The New York Herald Newspaper, July 9, 1875, Page 4

e@eived in the winter. jor several lodges in asack, We divided it and each lodge had only two caps (pit cops) for seven days; sugar, one cup. Barly in the winter we had @ pound o: pork, but none later, Four pounds o: beef were issued to each lodge once a week, a pint of codee aud 4 cup os beans for seven Gays, and four ounces of tobacco, Some of the lodges that were served last got none, In March and April we bad nothing anu a few of the white men divided with ns, We sold our moccasins, whips, hatchet# and pipes at the store for whut we could get. Fora $2 mipe, without the pouch, they gave us five poands of flour ana a pint of sugar, Some of the flucly ornamented pouches would not bring eno’ to pay for the beads that | were on them, A nice pair of moceasins brougat | only a pound of bacon and a pouaa of sugar. A bace of four weiguing 100 pounds cost $10, or ten cents a pound. The rations that are served now last only three days. We get four quarts of four for six persons, one pint of sugar, two pounds of pork, six pounds of beef aud jess tuun a pint of coffee. We manage to get alone with what they give of soap and tobacco, We want amma- nition tor killing game; cam’t ouy it here, We | have some, but save it. it Was bought at another | pisce, We have few horses, compared witu what | we did have; nad to eat taem, Yhis is Monday. | We drew our rations two days (om Sa@turday) tna we get no more until next Saturday. Seven persons live im tas lodge. We Lave a0 sugar, no beef, no beana, bo pork, and only twenty pounds of flour, which, divided among sevea persons, will not asi \oRx, Wita bo other food, TH GREAT FATHER’S PROVISIONS. lsaw the Qour, Tvere was no more than he Bald, aud it Was 4 cheap article of inferior quailty. ‘The Indians wake it into thin cakes and a kind of gruel or thin passe. I coait fad no otner provis- jong in the tent, apd it Wasa lair representation of the otners thai l visited. None of them knew (hat 1 was coming, or that I representea a news- paper until uad taken my seat. Taey tried v0 conceul nothing, and overed me the freedom of all the lodges. Taere was @ dish of baked beans, half eaten, and @ piece of flour cake, altogether not more than one meal for one man, 1 said something to the in- terpreter «bout wasting the, four, where- Upou we chief picked up a beei bool, whick was literally a shell, Toey bad boiled it and eaten everysulug but the outside horm ‘That is tue | Way We waste Our rations,” he said, wita @ bitier | smile. “We ate weil,” he continued, “at tne hoteis When We went to see the Great Father. They gave us everything we could wisi. Isaw the President, and | think Le wants us to live, He Spvke Wisely and made maay good promises, but the Jathers Le semt us were bad.” CORRRSPONDENT—The wollte nation talks of Ray- ing another Great Father whea his time js out. Do you Want @ change, vr Would your people like to keep him and lave no other lather? SI(TING CROW OPPOSED TO A THIRD TERM. Mr. SITTING CROW—Lt 18 not proper ior one Man to say what bis besrs tells him, This is not the place. CORKESPONDENT—But no bara will come to you. Ihave nocuing to do with tue government. Mr, SircInc CROW—| must leara tae opinion of the whites Orst. Ter dec.sion is my decision. CORRESPONDENT—Weli, Wiat is your own feeling about it down in your beart? Mr. SITTING Czow—He has made us promises. U1 he ig not abie to make uls warriors force the little fathers to be good he lad better not be | “elected again. Tae white nation ougat to Lave a Great Father wao cau protect bis red cailarea, I have seard from the Indians and Whites that Big Medicine Custer, the great uorse warrior, advised the little fatuers to give us mo puwder. 1 dua’t tuink that tais 18 ag the Great Father promised, Bui ue may be trying to do wuatis right, Lhada good frieudiy talk with bim last wiater, I only heard these taings and tney may be Jaise. I be- lueve taat he wants to serve us well. told tae chiei woat vue General had said in the Huxap, and be waa greatly pleased. He said the hose warrior ielis the trocn when he says that buager makes us bad. Wueu we are starv-, ‘ug and go ous into the prairies to hunt we be- come wild aud can’t control ourselves. Our Dearts grow bad after much hunger. ConpEsronDENT— What Go you think of the mill- tary? Had you ratuer be Jed by the soldiers than by tue presen: agent? Mr. SITLING CRow—I: Is notfor me to say. I om only ove among many bundied. Some of my people are prejudiced agalast tye dgntiag men because they bave made Diy trulis to the Black Hulls, and the peopie o/ tue wuite aation follow inthem, But most o1 us believe tnac the soldiers are inclived to do us justice and see toat we do ot starve. CoRRESPONDENT—Now, Mr. Sitting Crow, 1 am going away, and may not see you again. Tne ‘White people walt 4 word spocen to them it it is | the truth, and comes irom agood heart. What shalll write? 1: will go to tne white nation io tue Dakota and the white man’s toague, 5 itmxG CRow—How! How! Tae waite friend speaks well. SITTING CROW’S SPEECH. ‘Wooranyin Wowarl KaGe crx Itancan Iyapr KIN LENA TAWA—Mi ta kuyay! Tako non pa lla lyutemgeankiyapl. Woynta oa baw. Caki na Mazakao nena on wauntapikte lo, He van wasi- cum mi ta makeca e| Wamakaskau nab-wicaya un kte sui ye lo, Wakaulija caute ape suizaniya leagwieuwiupi Kte jo uacin pe to Miye heyata luwa- caga Du jaio becela yal imacaza suckasila cauka loka omakiyaka gukau Ksapa iwaudlaka cauke tole anawagaptan cauka wicozaulya ekta ikuat epca lekas mitawiu ti cinca ob cauteayieni can- ker ogna Omani Dimikita epcehea Ba taku iyuiau lyekiya sul kicl Wauokta, Makoc. kin je Wi tanga tka wasicu wamanu na@ makoce asrungya ibpeyapi kta heceia lel bi pl Tuwa omitaks elantos ksapa eya wasicu iseya hececa yelo. Mis amakicita cauke wasicu akicita elta-. kiya cante oluza tka yelo. Hena obitakapi laka: tka behanyanta Waua ozniye abiussara na bbuyela waun kte