Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-10-07

cludes nicely of remark. and diversity O
| ruin forbids accuracy of calculation. Those
| who had no property TO lose, had house
| bold treasures to save, and we may be al
| lowed to say that the preservation of the
| objects of human affection is more impor-
| tant than the rescue of goods and chattels
Whether we consider the violence OF the
late storm, or the desolation which ensued
we do not incur the hazard of contradiction
in pronouncing it the most sublime and ire
mendous elemental strife that has been
witnessedfor centuries by the inhabitants
OF this town. 1t seemed as if He. who
"sridcs the whirlwind and directs the
Storm" had permitted sea & air to combine
their strength and terror to give us AN i'm
pressive assurance of His power, to hum
BILE our pride and to discipline our affec-
tons" The angry spirit of the waters"
rose In might and m jesty, and the pro-
auctions of nature and the fabricks of art
were the victims of his fury. Had there
lived being whose bosom was tenanted by
misanthropick feelings, he could have as
cended some lofty hill, and appropriated
with the exultation of a demon the sublime
desolation which surrounded him--but, he
who nherits the sensibilities, or the weak
nesses of our nature, must have viewed,
with revolving feelings, " the wild and
wasteful scene.''
A storm of rain fro m the n. f. COM
menced on Friday last. and continued with
little intermisSion till Saturday morning,
when the wind was from the East. Be
tween and 9, however, it shifted to the 5.
T.. and continued TO blow with increasing
violence till half past eleven, when sudden
~ changing to the West, the progress OF
the calamity we now deplore was happily
I'll u 4
and terrifying height, (12 feet higher than
spring tides) and inundated the streets in
various paris cf the town. II exten ed in
to WestminSter-stree considerable dis
lance beyond the Theatre. The lives of
many families, particularly on the west
side, were in imminent danger. Conster-
nation and dismay were depicted in every
CONFERENCE.-THE were eager to hy, but
knew not were to find an ark of safety
Vessels were forced into the streets, and
threatened destruction to the surrouu-
ding buildings. Women and children were
rescued from the chamber windows, and
men were seen buff ting the torrent in the
streets, to save friend or secure an asy-
lum.
Weybosset Bridge was entirely carried
away about 1oo'clock-
Every vessel in port, with two excep-
tons, were driven from their mornings
Thirty-five sail, including 4 ships Zone of
them over 500 tons) briggs, z schooners,
and Is sloops, now form melancholy dis
mantled line at the head of the Cove. One
OF them drifted within the limits Of North
Providence, and, strange as it may appear
Pleasant-street is the anchorage ground for
burthensome sloop.
Our wharves, on which were stored the
ri ayl, . he, oaI
and repulsive aspect. Scarcely a vestige
remains of the stores (many of them very
spacious) which crowded the wharves
bordering on Weybosset-st. Most of those
south of the Market. House to India Point,
shared similar fate.
Many of our streets, but a few DAYS
since the theatre of virtuous and prospe-
rous enterprise, are almost barricadoed
by an accumulation of lumber, scows, &c.
and peopled by busy sufferers who are
anxious to identity, reclaim and preserve
their property.
The sufferings and losses of the inha-
bitants at Eddy's Point were very Sc
we're. Several dwelling houses were car
RED away, while others were Invested by
the pitlless storm, of every article pro-
vision, clothing and furniture.
The damage sustained at India Point
was very extensive. The valuable dis
tillery there is rendered imperative for
many months.
Mill Bridge, at the North End, is rem
dered impossible for any but foot pas
sengers and the upper works of the
Bridge at India Point are entirely gone.
The third story of the Washington In
surance Office, occupied by Mount Yer
non Lodge, was much injured, being per-
forated by the bowsprit of the ship Gan
ges when she rushed with impetuosity
up the river. This handsome building
was otherwise, but not materially injur-
ed.
The Rev. Mr.. Williams Meeting
House, situated in very exposed place,
received considerable injury, and, had the
tide continued to rise for few minutes
longer, must inevitably have swelled the
catalogue Of devastation.
The second Baptist Meeting House, in
judciously located near the water, was
totally destroyed by the winds and waves,
and the relicks are now to be seen in our
streets.
The Elegant fence which encloscs the
First Baptist Meeting House was inur-
ed i'll several places, by the fall of sur
rounding poplars, but, to the establishment
of every one, the magnificent spire of
that superb edihce still towers sublime.
We do not learn that any other public
buildings have sustained material dam
age.
1t is computed that Five Hundred bull
dings of various descriptions have been
destroyed