Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1874 — The Southern Floods—Great Destitution and Suffering. [ARTICLE]

The Southern Floods—Great Destitution and Suffering.

[Memphis (May 5) Correspondence of Chicago Times.] There 1s now not the slightest doubt as to the great destitution among the inhabitants of the flooded country along the St. Francis, White, Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers, as well as along the Ouachita, Yazoo, Tallahatchie, Yallabusha, Sunflower and Red Rivers. It was hoped that the water had reached its greatest height, and that with a few days of fair weather a decline in the vast lake of the Mississippi would set in, but these hopes have been dispelled. lam told that Clarendon, Augusta, Desarc and Jacksonport, as well as the other smaller towns on White River, have been completely inundated by the last flood, and that it came upon the citizens so suddenly and unexpectedly that many had no time to get their stock to a place of safety, and lost that, as well as everything else that would float. Barns, fences and out-houses were carried away by the angry flood, and in one instance an entire dwelling was taken from its foundation and lodged against a tree, fifty yards or more from where it started. Strange to say, none of its occupants were injured." Three or four small places above here, including Ashport, Osceola and Fulton, have at last succumbed to the water, and in all the streets now nothing can he seen but skiffs and canoes. On one plantation below Fulton there are half a dozen negro dwellings located in a low place, and in each of these is one or more families cooped up in the second story, the water being nearly to the ceiling of the first, and there they remain, with a scanty supply of food and no possible chance to get more unless the water subsides, as the current is too strong for a skiff or raft to reach them. Their case is no worse, though, than hundreds of others below here, who have been driven in some cases to the tops of their houses, where they remained for days without food or shelter and exposed to the cold and rainy weather. Refugees from below continue to arrive here daily by boat, and all give the most pitiable accounts of their sufferings. One, a lady, came up yesterday from a point seventy miles below, on the Mississippi side, and tells a sad story of the sufferings of her own family. The high water broke through the levee in front of their place. The unexpected flood forced her family at once into the second story of the dwelling, and allowed not a moment’s time to lay in provisions or remove the stock. Two days ago a passing steamer was hailed from llie;house top, and, rounding to, approached as near to the halffloating dwelling as the timber would permit. The husband then first took, his child in his arms, and half-swimming and half-wading for over a hundred yards made his way to a little hillock, told his story to the Captain, and he sent out a yawl, which brought the child and its mother to this city to buy food, the father remaining with his three other children. To add to her misery her small amount of money was stolen on the boat; but she will be provided for. When slie started up the water was so high in her house that the children were sleeping on shelves, and the cooking stove was raised upon the dining table. There are no supplies in that section, and even if there we're the people in most cases have no means of reaching them. The stron#current of the rushing water, with the timber and heavy drift, render it hazardous, if nor impossible, to propel crafts, and all the poor souls can do is to remain in'their houses. Owing to the isolation of the country there, as well as along the different streams named, the true condition of the inhabitants is not known to the public, and their, suffering will not be known until this great deluge subsides. Then we fear it will be found that many have starved to death in their houses. Many homes in the bottoms, far from railroads or the river, have been dei sorted, and hundreds are thus left without food, clothing or shelter. In many instances entire settlements have been cut off from all communication with the upland country by the rapid rise of the water, and are compelled to remain in churchos and half-submerged homes, with but a scanty allowance of food. No provisions are to he had, for none can be purchased or got to them. The swift current has stripped the plantations of stock, wagons, farming implements of every kina. To sum up, I might say that the whole country south of here, along the valley, is submerged. Plantations are devastated, the inhabitants imprisoned by the deluge, and, without food, are undergoing fearful afflictions. This is the situation between here and Vicksburg and only a parallel to that below there- The water at the city last night was forty-five leet eight inches above lowwater mark in the river, and had found its way through behind the rear of the elevator, covering the railroad track, and was a foot deep in some of the stores. Delta, just opposite there," is only saved from being washed into the river by the Almost superhuman efforts of its inhabitants—men, women and children working together, night and day, to secure the levees and keep the top above the water-level. The entire Ouachita Valiev, from Camden down, is one vast 'lake. There, too,- the suffering has been great, and the worst has not yet come. In most all of the Louisiana parishes distributing committees have been organized to attend to the proper distribution of food and supplies, ana at the different landings below here! am informed the same course is being pursued. It will take some time, however, to get these committees organized, and there will be treat suffering before a perfect system of istribution is arranged. This should not detar or delay a single’contribution. Anything in the shape of clothing or food would be acceptable, and in donations sent here for distribution your reporter would suggest that they be addressed to the Howard Association, as we have as yet only a soliciting committee. The Howards will attend to the shipment by boat of anything sent, and the boats have all signified their willingness'to carry free of charge and distribute all that may be sent. \ ■ - - - If you are buying carpets for durability, Choose small figures, .