hea. Akinan ma tesul shantas, Mi tooyate noupakiya Wiynocanpl, wasicawa- Kantobankin heciyatanian, Tka miyc ua mitati- Osps tauyan wicum jaka. Ey@ alivyapl axiban th unyanpi Of iwainkta tka. Miceji woiye lyeyesai Mila sicape lo, necel canta viuga, Lena mitawein oyase owicawakiyaka Wankan- tanka, Tunkasila wianpi nama hon na iwaye cin wasicun cante kin ekta ognakiukta. Atewianyi Wakaatanks ob uakie sui yeelo. Na wicass waste ob unpi kre sni ye lo mabpiya ekta ob unpikta okibipi eul yelo. Wicasa sicapi nena oninifan pa wicaynzapi kte lo, Lecala atewianpi tanyan wo Ankapi snl, ante waste, ¢ clyuzap SITTING CROW'S SIGN-MANUAL. $$ He repiled they gave four | can and notstarye, My peopl their hearts about the missionaries and holy men; | | enough to give each Indian wi jeliim if the matier is honestly and faithiully at- SRITING CROW'S SPEECH (TRANSLATION). These words are for the cule! of newspaper makers :— To ras Bio MmDICINE oy Tae Waite Epitroxs— My iriends, two taing» are needed greatly; one ts food, one 14 aminyo.tion and guns that we may huntandest. We want oo white men in our reservations to friguten our game, which is our feod, We want to raise our children and live without jear and feed and clothe them in peace, { was raised on the plains aud knew no food but wid anmals. The Great Father pomted me a new path. 1 looked on him as Wise, and | listened to kis words, 1 thougit the path Would lead to @ etter lic, I thought i could walk in this path with my wife and children without & fluttering heart; that Il would want (or nothing, This is my land. White men come to steal and destroy, it is unpleasant to me, The bravest warriors make the best men in peace. So itis amoug the whites. ema soldier myseif and a chives, and my hear inclines toward the white braves. But 1 have and went to live in peace Wl, NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JULY are divided in butfand my baud think well of them. If would say sometning about the agents, who have starved us, but my tongue cannot find the words that will give my feellags. Vhese are my words, a# I make them known to you. The Great Spirit, the Fatberof us all, will listen to this my complaint, and may he carry it deep into your hearts, The greatest punishment the ageuts can bave when they die is td be cast away trom the Great Spirit and the good Indians in the hanting ground of the good spirita. Tuey cannot live togesber, The baa agents will be sealped by the bad Indians. The little father (agent) is starving us, and he never comes to see us. With a good heart | shake your hands. SITTING CROW. THE INDIAN AUPOGRAPUS. It will be observed that aoune of the pictures exactly represent the names of the chiefs, Two Bears makes but one bear, and Sitting Crow’s au- tograph stands erect, 1 send them as they were giveu tome. ‘fhe Indian language ts peculiar and the words seem tangled and reversed when iter- ally translated; but it contains great strength and toree Of expression, it ot = =6like the best ola Saxoa, while the Sioux Janguage a3 spoken by the indians is as musical and soft as tne Italian. 1 have heard some chiets whose acceat and articulation reminded me of Salvini, Tocir common conversation is rich in tone and poetical in imagery. Like the opera, their songs seem without sense or melody at first, but iis beauty and meaning grow ou-the ear until music and expression are revealed. The iuter- preter gays that some ol the schoolboys whom he taugnt at Cheyenne Ageocy are fine singers, and ne found that they were far more aptin their studies than white children, it paius me to say this, but journaliam demands the truth, A VISIT. TO BRAR RIB, ‘The next chief we visited was Bear Rib, of the Uncpapas, pronounced “Hunkpapas.” His tents are piteved om (he upper slope of the valiey, two or three miles nortu of the Blackfeet encampment. He was down at the ageucy, attending a war dance with Mr. Two Bears and @ hundred other chieis and warriors, It Was the same day that ‘The-Man-Who-lntercepts-the-Bear was attend- ing to his crops. Afcer tue dance Bear Rib met me by appoimimeat at Mrs. Galpin’s nouse, and as tue vost was om the pointe! leaving, and 1 had to go away lor @ lew Gays, the interview was somewhat hurried, He 1 tne finest looking war- ricr lever saw, His features are handsome and bis form graceful. He wore a far cap. Mus clotn- icg was plain aad withou: ornament of any kind. He looked lt magnificent Arab who wanted to be civilized. He said that be was raised near the whites, His father was killed by the Minuecon- jous, He bad been around the agencies seven years. ‘We have,” he began, ‘200 lodges, 1,500 people and about 409 warriors, During the win- ter we had rations jor only one day in seven. We were huugry lor six aays. For one lodge (esti- mated at seven persons) we received a small four quart pan of flour jor the week; o* beef, four to ten pounds; also one Jarge cup o! sugar, oue large cup of coifee, the same of beans, two quarts of corn and two pounds ofbacou. ‘there was not enouga tobacco amd soap. We ate most of our dogs and more taan 100 ponies. There were no cats to be had if we could have eaten them. Mrs, Galpin gave us some four, but she would take no pay. We did not get near enough blankets or cloth. We have been bere several years, and bave bad Utue but prom- ises. We wan: the white people to know of these outrages. The trager persecutes us. He tries to crowd out all wuo will sell to us cheap. One of our trive (Mra. Galpin) pleases us, but he wants ber driven away. Her husband used te trade on the river and we were pleased witn him. There is Still some game, but we can get nothing to shoot it with, The agent drives white men away if they are iriendly tous and have learned to speak our language. We consider ourselves men and human beings, and we hold up our bi but we feel de- graded to have a drunken negro act as our inter- preter. If we are to Bave dealings with the whites we