Appalling Desolation

Beports from Helena, Arkansas of 1 ;he 17th inst. show no change íor the jetter in the condition of things. The iccount aays: The only alleviating pint whatsoever is in the generoua iupplies iasued bythe government, and thia wards off actual starvation from tiundreds and thousands of people, both white and black. The animáis that have been standing in the water for three weeks with no f ood whatever caa mot stand two weeks longer, and thus there is scarcely a chance of saving any stock, thus making the planting of a new erop more difficult than otherwise. The sufferings and piïvations to come are almost as terrible to contémplate as the present woes. This is still a small Venice in the number of its boats and variety of its skiffs. The stores do tlieir own delivering in big boats. This part is all vary well, for this city has not suffered as the country people have. Persons are coming in every day telling of the situation. For 40 miles around Helena there is one vast ocean, with hundreds of people struggling for life and something to eat, and it is just the same in the opposite state of Mississippi. Sonie had time to drive their stock to the high points, feeling sure of their safety there. Bat this nood was to be more terrible than the former ones, and no place was toescape. The animáis drowned under their very eyes. The most part of this particular neighborhood is settled by poor white f ami) ies. Their conditio is pitiaule. Everything is gone, and there is not a horse or mule wherewith t,o begin ft new erop. The land-owners themselves cannot employ these people, They arealready crippledby previous failures in crops. In every direction the people are makiug desperate efforts to save thelr stock by placing tuem upon rafts. They are already halfstarved, and even sliould they be saved they will scarcely be able to work the coming erop. Gnats in great quantities are appearing, and the poor beasts are literally covered with them and unable to flglit the pests. There are a great many dead animáis floating around in the water, and it is stated they are being butchered and sold af ter having been in the water f or several days. The picture of sufferiug presented cannot be too highly colored." The facts are too terrible to exaggerate. The negroes froin the bottoms of the Mississippi say tliey are anxious to leave this part of the country, and are coming to high lands. The negrees are flocking here in large numbers, and say they are willing to live on the hills at Helena and earn a bare living. Cries and pleadings for help we hear fröm all around us. Rations for 1,400 persons were given out to-day, and the commissioners' office was crowded from morning until night.