Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-09
UNDER WATER.
Fifty Towns Inundated in the
Mississippi Valley.
THE DESTITUTE NUMBER $4,000.
A statement of the situation Pro-
pared for the President-The Lat
ter Taking Steps to Secure
Government Aid.

try tributary 10 tnat city, nave arrived
in the city. They have prepared the fol-
lowing statement, which they will sub
init to the president:
Fifty Towns Under Water.
From Marion. Ark, north of Memphis,
to Greenville, Miss, there are now at lea st
80 towns and villages under water, and q
territory extending from 100 miles north Of
Memphis to 200 miles south, and five to
forty miles wide. is submerged and devas-
tated by the flood. Hundreds Of thousands
of acres of cultivated soil, with growing
crops, are included in this submerged ter
ritory, and there are from $4,000 to $1,000
people whose property has been destroyed
and whose business has been suspended
thereby. The amount Of damage to prop
erty Is incaleulable. In addition to the
growing crops which have been destroy ed,
thousands Of head 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 work
ing stock and farm tools swept away, are
left utterly destitute and unprepared to be-
gin work again, even after the floods have
subsided.
Relief Badly Needed.
1.-THE extent OF the suffering has grown
beyond the capacity of the local author
tiles and of private local charities to re-
lieve. The citizens relief committee of
Memphis Is now caring for from 5000 to
1000 refugees from the flooded district, and
they are still arriving by boatloads evcry
day. In addition to this, large supplies of
provisions are being sent to various points
in Arkansas and Mississippi. where 1t is pos
sible for the refugees to be cared for on
higher ground and in relief barges. The
utmost that can be done by these efforts
is to measurably and temporarily relieve
the present suffering. The committee have
l1,I% ov,d 0rk1 %o
reach a great portion of the sufferers liv-
ing in the interior, who can only be reached
by slkiffs operating with light-draft steam
ers that can leave the main river. Mem
phis being the only point on high ground
for about 200 miles north and south. 1t
necessarily has become the place of refuge
for all seeking to escape the flood in that
locality.
Greatest Flood known.
s'This flood Is the greatest and most de-
structive that has ever devastated the
Mississippi valley, the water being 2!!a
feet higher than the highest stage 1t has
ever reached before. The relief committee
is thoroughly organized for the purpose of
distributing supplies to the people of the
tributary territory, and Is willing to do
everything in its power to that end, but
1t has now almost reached the end OF Its
resources, and reluctantly confesses Its In
ability to cope with the situation without
May Send No Message.
Washington, April president Nc
Kinley may abandon his idea of send
ing special message to congress to-
day asking for legislation for the relief
of the Mississippi flood sufferers. Such
action, it is thought, is rendered unnec-
essary by the passage by the senate OF
the Bate resolution diverting for the
relief of the flood sufferers the unex-
pended balance of the appropriation
mace from time to time to meet con.
tingencies in connection with cholera
and other epidemics. Mr.. Mckinley
sent for Secretary Alger late Tuesday
afternoon and had consultation with
him on the subject. Since the senate
had already initiated such legislation
as he would propose in his message the
question was as to whether action by
him was not rendered unnecessary. AL
the data in connection with the amount
| of money the passage Of the Bate resolu
ton would place at the disposal Of the
surgeon-general for distribution wai
not before him Tuesday afternoon an6
no final decision was reached as to thu
message. Should he send in a message
| it is probable that he will recommend
a specific appropriation of either $3.50,
900 or 100000, and it is possible, in tn.
event he does not send to congress for
NAL message, that he will transmit tn,
information in his possession.
Father and Son Drowned.
Redfeld, s. D., April 7.--Henry
Struive and two sons were drowned
f1onday on Gus Bulls farm, six miles
south of Frankfort, in this county. Thii
makes six deaths from drowning with
in two weeks. A farmer north of her.
named Lundstrom lost dozen cattl,
and seven head of horses. The floodl
exceed anything ever witnessed in thil
county. The water in the rivers II
eight feet higher than the highes
water mark heretofore.
Entire quarter sections are submerged
and there is great loss Of stacked grain
horses and cattle. Not one wager
bridge is left in Sphinx county. Rail
road travel has been suspended sine,
one week ago. Many farmers have sus
tanned irreparable losses.
SltuatlOn Appalling.
| st. Paul, Mimi, April IA Fargo
IN. d. special to the Dispatch says;
The situation is appalling. While the
Red river rose only three inches Monday
night the Big Coulee west Of this city
took second squirt and went up Il
inches flooding the entire west side o,
town ond driving hundreds of people
| hosv Ss,
fering among poor families who hav,
been practically destitute oil winter ant
this last blow is most serious. A relic:
committee operated jointly by the city
council and county commissioners es
tablished headquarters Tuesday morn
ing and will take care of the poor. I
showed Tuesday morning for two
hours. Sections of the city that NJ
one ever dreamed could be reached BY
food are now under water.
Asks for 100000.
Jackson, Miss, April THE governor
has telegraphed Secretary Alger ask
ing for an appropriation Of 100000
from congress, which he says will clos
the crevasses in this state, give employ
ment to all the needy and allow peopl
to work land in 30 days.
Crops in wisconsin.
! Milwaukee, April 7.-Ofhcial report
received by the weather office from vol
unteer observers in parts Of Wisconsin
show a serious condition Of the SINAI
grains, as result of unfavorabl
weather in January, which froze white
wheat, rye, red clover and timothy
Advices from Baraboo say the arm
worms can be seen everywhere, craw.
;,, oyar tho deod leavea