want good white men for interpreters. Woiskey is brought into she agency and it hurts our young men. We don’t want li. We want only that which will do us good. It don’t grow here. The white men bring it. The negro inter- preter buysit om the other side of the river and brings it ever. Keliy and Stone, who are white men, are also smuggling it into the reservation. Mr. Foley did it last winter and he sold it 1or $1 60 a pint, “If we had all that is sent us we would net com- plain, But we don’t getit. The whites grow rich On our gooas. Tke boss farmer’s wile and those employed on the agency get enough of them for twenty of our lodges” BEAR KIB’S AUTOGRAPH. Such is the story as told by the Sioux chiefs. Rations are issued every Saturday. As each per- son does not receive his share direct there is much complaint among the weaker ones. They saythat | the strong and lazy Indians take more thau their | share and irequentiy give them notning. Humsa nature is alike the world over. Colonel Poland says teat the system of distribetion is wrong. He would have rations issued something as they are issued in ti army, oaly he would give each Indian @ check during tne week sigoifyiag the amount due him, and on pre- senting this .he could draw bis allowance. ‘This would prevent fraud on the part of bad In- dians, Ao account of ail issues would be kept and cheattog made difficult on either side. It is urged that the task of giving toevery person would be too great at a large agency like tis. As it is now rations are issued only once 4 week, and the question naturally arises, what does ent do during the remaining five cays? He has no calls to make, and he does not visit the Indians, By issuing.tickets or checks calling for a week's Tations the Indians could present tnem whe: they wished, and by distributing the labor through the week it would not be gr There are ways t ie justly due tended to, There ts little chance for tog the soldiers or the governmens in ¢ my, but the proviem of feeding a iew (odians satisfactorily is cousidered too much for tae department ot “little iatuers” to solve, ‘The goveroment ts at fault io somo respects. It winks at these frauds aod permits agente and contractors to conduct business in their own way. Agents, like otuer people, must live. They receive only $1,000@ year for working in @ wilderness, of the coméorts of civiliza- tion, amd they are liable at auy moment tobe murdered or scaiped by the Indians. Ir the de- partment does not forward previsions in time for distribation the agent is not to blame, but he could resign aad protest, and if the goverument efused to do justice the press and the American people would lis to him and sustain him, of course there are oonest agents, but it is bard to tell who they af. ‘The traders here sell brown sugar at filty cents a pound, whiskey to soldiers at twenty-tive cents a glass, eight cont calige at twenty-fve cents a yard; bacon, when Indians are arving, $1 a pound; narrow ribboa, worth from five to fifteen cents, for fifty cents a yara; beads, which cust tweive cents @ string, for Oty cents; horseradian cauned peaches, that sell in Bismarck tor twenty-five cents, are sola at Mfty cents; small jars of green American pickles, $1 a jar; foolscap paper, worth twenty cents, for fiity and seventy- five cents @ quire, and all other thin a propor- tion, At fort Lincoin things are #oid quite reasonably, l¢ 18 rhijculoas to talk about high freignts, for the goods are brought up the Missouri River, God the rate 1s about two or two and a bail cents from St. Louw to Fort Liacoin, besiue the weight of each yard of calico and the iitie strings 0: beads is insiguifieant, Freimt to for $1 per bottie; | Colorado 1s four and five cents a pound, nearly twice the rate charged to Fort Lincoln; yes goods | at the agencies are from 10v to 200 per cent mgher prices that a dozen pets of the ring may make their \ortanes, Had there been competition at Standing Rock last winter much suffering woula have been prevented, Now for another agent, who has gome back to Washington, He bought some cattie last winter: Most of them were cows and calves, Among them were & few yoke of oxen, None but the oxen were weighed, and ail the rest were received without weighing, each cow or calf being estimated as weighing a3 muck as an ox, I un derstand that there were about 100 of the Small animals, The transacuon means that the money made by {aise weighing was divided between the buyer and seller, | have seen one of the men who was at tue corral when the cattle were received. He says that it 1s cus- tomary to weigh a few and average all the rest. Another gentieman, who 1s perfectly familiar with the peculiar way in which the business is done, that they generally weigu the largest cattle and estimate all the rest at their weight. But fre- quently the scales are out of order, because it is more proitapie to have them so, and then the weight of a few of the fattest Is guessed at, and the berdaveraged at the same figures and a voucher given accordingly. All who know anything about the ugencies agree that the frauds huve been euormous, Tere are no telegraphers here and no railroads; and malls only at irregular io, tervals, aad the men who smuggle whiskey and aliow crackers to be sold at @ dollar & pound have @rare chance to cheat the government aad rob Uhe Iddians, : GOSSTP OF THE WATERING PLACES, ER After the Fourtn of July toe regular summer va- cations may be regarded as having fairly set in. The buds of fasuion then begin to blossom at the summer villas, the seaside and on the loity moun- tam tops, The present season, althoughiate, bids Jair to be an average one fur summer hotel pro, prietors, nearly all of woom have reduced their charges at the prominent places O/ fashionable re, sort, and bence may reasonabiy anticipate a greater influx of guests than usual, William M. Evarts proposes to erect a summer villa at Cornish, Vt., opposite