Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1897-04-07
MUST HAVE HELP
Memphis Has Done It's Utmost
to Aid Distressed Flood
Refugees.
The Relief She Has Given Is,
However, at Best But
Temporary.
Statement of Representatives OF
the Citizens Relief Committee
to the Public.

WASHINGTON, April 7.-Messrs. r. @.
Graves and J. S. Menken, representing
the citizens relief committee of Mem
phis, Tenn, organized for the purpose
Of relieving the people of the flooded
country tributary to that city, have
arrived in the city. They have pre-
pared the following statement which
they will submit to the president:
''From Marion, Ark, north OF Mem
phis, to Greenville, Miss, there are now
at least so towns and villages under
water, and territory extending from
100 miles north of Memphis to 200 miles
south, and to 40 miles wide, is sub
merged and devastated by the flood.
Hundreds of thousands of acres OF Gull
tivated soil, with growing crops, are
included in this submerged territory,
and there are from $4,000 to 10000
people whose prosperity has been de-
stroyed and whose business has been
suspended thereby. The amount OF
damages to property is incalculable.
In addition to the growing crops which
have been destroyed, thousands of
heads of working stock and of cattle
Have Been Drowned and Starved
The great majority of the sufferers are
small farmers, mostly negroes, who,
with the present crop destroyed and
their working stock and farming tools
swept away, are left utterly destitute
and unprepared to begin work again,
even after the floods have subsidized.
The extent of the suffering has grown
beyond the capacity of the local author
tiles and of private local charities to
relieve. The citizens relief committee
of Memphis are now caring for from
5000 to 1000 refugees from the flooded
district and they are still arriving by
boatloads every day. In addition to
this, large supplies of provisions are
being sent to various points in Arkan-
sas and Mississippi, where it is possible
for the refugees to be cared for on
higher ground, and in relief barracks.
The most that can be done by these
efforts is to 1neasureably and temporar-
lily relieve the present suffering The
committee have found it very difficult
and very costly to reach a great portion
of the sufferers living i'll the interior
who can only be reached by skiffs, OPP
Grating with light draft steamers, that
can leave the main river4 Memphis
being the only. point on GA ground
for about 300 miles north ana south, it
necessarily has become the place of
refuge for all seeking to escape the
food in that locality.
The Worst Flood Known.
This food is the greatest and most
destructive that has ever devastated
the Mississippi valley, the water being
~ feet higher than the highest stage
it has ever reached before
The relief committee are thoroughly
organized for the purpose of distribut-
ing supplies to the people of the tribu-
tary territory and are willing to do
everything in their power to that end,
but they have now almost reached the |
end of their resources and reluctantly
confess their inability to cope with the
situation without obtaining relief from
the government.
Representative Carmack, who repre-
sents the Memphis district in the house,
also signs the statement and says his
information by letter from the over
flowed district is entirely in accord
with that made by the committee.