morrow.
A LEvEE GIVES WAY.
About noon to-day levee gave away
just above the sugar house on T. S. WilkirI-
sons myrtle grove plantation. In twenty
minutes the break was said to be fifty feet
wide, and the water was pouring through
in an irresistible torrent. The levee at that
point Is some thirty miles below the city.
The right bank was pretty high, and much
damage will result from the crevasse
A draw on the south end of the north
eastern railroad bridge across Lake Pont-
chartrain, which was so badly damaged
Saturday evening as to cause an entire sus-
pension OF traffic for nearly thirty-six
hours, has been repaired and the movement
OF trains over it has been resumed.
BAYOU SARA INvApEn
The Iimes-Democrat Bayou Sara
special says: "After most heroic struggle
to save our city from the food, we had to
surrender to the great father of waters at
1880 o'clock this morning. At that hour
the guards reported that the levee had
given way at the foot Of Fountain
sounded and .the people responded
promptly to the call. This break was
closed, but on examination it wss found
that the rising river was running over the
front levees. All that human efforts
could do had been done, and at
last the solemn cry went up all
along the line: "Give US men; we are
gone," and then the confusion of the people
can be better imagined than described.
Every impromptu boat and raft was
brought into requisition. Lanterns could
be seen everywhere, and the cries of me0.
women and children attempting to save
their effects were heard.
NOT HOUSE ESCAPES.
'Not house in town has escaped. The
beautiful Fischer building, the home of
Mayor Irvine, supposed to be the highest, is
deluged. Our town is in ruins Nothing
but chaos and destruction meet the eve
at every view. To-day it is rain
ing hard, which makes the picture
more gloomy. The water is also running
over large extent of Polnte Coupe from
the Taylor levee, which has given way, aud
the Fanny Poor crevasse will probably
prove very serious matter, The large
levees, from last accounts, are intact, but
things look critical"