Windsor, bis present summer residence, and commanding a beaatiful overlook of the Connecticut River and valley. ‘kybee Island, at the mouth of the Savannah River} Ga., las a pew hovel, Southern people are not making their summer visits North as exten- sively as they did in former years, They prefer home rule, with home diet and home charges, Caconna, on the St. Lawrence, is becoming a fagmionable resort for Canadians, as well as @ javorite one for New Yorkers. Miss Susie Dickinson, sister of Anna, is passing cm summer at Pittsion, Pa., engaged in literary labors. Governor Tilden is rusticating at Long Branen, and the Albavy Knickerbocker reireshes him with @ columm editorial on bis candidacy for the Pr: dency. Vice President Wilson summers at Saratoga, He probably takes au interest in one of the races, in which Presicency 1s the stakes, ‘The saratoga Sentinel says the Mary 1s recelving @ iresh Co&t Of paint. Not au unusual thing among Saratoga belles, ‘The Sulphur Springs, near Saratoga, are becom- ing an attraction. baratoga visitors desire to come us bear the “real thing” as possible. August Be.mont aud ty, frum New York, hi rrived ai Surato; They have four cot- Ff the season at the United Stat Bates, of England; G. H. Grant, of india, and Thomas Grant, of Scotland, taree of @ party of tourists who are travelling around tne world, have arrived at Saratoga. Ex-Governor R, C, Mcvormick, of Arizona, pres- @ut Representative in Congress irom that Terri- tory, 18 at Saratoga. ‘Toey call Putin-Bay on Lake Erie, the “Sara- toga Of tne West.” ‘Lhe only difference is that at one piace You pUt-in and in the other you put-up. General Cashing ts spending the season at bis home in Newburyport. J. G. Whittier 1s at the Isle of Shoals, probably preparing nis cenvenniai epic. Harvey Jewell, of the Court of Commissioners on the Ala Claims, bas gune nome to Boston Irom Washington Jor the summer, Prolessor Ouls A. Robinson, of Rochester Uni- versity, passes his vacation in study at the Har- vara College Observatory. The fasnionable reilgious watering plac beginning to fill up, While the guests at the other watering places ure beginning to fil up with something not quite 80 weak as water. Richard H. Daua, s¥., of Buston, will pass the summer in Europe. Mrs. and Missy Jarrett, wife and daughter or Manager Jarrett, bave leit for a yeur’a sojourn on the Continent of Europe. Yhe Sunday train between Philadelphia ang Long Branck bas made its first tri + The tide of fashion and of hvaitn and pleasure seekers nas fully set in at tne White Sulpnur Springs, West Virginia, a number of New York fomilies among \he number. ‘Tme latest wonder of the world is a Niagara Falls haexman declining compensation for saving the life of a young lady. Those Niagara Jebus are not so bad after all. It iy their empioyers who are the extortionist: Henry Stanberry, tne noted Cincinnati lawyer, and wile, are at Niagara Falls. So are C. B. Waite, of the Brevoort House, New York; General Charles H, Smyth, of Governor Tilden’s staf, and many others. Paté de grasshopper at some of the Western {a1 sorts. a Chief Justice Waite is spending the summer at Put-in-Bay. Senator Eumunds, of Vermont, is baiting his hook io lower St. Lawrence. Tue rivairy between Cape May and Atlantic City, It is said, has resulted in very much better accommodations On the roads leading to those summer resorts, Mr. and Mrs, Iheodore Moss and family have taken a cottage at the States, Saratoya, Ex-District Attoruey Fellows, of New York, is taking bis aunual siesia ay Saratoga, Tne Elisworcns, ot New York, are at Saratoga, and so are the Livingstons, the ‘Thorns, the Hof mans, the Scheils, tne Andrewses, the Pomeroys, the Calenders, tue Sbattucks, the Lawrences, and so on, and so On. John Duff, of Bostun, formerly vice-prestaent of the Union Pactfic Railroad, and family, will co tage lor the season at the States, Sarato, The Belmonts, with iamlly tutor and iour ser- vauts, will occupy Seventeen rooms at Saratoga. A. I, Stewart aud wifs, witn Judge Hilton and family, are at the Union, Saratoga. Bayard Taylor and jamily will summer at Matta- polsett, Mass. Admiral Porter and family, of Washington, will summer at the Pequot House, New London, MUSIO IN THE PARKS, CENTRAL PARK. ‘The Department of Parks announce that if the ‘weather 1s flne there wiil be music on the Mall at Central Park to-morrow (Saturday), July 10, com- menciog at four o’clock P, M. Tue following ts the programme:— Pant 1 March, “Pro Patria et Uloria’’.... 2 Da ana? 8 Overture, “Guzze Ladra’’. 4 Waits, “Wiener iu’. PA 6 Grand Selection, ““L’Africal G jarpyara’..... . ‘amp in Granada’: 8 Romanga, “Il Poltute”’.. 9 Selection, “aida”? 10 Waliz, ‘Pandekte M4 Poles “Antilope” vingie™ sald tobe a luxury jonable summer re- ‘opular Aus. PROSPECT PARK. th concert in Prowpect Park this season ‘will take place to-morrow afternoon, whea tne fol, lowing programme will be interpreted by the | qwenty-third Regiment Band: raut | 1. Grand March, "Prospect Park” | # Batiad, Tag Wander & Overture, “Poet and & Walia * & Beicctio: @ Polka, “Anvil . Overture, “Ruy BL | & Bor | thlewn Mayourneen"’., “solo tor Xyiophon"” ... . (ier Win. Forner } ie, “hy “Hol f Extra open cars will be ron on the Piatousa euue line irom tie City Hail to tue Park Saturday and Sanday aiterooon during tuo f season. au CAST UP FROM THE SEA. Justice Stepuen J. \uorvees, of the town ot Gravesend, heid wa inquest On the body of au Une known map found in the bay near Fort Bamiton, supposed to be one Of tue men drowned at Roek- away on Monday, July 5. dres ed im bathing suit, With key attached to bell, bumuer of key 3], Toe sald Wan had ht halr ana mustacne; ve is about twenty-two years of age. For jurtuer tniorma- tion luguire wt room 7, Kings Qvunty Court House, vid ce Voorhees. ‘ihe body Was sent | to the Motane. at Fiatbuau. for tdontifpation, than they are in the mountaia towns of Colorado. | ‘The Indians are