Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-06-19
BLACK RIVER SUFFERERS APPEAL TO
new ORLEANS FOR AID.
Flood on Top of Bad Season Has Left
Many Homeless, and All Needy.
Government Finds Need, But Cyclone Relief
May Moi Be Available, So 0ihsr Help
Is Sought.

The following account of the
flood situation as it exists Oh
Black River was prepared by q
staff correspondent of the Picay-
une, who visited the distressed
sections in person. 1t is earnest
ly hoped that assistance will be
rendered these unfortunate peo-
pie at once; nor should New Or.
leans alone be relied on for sue
cor. Adjoining parishes should
come to the rescue, and that
speedily.
lStaff Special to the Picayune
Jonesville, Black River, La, June II
Although the Black River has been out
of its banks for weeks and weeks, the
people of Concordia and Catahoula have
just learned of the frightful condition of
the poor people along both banks of this
river, now miles wide from the back wa
ter of Red River. As far back as April
% it was known that some of the lowest
stretches of land were covered by the
flood waters, but the extent of the suf-
tering, even restitution, was not fully
learned until very recently.
On Friday, Captain Long, of the
United States Artillery, sent by the War
Department from Jackson Barracks, New
Orleans, to make an investigation, re-
turned from the flooded section. His de-
scription of the condition of the people is
heart-rendering. There are fully 2.3OO
people, men, women and children, who
are suffering, and fully half that number
are i'll absolutely destitute circumstances.
They have not even food to last them a
week, and no money or credit TO secure
any. These poorer white and colored
families are in a pitiable condition. The
swamp fever, which is common i'm that
section, aided by privation and expos
ure, has begun one of its most active
campaigns, and sickness is now being
added to actual hunger.
AT J0neSville, the Black, Tensas and
Olachita Rivers meet, and from Jones'
vile straight on down to the Red River.
on both sides, the back water is begin
ming to show itself. Up near Jonesville
the conditions are not serious, excepting
TO the crops in the back fields. In these
sections the people are living i'm the Sec
ond stories of their houses, and in some
eases they are camping on the roofs of
their cottages. The cotton is buried. and
only the tops of the corn crops are ex-
tending above the floods. Many of those
who lived In the lowest stretches of land
have taken to the hills, for the water
left the banks of the Black River in the
middle of April. These people have aban-
doned their farms and driven their cat
tie, stock and hogs to the hills, where
they are managing to make a living,
waiting until the waller goes down, when
they VIII return to their water-soaked
homes and fields.
In other sections, where the land is
higher, the people have lived on, hoping
that there would he fall. These people
have built RATS of drift logs, planked
tacm on the upper surface. and are keep
ing their stock penned on these
FLOATING STABLES.
These poor animals are kept alive with
brush and willow leaves, brought 10 them
by their owners. The limited stock of
provisions with which the little farmers
started the season, and the limited money
these farmers had laid by, have either |
been used mp or expended for more pro-
They have run to the limit of |
their resources and are now facing a con-
dltion which will be most horrible IL re- |
lief does not come, and come quickly.
Hon. n. II. Cotton. President of the |
Police Jury OF Catahoula, has already
purchased quantities of stores and sent
Them down the river, hoping that the
Police Jury, when it meets, will reim-
curse him. II was ease Of prompt as
iistance, and Mr.. Cotton acted promptly
md relieved vast amount OF suffering,
or limited length of time. Now even
hese supplies have beer. exhausted. The
ask is too big for the Police Jury, and
Inc people have appealed to the generous
,riplc Of New Orleans for help. They
leed food, AMI need it promptly,