Gloucester County Democrat., 1897-04-08
AID FOR THE STRICKEN.
General Alger Acts Promptly to
Relieve Flood Victims.
ARMY OFFICERS ON THE SCENE.

They VIII Ascertain the Needs OF the
People, and Others Who win Follow
Quickly WIN Distribute the Relief.
Now Orleans May Have Crisis.
Memphis, April S.-The supreme test
OF the levees south of Vicksburg and
Arkansas City is approaching. The
river at yicksburg has fallen for some
days, on account of the rush of waters
from the main channel through the
crevasse above into the Yazoo delta.
This water is again returning to the
channel through the Yazoo river, and
ite influence is being felt at Vicksburg,
where the guage is now marking higher
figures. Within a few days the crest
of the rise will be opposite Vicksburg,
and the channel will continue to deepen
unless the levees break.
The Louisiana people keenly realize
the gravity of the situation. The de-
struction wrought in the st. Francis
basin and the Yazoo delta may be re-
peated in the Tensa basin, which be-
gins in southeastern Arkansas and ex-
tends through the northeastern coun-
ties of Louisiana. Material and men
are being hurried forward. The news
of the action of congress in appropriat
ing 5000 900 for the relief of the sufferers
was grateiy received here and through
out the overflowed districts.
Secretary Alger acted with the great
est promptness, and today six army Of
fcers arrived in Memphis. Dividing
the Mississippi into six sections, they
will ascertain the needs of the people
Another detail of officers will follow,
distributing rations in accordance with
the reports of these officers, acting in
harmony with the local relief commit
tees Memphis will be headquarters
for the purchase of supplies and dis
tribution.
The six officers selected to make the
inquiry are Colonel Haines, of the en-
gineer corps, in charge of river and
harbor works in the Baltimore dis
trict; Colonel Sanger. inspector gen.
erals department; Captain Gailliard,
of the engineers; Captain Martin, of the
quartermaster's department.; Captain
Craig, of the signal service, and Cap
tain Clark, of the ordnance department.
The officers were accompanied from
Washington by Mr.. Graves, president
of the Memphis chamber of commerce,
and Mr.. J. S. Menken, vice president Of
the Memphis relief committee. To
these gentlemen is owing much credit
for the expedition with which the gov
ernment relief was secured, though
they were aided heartily by their repre-
sentatives in congress and by the adj
ministration.
The committee said that they NEEDED
no blankets or tents, as they were now
advised, though reports from outside
points on the river might show the me-
cessity for some of these later on.
What they did need now was food and
medicine. The supplies could be pur-
chased in Memphis to the best ad-
vantage, for that was the nearest point
to the distressed districts and would
serve best as point of distribution.
At Camp Congo in the limits of Mem
phis, a competent physician was al
ready at work, and at their suggestion
the officers will leave to this doctor
the selection of the medical supplies
to be purchased.
The six districts into which the Mis-
sissippi will be divided for purposes
of investigation and distribution are as
follows: From Memphis down to Hell
ena, from Helena down to Greenville,
from Greenville down to Vicksburg,
from Vicksburg to New Orleans, from
Memphis to Cairo, and from Cairo up.
Below Baton Rouge and all the way
to New Orleans not only has great
deal of work been done on the levees,
but the patrol system is ample and
thoroughly organized. Crevasses, un-
like lightning, may strike twice in the
same place, and where weak spot has
once developed it is considered an i'm
portant point to hold. For that reason
Bonnel, Carre, Davis. Nita and other
sorely stricken points have levees
higher and broader than almost any
where in the state, still standing at
four feet or a little less above the water
level These are also guarded with
greatest care. So far not one of these
banks has developed a weak spot.
It is simply question of strength to
resist the pressure and the height to
keep the rising water from pouring
over the tops and weakening the bases
of the bulwarks by flooding the roads
in the rear. If all the levees hold New
Orleans will have crisis to face.
A telegram received here from a
committee of citizens of Helena, Ark,
states that there are 5000 sufferers at
that place, and that the water is now
in every house from Helena to White
river.