forced to pay these exorbitant | | While this work pro ‘o | they took re‘uge ou tho roof of the houre, y | THE FLOODS “IN FRANCE Awful Destruction of Life and Property. See eas WHOLE VILLAGES SWEPT AWAY. Twenty Thousand People Homeless. THE DEAD COUNTED BY HUNDREDS, Conduct of the Army. Heroic ‘The full extent of the terrible disaster which has overwhelmed several of the Southern depart- ments of France is only now beginning to be fully ized. The whole wide basin of tue Garonne is bmerged and the smiling valley turned into a vast sheet of water. Towns and viilages have been swept away, while the destruction of human life has been something appalling. So sudden and unexpectedly aid this deluge burst upon the doomed districts that hundreds met tneir -death at their own fresides by the sudden inroad of the destroying torrents. Some 20,000 people Lave been made hemeless by these foods, which in their extent and the amount of damage done are without example in tue history of France. Whole villages have been swept away or lie burie! be- neath the water, tho tarm houses have dis- @ppeared and the crops been swept from tue face of the country. Wuere a few weeks ago all ‘was smiling wita premise of plenty is now a sad waste of wide-exvending waters. Nor do the Hoods promise soon to subside. Un the coutrary the waters appear to be rising, and snow and rain Jail in the desolated distiict as if to complete the scenes 0/ horror that have been there enacted. Not even the terrible deyastations caused by the floods in 1835 can be compared in the suffering and loss they occasioned with the plague of waters that so unexpectedly has fallen upon France in this present year, The material losses are immense. With praiseworthy promptness the Frenca Assem- bly voted 100,0001. tor the immediate relief of the sufferers, and the appeal made to the charity of tne French people was answered with Characteris- tic generosity, Still these outside aids can but sotten the force of the crushing disaster tnat has fallen on the peopie of the inundated districts. ‘they are completely rained, and when the waters have subsided must proceed to bullu up their fortunes as best they can. One qaarter of the town of Toulouse was almost completely destroyed. Over 600 honses of the Faubourg St. Cyprien were swept away, as were the manufac- tories estabiisned on the river’s bank. Fivo of the bridges were carried off and the railway lines tely intercepted. Tue most harrowing scenes were presented im the quarter inhabited by the working men. More than 300 corpses had veen discovered in the inundated quarters and hundreds were wounded by the crumbling bulld- ings. Im many cases the soldiers met tneir death while endeavoring to succor the people. But, great fas the loss of life is Known to have been, those supposed to be buried beneath the ruins of the fallen honses will, it is feared, vastly outnumber ‘the corpses alreaay discovered. Until the water subsides it will be impossible fully to estimate the loas of life that nas occurred. There 18 good reason to believe that it has been terrible. Three villages are known to have been completely destroyed, with their inhabitants. Tney were swept abso- Jutely away, and nothing remains to mark that ‘ney had ever existed. Under these distressing conditions the authorities, civil and military, dis play most praiseworthy energy snd devotion, but the suffering 1s too widespread to admit of more than partial relief. In order to understand the extemt of the disaster it is necessary to be acqualoted some- what with the geography of Toulouse and its vicinity. The town, placed in the midst of tne Pyrenean Istamus, is built on both l@uks of the River Garonne, which, leaving the lower slopes ef the mountain, falla very rapidly. The river divides and flows iuto several channels, but reunites above St. Michel. Only the right bank ofthe river 1s sheltered by high quays, At the Montin-du-Bazaele there 1s a considerable Tali of water formed by the whole body of the river. The town proper is buiit on the right bank of the river, which is much more elevated than the left bank, except at the souti, and is there- fore sheltered from all inundations, The Faubourg St. Cyprien, situated on the bank of the river, is, in reality, aseparate town, and is the depot for the trade between Gagcony and the Pyrenees, Before this disaster the population was estimated at 90,000, St. Cyprien was connected witu the town of Toulouse by three bridges—St. Michel, Pont-Neuf and St. Pierre. It was tubabited almost exclusively by the working classes. One of the most thrilling scenes was the removal o/ the sick fom the wotel Dien, which 1s situated in the inundated district. The Hotel Dieu Saint Jacques 1s situated on the left bank of the river, amid beautifal gardens and at the entrance to the Pont-Neuf. When the work of removing the sick and helpless was begun the night had begun to fall, Toe water had already invaded the gardens, filed the cellars ana was rapidly rising. Boats approached the hospital with some difficulty, and before the work haa well begun night fell, It was necessary to procure torches, and by their sinister light boats could be discovered moving over the vast sect of water on their errand of mercy. ded the cries of terror and fo their efforts to save their fellow beings | many of the soldiers lost their lives. One o1 ‘the line ofMfcers while trying to save an old workwoman at tho entrance to the Faubourg St Oyprien was carried away by the flood and drowned. His name has not yet been discovered. Tne prospect on the Ga- ronne is very sad, ces of hou! id furniture nd boats of all kinda float about, showing how complete and eXtensive tho work of destruction | nvirons of Towlonse the damage has not been | vere. Montegean, Miramont, j fourisnt | 26,0001, ana other municipalities ha’ Cazeres and Muerol bave allsuffered, At Busseus the villsgera were compelled to take refuge on the roots