Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1892 — UNDER THE WATERS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

UNDER THE WATERS.

DEATH AND DESOLATION IN MISSISSIPPI LOWLANDS. The Rivers Rom I’xr Alimre Tticlr Bnnk*. Flooded Farms, and Swept Away Live*. Hoiiies, and Property—l*<»or Whites mid Negroes Starving: atid Soo’hern 1 hM>d«.

" 1 HE Tombigbee and I Looxapolla Rivers I come together a -«• few miles below the city of Colum- * bus, Miss. The city is situated on the

east bank of the Tombigbee River, and is the center of trade for all that section of the Tombigbee Valley. The country is level, and the streams flow sleepily along, winding through the country to the sea. The banks are not high, and its way through the expanse of valley is only marked by the growth of bush and cane on its banks. The cotton plantations along the river have been the scene of great preparations for cotton planting. Every year the streams are up to the full capacity of the banks, and often in low places the water spreads out over a small section of the country; but the heavy and terrific rainfall of a few weeks ago was more than was expected. The rain poured down in sheets and continued for forty-eight hours, deluging everything. The flood rushed down the Looxapolla and was met by the great volume from the Tombigbee. The Tombigbee below the point of confluence could not carry the waters. The floods spread all over the valley. On the bosom of the rush were borne along negro cabins, fences, logs, trees, bodies of cows, mules, horses, and hogs. The flood was so sudden and

enormous that it was impossible to get to a place of safety. The negroes and whites and cattle were to be seen in all directions, running for the high places. Some of the people who could not get away were rescued from the tops of houses or trees. Many were in treetops for tliirty or more hours. The Work of Roller I'artle,. Boats were hastily constructed and relief parties worked hard night and day rescuing the negroes. One family of negroes, seven in number, were got. into the boat and the old negress had a pet pig which she took into the boat with her. The pig jumped out into the water as the boat moved off, and she grabbed for it, overturning the craft. The children were all drowned. The mother, the husband, and the rescuers escaped. On one little mound about forty negroes and several head of cattle were found huddled together. On another there were seventy people and many head of cattle, all hungry and suffering. Many touching incidents are reported of the people fleeing from the floods, and many deeds of heroism have been recorded to the credit of the people of Columbus. The river, or rather the sea, at that place was over seven miles wide. The record made by the flood of 1847 was eleven feet lower than the present one. It is the worst ever known in that section. The merchants of Columbus

lose very heavily, for they had sold the farmers their supply of groceries for the year on credit, and all they now have, in the majority of cases, is the promise to pay of the helpless negroes. Most of them had a cow u®d a mule; a mule anyhow. These are nearly all gone, and those that escaped are almost starved. All railroad and telegraph communications were cut for many days, and the G. P. road, west of Columbus to Greenville, will not be ope® for several days yet. That road between Columbus and West Point, a distance of eighteen miles, has all been washed away—that is, it has been a mile or two here, and a mile or two there, and most of it is still under water. The receding waters leave exposed a sorry scene of devastation and ruin. The farmers have been damaged greatly, just how much cannot be estimated. One says he is damaged 15,000, another $2,000 and so on.

This will serve as a guide to estimate the great loss to the plantations of the Tombigbee Valley. Poverty and desolation are spreaiout in all directions for miles on both sides of the river. Most of the country bridges have been swept away, and it will be weeks before traffic will be regularly resumed. C»v.» arrange freak developed among the negroes who had been rescued and brought in to Columbus. They absolutely Would not go out and help in the work of rescuing others of their race without being paid cash in hand in advance. The care of the 600 or 700 negroes now in Columbus being clothed, doctored, and fed by charity is a serious matter. The relief asked of the Government should

be extended at once. It is needed. Eating places have been erected for the poor, and daily the relief committees go out looking for them. The weather was very severe, and much sickness is reported among them. A Im? ut 250 Lives Stfkl to Have Been Lost* The lowest estimate placed on the I loss of life in the flooded district is 250. almost all of whom are negroes. More than 3,000 families in the counties of Lowndes, Monroe, and Noxubee are reported homeless and suffering for necessaries of life, which are being supplied now by private subscription.

Representative Allen, of Mississippi, has asked Congress for an immediate appropriation of $50,000.

ON THE BANK OF THE YALABUSHA.

A SCENE IN THE FLOODED DISTRICT.

AN EXODUS.