The Forrest City times., 1897-04-16
presented most distressing appear.

! Tine further down the boat proceeded
the higher the water climbed. The
doors aud windows of some the houses
were covered entirely.
Next came the Allan Council and
John Proctor places, the former seemed
deserted. while at the latter large
lot of stock were penned on raft.
AS the boat parsued her way, a sharp
look out was kept by the crew and pas
sengers in anticipation of calls for help
from the few residents who still clung
to their watery homes. but rs they had
kept up the same vigil on their up trip.
and suecored some parties, no hail was
| heard.
At the head of the island. or Cut Off.
the big Indian mound was doing heroic
duty in providing standing room for
all the stock in that section. Just be-
low this point the veteran steamboat
commander. Captain Rowland. snrren-
dered the wheel In Captain McNett.
with here my license as pilot ceases.
for Blackish bayou is new .channel
to men
4 slow bell was sounded and the
steamer ploughed her way into the
heart of the watery waste and wilder
ness of priyation and suffering. Fol-
! lowing the small channel, walled in by
heavy timber whose branches reached
far out across the little stream, as great
arms dsputing the right of way TO its
secluded domains.
A long whistle from the steamer
| penetrated the wilderness and WAS
echoed from the hills Of Crowley ridge
| several miles in our rear. when Ash
worth's, the mouth of Frenchman S
bayou hove in sight. Alfred Ashworlh,
Il member of the ST. Francis County
Relief committee, wa sigualed aboard
and appointed by Colonel Sanger to
take charge Of and distribute the forth
coming supplies to the needy from the
RawlInson Mound place, several miles
north of his place.
The steamer then retraced her course
for the open water of the st. Francis.
The curtain Of night WAS down when
the Harbn rounded into the big water
way. thus ending her mission of inves
LEGATION and establishment OF relief
stations in St. Francis county.
| The Cat OFF was passed, bat owing
to the lateness Of the hour little could
! be discerned, except that IL b0untiful
| supply OF the yellow fluid WAS every
where. This is the southern limit OF
/ st. Francis county and was made Il re-
lief stationed by Colonel Sanger on the
up trip placing Nh j. y. Farmer in
| charge.
At tins point tie water went thirteen
inches above previous records, and
from thence to Helena it ranged as
high as 3 g feet above previous lines.
Helena being the steamers objective
point she vigorously forced her way
through the inlaud sea. The evening
WAS pleasant and crew and passengers
sat in the open air, on the boiler deck,
in front of the cabin, and principally
discussed the water situation.
Farms and plantations were swiftly
passed, but the water monotony was
only occasionally broken by glare #
lanplight issuing from lonely win.
dow surrounded bg All ocean Of water.
Farms and plantations, portions of
which were never known To be covered,
were completely wrapped in the
smootli muddy surface.
At Jeffersonvile the river makes an
abrupt curve from coming in contact
with Crowley ridge; thus revealing the
only perceptibIe amount of land during
a voyage of over 100 miles, and that
through the heart of most fertile re-
gion. A few miles further down the
lonely little steamer Shot out into the
big Mississippi.
AT that point was realized to 40 lit
tie extent die mighty course of deyas-
/ tation which the river had pursued:
HN"i't NNtAF vi llUQAIdl his iidu
been swept away and one only knew lie
was ahJat upon the Father of Waters
from geographical knowledge and The
absence of forest line on the opposite,
or eastern side, which was hid ~ dark
ness upon the borders Of The big stream
some two miles distant.
Thus ended trip through the lower
portion OF the ST. Francis basin in
which 1860 square miles Of territory is
submerged and some 25G0 people are in
distress. and many thousand head Of
stock; with further possibility OF dis.
aster, staring them in the face. that of
the water not recediug in season To ad-
nit OF making crop.