of the ho where they invoked nelp ‘witn cries of despair, Both Montrejean and Sc, Gaudens are under water, and in the commune of Fenouiliet, out of 400 houses, only the church and five others are left standing, The whole vailey of the Garonne has been converted into an immense jake, and the slience of deatn reigns | over the district, One of the touching indidents of this ja occurred §=vutside of Tou- In 8 mali village all the in Babitante save the occupants of a detached house had been warned of the approacaing danger and ‘were enabled to seok a place of safety, ‘Ihe un- | forvanate farmer and his family wore awakenea by the water dowing into their house, Hulf naked. vhe | mother, numbed with cold, tled herself to the ° | chimney, holding her infant im her arms. The father, wita his two daugnt maintained bim- | | sett on a projection of the roof, Tue unfortunates | remained for along While in this position, when | two courageous soldiers, learning their dunger, | put off ma small voat to theirreseae, Directed by the cries of the unfortunates they arrived at | | the farm house, When t) | tam the walls of th> house sudaeniy ani all were precipitated into the flood. The jal | ‘of the house creating a kind of whirlpool the two gallant soidiers who lad come to the farmer's sistance were swept into its vortex, and all per+ ised. Similar scenes of horror were enacted all | over tne valiey of the Gerouue, and tiis once 9, 1875.-TRIPLE SHEET. district has been converted in a might mo @ watery wilderness, ; HELPING THE SUFFERERS. WIDESPREAD DESOLATION IN THE SOUTH- WESTERN DEPARTMENTS—AN APPEAL YOR ASSISTANCE, Tre full detatis published in yesterday’s HERALD relative to the widespread desolation caused by the recent inundations in the south- west of France have awakened a general feeling of sympathy for the sufferers throughout the city. ‘The brief cable despatches gave « heart-rending enough picture, but the presentation of the whole story of; woe and destraction must excite senti- ments of-sbe deepest compassion, Floods are not unusual in France, They occur periodically and cause immense damage. This wus specially the case in 1856, to which reference 1s made below, and it has been olten a mat. ter of wonder that in that country engincering skill hag never been effectively employed to pre- vent the havoc caused by great floods when the rivers overflow theirbanks. The extent of the calamity that bas fallen on the povr peasantry and artisans in Brittany and Tourraine can scarcely ve eXaggerated, Whole districts and most important towns have been suomerged. Vil- lages have literally melted away belore the action of the foods. Manufactories have been annihi- lated. There has been an awiol sacrifice of human life and miljtions’ worth of property bas been de- stroyed, and all im the most distressing manner. Tae wretched husbanamen, with their shivering families, have been driven to the high grounds to escape imminent deatn, and nothing for seventy years has been known to devastate the country to such @ teariulextent. The grief that must ex- ist 18 such us must TUG AT THE HRARTSTRINGS of strong and honest mea, and which all men with human sympathies must desire to relieve. Inthe city of New York, always responsive to the cry of suffering, nothing has been done as yet becoming 1% Lo render assistance to a people traditionally our friends, and who have lately been severely scourged by disastrous war, M. Coudert, on be- half o! the Freuch Benevoient society, of which he 18 President, has received some subscriptions; but im this respect both New Orleans and San frao- cisco are ahead of the commercial metropolls of the nation. The Cousul General of France, in this city, 1% will be seen, declines to make a direct ap- peal for ald. He leaves Americans to take the initiative in the matter, having 1ull faith in their generosity and good will, THR INUNDATIONS IN 1856, To gather some idea of the feariul desolation caused by the present floods, a reierence to the in- undations that occurred in June, 1856, in Burgundy and Provence, in the southern and central parts of France, will not be out of place on the present occasion. The accounts on record are of the most harrowing nature. The destitution and afiiction caused by them were most frightiul, Rain fell in almos incessant torrents, laying whule depart- ments unaer water. The vaileys of the Loire, the Rhone and thetr tributaries were completely over- flowed. From Paris to Lyons and onward to the sea the streams, large and small, overflowed \beir banks. The country around Chalons, Tours and Lyons looked like an inland sea, The inunda- tions spread out in vast sheets, dotted with the roofs of houses, the bushy tops of willows and the tall spires of the poplar; in other places they gathered all their strength and rushed along in torrents, carrying ail before them. Roads and railways, as during last month, were rendered impassable. Human bodies, cattle, farniture, agricultural productions and farm buildings were borne along the floods. The streets of muny towns were only passable in bo The embankments of the Rhone were broken down by the weight and force of the waters and all tne lower quarters of Lyons were inundated, In other pi people surprised in their sleep nurried out nalt dressed and had so wade for shelter. THE RISE OF THE LOIRE followed that of the rivers of the South, and at the end ofa week the Central and Western depart- ments were delaved, As the waters drained away wvumerons bodies were jound in state of decomposition. In spite of every effort the loss of Iile was great and the destruction of property incalculable, Scor of thousands of people were made homeless, and the immediate suffering was painful in the extreme. The distressing cries that arose could hardly be described. Louis Napoleon at once proceeded to the scenes of devastation, ‘The Prince imperial was just born and the war with Russia had been