Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-21
GOVERNMENT RELIEF
AID EXTENDED FLOOD SUFFERERS
NORTH AND SOUTH.
The Mississippi Falling In Neishbor-
hoos os wick ,burg-situntion mt
Nc,v OrIenus Observation-Disclosures
of Icyee-Watchers Unrclaxeds

WASHINGTON. April 2o.-Secretary
Alger was to-day handed the folio"i"s
telegram by its recipient:
.'Pembina, n. d.. April 18TH.
"tJon TT c. Hansbrough, Washington
"The storm OF yesterday. in connection
with the flood. has left over 2OO people
destitute along Red River in this county
Aid is needed at once. Can anything DC
dono9 Local committee is unable TO rem
der sufficient aid.
(sIeneO "JUDSON LAMOURE.'
This news came as a surprise to the
War Department officials. The officer VINO
had been sent to the Red-river country
has returned, reporting that there was
no call for government aid. As the de-
nartment has no agent I'm that section IL
will communicate directly with the Mayor
of Pembina, and probably authorize MN
to extend aid to the destitute.
The following report came to-day from
the inspecting officer at New Orieans'
have had interviews with parties repre-
sented TO me as responsible who report
that 372 persons. including men, women
and children. are destitute from the over
flow I'm the vicinity OF Nastor. on the lett
bank. below the organized levee DISTRICT
and have practically been in that con-
dition for several weeks. IL Is recon-
mended that rations be shipped 10 them
for three weeks" The department. has
already adopted this suggestion.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FALLING.
MEMPHIS. TENN. April 2o.-The river
at Vicksburg. Helena. Natchez ana an
along from st. Joseph, La. 10 bayou
Sara la is reported as either stdtoHdiy
or falling tonight. This condition Is the
result of the vast amount OF water pass'ls
through the crevasses in the Biggs anu
Reed levees. above Natchez. ana AT fali-
cocks. below. The levees IN the iIi, hnid
date vicinity of Natchez continue 10 holu
under the great strain, but tnelr noltiiIs
is now OF little interest to the planters
i'm Concordia, Tensas, ana Manisoll
parishes. as the water backed up TON
the breaks above and below VIII sooi,
flood the rich lands Of these parishes, anu
the result will be almost as disastrous az
If other breaks should occur ID ne heu w.
and Tensas rivers are now sWeiing anu
almost running over their banks. ana ny
tomorrow they will begin spreading over
n section of thirty miles 10 the lnterlo.'
Work continues on the levees, however
without abatement, and everything pVSr
sibe is being done to hold ,Ii.,.p
OF the levee system intact. AT memphis
the river continues to fall, Reports lIon
GreenviIle. Rosedale. and Cairo state that
an encouraging decline is noted
LOSS OF LIFE.
NATCHEZ. MISS. April 2e.-At Bayou
Videl. in the lower portion or Madisoii
parish the water from the Biggs, ere
vase caught the people unprepared ana
unaware OF danger. Word was sent our
from that locality requesting that boats
be dispatched at once. as the people Wels
drowning. How many were actuaIiy uSdu
is unknown. but Thomas Blackman, ms
wife. and infant are known TO have peen
drowned. 1t is believed others have per
ished Boats have been sent 10 the 10
cality
SITUATION AT NEW ORLEANS.
NEW ORLEANS. LA. April 2O.-Ihe
river was 1879 feet above low-water marx
This morning and the feeling of uneasi,
ness has nowhere subsidized. Thousands Oh
men are at work i'm city and country
Resides constant Strengthening OF the
hanks. many armed men patrol the leVees
at night to guard against their being cut