640 LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

Troy his headquarters, and to this point boats come for their supply of feed
for cattle. On the opposite side of Little River, which branches to the left
out of Black, and between it and the Ouachita, is situated the town of Trinity
which is hourly threatened with destruction. It is much lower than Troy*
and the water is eight and nine feet deep in the houses. A. strong current
sweeps through it, and it is remarkable that all of its houses have not gone
before. The residents of both Troy and Trinity have been cared for, yet
some of their stock have to be furnished with food.

As soon as the ' Susie' reached Troy, she was turned over to General
York, and placed at his disposition to carry out the work of relief more
rapidly. Nearly all her supplies were landed on one of the mounds to
lighten her, and she was headed down stream to relieve those below. At
Tom Hooper's place, a few miles from Troy, a large flat, with about fifty
head of stock on board, was taken in tow. The animals were fed, and soon
regained some strength. To-day we go on Little Biver, where the suffering
is greatest.

Dowir BLACK EJVEB.
Saturday Evening, March 26,
We started down Black River quite early, under the direction of General
York, to bring out what stock could be reached. Going down river a flat in
tow was left in a central locality, and from there men poled her back hi the
rear of plantations, picking up the animals wherever found. In the loft of a
gin-house there were seventeen head found, and after a gangway was built
they were led down into the flat without difficulty. Taking a «lriff with
the General, your reporter was pulled up to a little house of two rooms, in
which the water was standing two feet on the floors. In one of the large
rooms were huddled the horses and cows of the place, while in the other tke
Widow Taylor and her son were seated on a scaffold raised on the floor.
One or two dug-outs were drifting about in the room ready to be put in
service at any time. When the flat was brought up, the side of the house
was cut away as the only means of getting the animals out, and the cattle
were driven on board the boat. General York, in this as in every case, in-
quired if the family desired to leave, informing them that Major Burke, of
'The Times-Democrat/ has sent the ' Susie' up for that purpose. Mis.
Taylor said she thanked Major Burke, but she would try and hold out. Tite
remarkable tenacity of the people here to their homes is beyond all com-
prehension. Just below, at a point sixteen miles from Troy, information^
was received that the house of Mr. Tom T^lla was in danger, and his family
were all in it. We steamed there immediately, and a sad picture was presented.