brought to a successiul close. The Emperor literally scattered handsful of gold among the safferers. Ihe Empress Eagénie opene 1a subscription for theirrelief, Ata sitting of the Chambers 2,000,000, were voted, and the Council of Ministers spplied a new creait Of 10,000,000f. ($2,000,000) for the same purpose, Thesum of $200,000 was raised in Edgland and sent to France, All these measures had tue effect of mitigating the sufferings of the people; but the present innundations bring vividly to mind the Sppalling misery endured by @ considerable por- tion of the population nineteen years ago, VIEWS OF THE FRENCH CONSUL GENERAL Areperter of the HeRalp woo visited the office of M. de la Forest, Consul General of France, was courteousiy received by that gentleman. ‘The op- ject of the call was to learn what progress had been made in the way of collecting subscriptions in this city for the relief of the sufferers by the recent floods in Brittany and Tourraiue. ‘Tne Con- sul General stated thathe had not received any instructions from his govern. nent to make an ap- peal to the public for aid, and that the matter, so lar, had been in the hands of private individuals and societies. The Freucn Benevolent Society, ne said, held a meeting last week at which a com- mittee of ten was appointed to solicit and receive contributions, and that, considering all the cir- cumstances, they had met withafasir snare of success. The Consuis in New Orleans and San Francisco had called meetings of thelr compa- ‘Uriots In these cities for tue purpose of ratsing funds and there were quite liberal responses, The reporter then asked :— “M, de la Forest, is it your intention to make &@ direct appeal to the citizens of New York for aid for the unhappy saiferers by the recent foods in Brittany end Tourraiae 1” M. DE LA ForEst—Having no instructions to that effect I do not propose doing so, The government of Marsbat MacMahon has acted wisely and prudently, and taken tue most effective measures to suiten the consequonces of the great calamity. The Assombly have by successive votes @pplied 2,000,000f.- for the alleviation of the miseries that Providence hag visited on our couatrymen. ‘The city of Paris nas donated come forward in « like manner to alleviate the suffer- ings of the afflicted departments, Of course, if | any appeal was to ve made in an oMelal form for practical sympathy in foreigu countries, the United States would by among the very frst to which resort would be contidently made, REPORTER—SO far I notice toat only persons of Fronca birtu or lineage have contributed to tho relief tuad, Does the committee of the French Bonevolent Society purpose omitting ia the scope Of their operations in this work any appeal to Americans add individuals of otber nationalities ? M. DE LA FORRST—Not at all, We prefer, how. ever, that the initiative snouid be taken by others, and would be most bappy to se» the Americans take such & CompassiOuate course themselves. We do not like to ask them to do ao. If, hows ever, such @ Ulrtietian and praiseworthy movo- ment is inaugurated it will be only another great proorof their irisndstip for the Frenen nation, At present we leave ths matter 10 the Benevolent Society, who always act with patriotic energy aad appreciation ta all such cases, RePorrer—Why ‘nor, M. de lv Forest, make It | publicly ana perrouully known that subscriptions wil be gratefully received at General? M. DE LA Forkst—\ need not say that all cone iribations wil b> most thankfully taken at this omice aud proper ucknoWledgment made therefor, But it has been ceemed vost that the muneys should go into the sands of one gentieman—M. voudert. [have the greatest confidence in the benevolence of t.c American pevpie and leave It allto them, ‘Inousands or Free’ artisans and tho Consulate rt peasants are now destitute and suffering, amt there hardly ever was an occasion when pbhilam thropic and generous souls, no matter whel when the cries of such smitten and prostrat creatures were heard by them, could sitate t¢ extend an opeo and heipmg hand. 1| have alwayt found the greatest liberality and sympathy for suffering in the United States, and when journals like the HERALD take up and advocate the cause of the afflicted there can be little doubt as toa favorable result, I have heard words of the deepest sympathy for tue victims of the foods and having pertect faith m the good will of Amert cans I prefer to alow the initiative in the way o! a general appeal for subscripiions to be taken by themselves, SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE SUFFERERS. ‘The following subscriptions have been received by Mr. Brossard, Treasurer of the Frencn Benevo- lent Society of this city, as collected by members trom their compatriots :— LIST OF MR, FR&DERIC R, COUDERT. L. de la Forest, $100; LIST OF MESSKS. MARCHAND, ; A. dtimel, $25; A. Bi . Cottenet, $! chard salambier, $25; fe & Co, $26; Lewishon Bros.. $40; D. Vallet- stein. $00; Hen. L. ‘Hoguet, $100; Kiefer & Co., $257 Richara & Co., ; Pussavant & Uo., $25; M ty Vilmerding, Hoguet & Co,, $100; $10: Hardt & Co., $25; KW ‘eld. Morris, Fanner & Co. J. V. Vechs, $25; A. Kobbe-Ball, $15; Bouchet, $ $b; Koy Auguste List OF MR. L, LAFO! E Laton, $10; W. Vigaure, $20, A. Lop Vasse, $5; Bajon’ & Chardon, $1 1s, $10; wrtiule's) Genus: 1S Dulea’ st: P Guinoy, bo ceagh Ph, Linder, $1; E. De Baxer, testy, $l) D. Klein, $0; E. Pottier, $50: L. Hi uller, 28 cents; Louis Fopet, $5 lot, SL. LIST OF M Clumont, cents; Mr. and Mra, jauvin, 50 bag Sear) O senek David, Alex, Kene, 5) cents: Veile ir Tuiand), Hin olestion Millot Bros., $1; Bulance of taken Up for Kansas sufferers, $1 75. POF MR. C. AUZIERE, I. Poissonier, $5; Dents Louis, $5: F. Vianert, $104 le Juntet, $3; 'F. Kabel, $2; J. B. Dubois, $2) a : Auguste Dubin, $3: Ple-Bois aine, $3; Marx, Calhoun, Kobbins & Co, Fooker, Waring & Oo., MeDonald, $20} ai. $1; Jolinege ; John Lane, $10; ton, Sty ‘ash, $2; Scuily Dewitt, $3; Jonn A. Sheller, 5 Prien Li g2. AF . 