Life on the Mississippi eBook

All along Black River the ‘Susie’ has been visited by scores of planters, whose tales are the repetition of those already heard of suffering and loss.  An old planter, who has lived on the river since 1844, said there never was such a rise, and he was satisfied more than one quarter of the stock has been lost.  Luckily the people cared first for their work stock, and when they could find it horses and mules were housed in a place of safety.  The rise which still continues, and was two inches last night, compels them to get them out to the hills; hence it is that the work of General York is of such a great value.  From daylight to late at night he is going this way and that, cheering by his kindly words and directing with calm judgment what is to be done.  One unpleasant story, of a certain merchant in New Orleans, is told all along the river.  It appears for some years past the planters have been dealing with this individual, and many of them had balances in his hands.  When the overflow came they wrote for coffee, for meal, and, in fact, for such little necessities as were required.  No response to these letters came, and others were written, and yet these old customers, with plantations under water, were refused even what was necessary to sustain life.  It is needless to say he is not popular now on Back River.

The hills spoken of as the place of refuge for the people and stock on Black River are in Catahoula parish, twenty-four miles from Black River.

After filling the flat with cattle we took on board the family of T. S. Hooper, seven in number, who could not longer remain in their dwelling, and we are now taking them up Little River to the hills.

THE FLOOD STILL RISING

Troy:  March 27, 1882, noon.

The flood here is rising about three and a half inches every twenty-four hours, and rains have set in which will increase this.  General York feels now that our efforts ought to be directed towards saving life, as the increase of the water has jeopardized many houses.  We intend to go up the Tensas in a few minutes, and then we will return and go down Black River to take off families.  There is a lack of steam transportation here to meet the emergency.  The General has three boats chartered, with flats in tow, but the demand for these to tow out stock is greater than they can meet with promptness.  All are working night and day, and the ‘Susie’ hardly stops for more than an hour anywhere.  The rise has placed Trinity in a dangerous plight, and momentarily it is expected that some of the houses will float off.  Troy is a little higher, yet all are in the water.  Reports have come in that a woman and child have been washed away below here, and two cabins floated off.  Their occupants are the same who refused to come off day before yesterday.  One would not believe the utter passiveness of the people.

As yet no news has been received of the steamer ‘Delia,’ which is supposed to be the one sunk in yesterday’s storm on Lake Catahoula.  She is due here now, but has not arrived.  Even the mail here is most uncertain, and this I send by skiff to Natchez to get it to you.  It is impossible to get accurate data as to past crops, etc., as those who know much about the matter have gone, and those who remain are not well versed in the production of this section.