The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-11 00:00:00

EAST RETFORD.

Since last July the seasons generally have been more
than usually dry, so that in many places water had be-
come exceedingly scarce, the springs have seldom been
known so low, and in many instances it became difficult
for the agriculturist to get his seed into the ground
either on clay or sandy soils. At length this state of
things has been put a stop to, and we have, in this dis-
trict, at least, suddenly verged into the opposite ex-
treme. The barometer which had gradually been sink-
ing gave indication of the approaching change, and on
Thursday last about noon, the rain began to descend,
and continued without intermission the whole of the day
and night. Next morning it literally passed down, and
throughout the day until about five o'clock on Saturday
morning, when it ceased. At two p.m., however, it com-
menced to rain and snow, and kept at it in right good
earnest until midnight. During Sunday we had much
rain at intervals, and on Monday it rained again the
greater part of the day, keeping the game up all Monday
night and the greater part of Tuesday. The conse
quence of this was,
as might have been expected, an im-
mense overflow of the River Idle, and its tributary
streams, which, in its course, has inundated many
thousands of acres, and been serious destruction of
property, and it is to be feared in some instances
fatal to human and animal life. On Sunday and Mon-
day morning many of the lower lands were seen gradually
covering, and during the night of Monday the cars of
Retford on the west side of the river were quite deluged.
In this state they remained for several hours, but it was
evident from the continued accumulation of water, that
the east, or town side, must share the same fate ; and
much anxiety was evinced to ascertain whether the em-
bankment, made at the recent enclosure for the pre-
vention of floods, would be a sufficient barrier. At the
noon of Tuesday the water bad risen nearly to the sum
mit of the bank, and shortly afterwards it found its way
over the lower parts, and at two P.M. it came over gene-
rally, so that before five, many of the gardens were from
three to four feet deep, and a great number of dwelling-
houses rendered totally uninhabitable by the ground floors
being from one- to two and three feet under water. Great
anxiety was manifested by many of the tradespeople on
Tuesday evening that the water would find its way into
the market-place, and if so, it must of necessity get into
the cellars, warehouses, and shops. From three to ten
o'clock the waters rose nearly a foot, and continued to
rise until one o'clock this morning (Wednesday), when
they were at the height. At the period of our writing
(10 a.m.) the flood has declined about two inches, with
a probability that a few hours will set us to right again.
It was not, however, the river Idle altogether, that
flooded Retford; to the east of the town, scores of acres
were under water, which poured down from the Grove
hills, and which in its course to the river lai 1 part of
Moorgate under water, and doing great damage to the
forward gardens, most of which were fully set for a
crop. The scene from the top of the tower at Retford
church was most singular; indeed Retford itself seemed
an island, being nearly surrounded with water. The
damages done in Bassetlaw must be immense—large
tracts of fine corn land will be entirely ruined, it is to
be feared, for the present season altogether. With re-
spect to the loss of life, we have heard of several pigs
and some horses and cattle being drowned, but nut to
any serious extent. A man was found drowned yester.
day morning at Gainsborough-bridge; and we regret to
hear that a boat used for passing the Trent to an ozier
holt, not far from Gainsborough, was capsized about the
same time, and the whole of those on board, amounting
to thirty persons, instantly suet a watery grave.