The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-22 00:00:00

come rushing along the street to a depth of several feel,
and meetieg with fresh supplies from every hollow, and at
every turn, continued its irresistible course on to Shrewton,
Elston, and Maddirgton. The time at which th,l, water
began to rise, so as to occasion alarm, is variously
stated, but we believe that shortly after noon the inhabi-
tants began to entertain serious apprehensions for their
safety.
At Tilshead six houses were completely overthrown,
but fortunately no lives were lost, the inmates having in
every instance escaped, although with the greatest ditli,
culty. some of them having been taken out of their cham-
ber windows and removed to places of safety. In many
places the road is covered to a depth of full two feet with
the broken stones which were loesened and washed down
by the current during its course.
At Shrewton the destruction of property was the great-
est ; and melancholy to relate, three human beings, a
father and his daughter in one family, and a little boy in
another, have fa!l.•n victims to this awful visitation. Forty
houses arc entirely destroyed, and with tlivrn, in many
instances, the furniture also. A cow, belonging to Mr.
NichelF, was drowned. Ten fat sheep, and four fat pigs,
belonging to Mr. Williams the butcher, besides a great
number of store pigs belonging to other persons, have
been lost. Walls, barns, stables, sheds, and outhouses of
all kinds, are every where in ruins ; in short, such a
scene of desolation and havoc as this village in particular
exhibits, is, we thank God, rarely witnessed in this coun-
try. An earthquake could not have caused greater devas-
tation.

At Winterbourno Stoke a great deal of damage is done,
one house, belonging to Mr. Poulton, is entirely de-
stroved—furniture and all. Part of Mr. Kellow's house,
:he *Bell, is down. Other houses have also suffered, as
well as walls and outbuildings.
At Elston the houses are not numerous, but with the
exception of Mr. Mills's and Mr. Leonard's, they are all
destroyed. A poor old woman, named Wallis, who lives
in a cottage near Mr. Mills's, and who for years past has
beer, a pensioner of Mrs. Mills, and has had her dinner
from that lady's table daily, was in a state cf great alarm,
the water being several feet deep all round about her
dwelling ; Mrs. Mills also being very anxious about her,
Mr. Mills undertook to go to her, and after struggling in
the water, which in places ens up to his chin, succeeded
in reaching the house, and in removing her fears ; the
house was built of brick, therefore it was in no danger of
falling.
At Orcheston three houses arc down, besides much
damage to walls, outhouses, &c.
At Maddington also much loss of property has been
sustained. The rise and fall of the water were remai k-
ably sudden, not much above twelve hours having elapsed
between the commencement and the end of the flood ; it
had attained its greatest height at from eight to ten o'clock
at night; and at three o'clock in the morning. the roads
acre do,. S.:.ch a visitation was never Wore known. The
scene is said to have been awfully grand ; the whole valley
was filled with a mass of living rolling wester, extending
in length as far as the eye could reach, and in pieces nearly
half a mile in breadth. Fortunately the 11,od began during
the day ; had it commenced after the people had retired to
rest, the loss of life must have been dreadful, and many
head of cattle must have perished. The destruction of
buildings would also probably have been greater—as it is,
upwards of 300 of our lollow-creatures are deprived of
house and home at this inclement season, and about sixty
houses have been destroyed.
We arc happy to state that ever)thing that can be
done for the immediw,e relief of the sufferers has been
done. The school-room at Maddington has been fitted
up for the reception of several of the destitute families.
Mr. Mills has taken into his own house as many as he
can find room for, and has turned some of his outbuild-
ings into temporary dwellings for those whose homes
are destroyed. All are doing their part—the clergy,
the gentry, the farmers, the cottagers—all, according to
their ability, are affording that relief which is so much
wanted. A local subscription has been set on foot, and
about 3004 was quickly raised; this will provide cloth-
ing and food for a short time for the most necessitous,
but we hope and trust something on a large scale, suffi-
cient not only to relieve immediate wants, but to restore
these industrious persons who have lost so much, to their
former comfortable position, will be done. A subscription
list should be opened in every parish. and from the pulpit
of every church and chapel in the county we hope appeals
will be made to the charitable, for this purpose.
On Tuesday last inquests were held by Mr. Whitmarsh,
at Shrcwton, on the bodies of three unfortunate persons
who lost their lives in consequence of the flood on Satur-
day night. In each case verdicts of " Accidental Death"
were returned.