22K, Michel, $2; Cash Frahklin, Cunard z, 60 cents; W. . Livin ale oid, obert, $2: Jona if. Thpot 1; J. Verceli, $1; 8. Maurice, $1;'N. Moussin, $2 LIST OF MR. LECOUR, P. C. Duchochols, $5; M. Guillot, $5; F. Lecear, $5. LIST OP MR. G. PROTIN. A. Flauraud & Son, $26; J, Martinav ae, iF Gttreingue, $5; J. Lecomps, $2; G. Prodn,’ $10; % Becket, $l. LIST OF MR. C, FRANCOW. Victor Delaunay. $20; t ‘Lorut, $20; 0. Harvie, 2): Bova & Hincksn, $20; Caen, $5; Cash, $6 Grand total, $3,048 du, RELIEF FOR THE SUFFERERS IN FRANCE. ‘Yo rue Epiror or THE H&RALD:— 1 rememper what France has done for the in- dependence of America. Un the eve of the Cen- teanial anniversary a terriple misfortune befalia her. ‘The duty of all Americans is not to forget it Inclosed are $60 for the subscription which hope you will start tor the relief of tue French suiferers. AN AMERLOAN CITIZEN and constant reader o/ the HERALD, The money 1s held for tue disposition of the French Cousul General. RAPID TRANSIT. FINAL ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION~- FORMAL DECLARATION OF THE NECESSITY OF QUICK TRANSIT—AN EXPRESSION OF CONFI- DENCE IN MAYOR WICKHAM. i Tue Rapid Transit Commission has now fairly entered upon the necessary preliminaries for iso important work. None of the gentlemen who Were appointed by Mayor Wickham sought the position, and, being active business men, they had but little time to devote to the details ofany rapid transit plan. They took a general totereat twit like all good citizens 0. New York, but some ofthem when they were appointed were muck surprised by the Mayor's summons to ofmetal duty, and had not even famillariged themselves witn tue legal aspecta of the problem, the exact wording of tne Husted Rapid vransit bill, and the: plans advanced by tue principal advocates of quick transit, Thit duty has now been entered upoo, All the Com missioners have read the bill carefully, thoroughly digested it, and are thus familiar with their privi- leges apd duties as defined by the law. Thus far the Commissioners have acted with commendabie prompiness in pusting Jorward their labors, They have not availed themselves of the length of tume allowed by the bill jor their qualifying and organ ization. Yesterday, after having be ppointed only a week, they jormully determined on the ‘necessity of rapid transit in New York,” which they were only bound to do within thirty days of their organization, As they only orgamized yes terday asa board this action represents a saving of thirty days’ time. THE PERMANENT ORGANIZATION. The meetivg yesterday took place in the private room of His Honor the Mayor. At a quarter past twelve o'clock all the five Commissioners had as sem ied and Commissioner Joseph Seligman, whe had been elected temporary chairman at the last meeting, called the meeting to order, ‘Yhe first thing dono was to organize perma- nently. It was moved that Mr. Joseph Seligman be elected permanent cuairman of the Rapid | ivansit Commission, The motion was carried unauimously, after whicn Commissioner selig- map, in a few words, acknowledged the honor conturred upon bim. ‘rhe next taing 1n order was to elect a perma- nent secretary. No dectsive action was taken la regard to the point, bat tne Commissioners #2reed, informally, that Mr. Harrison, the Mayor’ private secretary, be requested to act in that ca- pacity unéil further notice. ‘A VOTK OF CONFIDENC# IN THR MAYOR. Alter some Conversation on the advisability of having the Mayor’s presence at the meetings of tue Commission, it was unanimoasiy agi thas His Honor should be respectfuily invited to its sessions, Mr. Wickbam was immediately informed Ol tue adoption of this resolujeon, and, carrying out the ldea oO: rapid transit in bt own person, once to the rou Where the Commis. itting. The Commissiouers expect vale uggestions from the Mayor, who of late uted much tiibe and study to the solutiol communicas Judges of tae Superior Court and tue Oourt o: Common Pleas otferiug to tue Rapid Transit Commission the use of # room for an om QO! the two rooms offer: to the Commission . Osuda thought that tue morthwest room of the Court of Common Pleas Was unduubtedly the one best adapted for the wunts of the Commission moved that tI | Offer of this room be acce with than! generally 0 Fon! ty Foo! bat through the courtesy of the JI of th Court of Common Pi dng tug Superior Court ‘this outlay wii thus oided, sw 'Vore haar at ihe segues of te Commlsaion, w York had, at the request. ‘urteousiy published the o@elal call for pland ations of rapid transit roads. the provision of the law requiring th transit wit caeety ays. nl rr anely opgeniaee trausit within thir on, lie would now move the following resolu ton Q Commission hereby determines rey in whe city unty of New ora steam Failway or railways for the trane portation of passengers, mais aud troight, ‘’be resomution Was carried unanimous), Commisaivner Brown moved that wh te Board adjourn it be to meet again on Tuesday, The 19th inet., a& (Welve o'clock, @ud to proceed on that day Ww cOusider such plaus and sugges tions as may thei Uave reucued tuem, ‘The Com- tuissioners have sixty days from yesterday within woich to vevermine the route, A TRIP OVER TRE ELEVATED BO. Commumsiouer Vanda moved chat & ted to acknowleage the tovicatiol i the Greenwich street Blevated Ra ect the ruad tu & special trai to Cu the Mayor, aod to say im reply tuat ‘om Mv *. pany with ater consultation with His Honor the sroner® Will Ov Lappy to luaicaie @ day on whice , they Will inspect the road, the Comuiasion thea adjourned til Tu pext. Mr. Harrson, tne secretary of the miasion, RAYS tno plans or suvgestions had eb ciicishy reacued thew, This 1s accounted | ¥ the lack thitil was generally known baat che! Hirst organizauon was but u temporary one only, wou that they could take Ro activa Gall they hag ' Leen permaueuty organized,