The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-04-20

CoLUMBUs, Miss, April 1.-THE death
and desolation caused by the flood has so
demoralized the entire population that the
days are as quiet and business as idle as
any Sabbath. While intercourse is resumed
with the northeastern part of the county,
still the city is waterbound from every
other direction. Later reports rather
enlarge than diminish previous estimates
of loss of lie and destruction of property.
A general idea of the effects of the flood
can be stated in this way: A bolt of
country ranging from five to fifteen miles
wide, running north and south through the
county, is one stretch Of debris, made MP OF
ruins of houses and fences and carcasses
OF stock and it is doubtful whether there
is lett standing in the belt one dozen
houses. The pititul scenes of the past few
days have opened the hearts of all, and
public and private charity prevents the
cruel suffering of those who were rescued.
One Thousand Homeless
But the most helpless time will come
when the water subsidies and there will be
left in this place 1000 to l. 200 negroes who
have not one cent and no credit, and the
places that were their homes nothing but
mud holes. The landlords of the tenants
are in no condition to replace these
destroyed farms. and this is the future OF
the negroes subsisting now on public
charity. If there was ever an occasion
when q people had right to call on their
government for help that time is now for
these poor freedmen, and it would be but
common humanity for the congress now
in session to help them.
These are facts. The impoverished con-
dition of the white people here prevents
them from maintaining the colo-ed peo-
pie long by charity and it is too late in
the season 10 give them work. A called
session of the board of supervisors
of the county are celebrating as
to whether 10 put in operation
the stock law in the overlooked district
without which it is impossible to make
any crop whatever, as in the entire dis
trict there is not = vestige OF fence and
in many places it is so badly washed it will
be impossible TO locate where the fence line
was. Even at the present stage of water
al eSLAllale OI lub lOSS % lllt purely
guess work, but the death list is q long
one and as vet no death is reported among
the whites, as these low lying lands were
inhabited almost exclusively by the
negroes, and such whites as lived there
were always kept well protected by keep
ing good boats.
The old mound builders built wiser than
they knew as these old Indian relics saved
lives of hundred of negroes besides count
less numbers of stock.
Mas Meeting of Citizens.
A mass meeting of citizens was held ct
the city hall this afternoon to devise ways
and means to help the poor in this hour
of their need. The mayor was authorized
to ask of the federal government the loan
of thousand tents to give them shelter
Amid the distress of the past week
it is hsrd for these people to
find anything to laugh at, but one OF these
incidents was furnished by Capt. Leigh,
leading commission merchant of this city.
In company with his ten-year-old son he
was engaged in protecting his stock on his
Jersey farm, in the suburbs, and while so
! engaged lost bis balance and fell out
of his boat. The boy seized him hg
the feet as he was going under
the water and held him like a
hero to keep him from sinking. This OF
| course kept his head under water, and he
was only saved by the failing strength of
the child. which compelled him to turn
his feet loose. The students of the State
industrial institute at this place, true to
their woman's nature. gladly joined the
| citizens in making such contributions as
they could. BY common consent they
agreed to go without their Sunday dinner
that it might be given the sufferers.