Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1817-08-19
BY THE MAILS.
Gfeat Fresllef at Baltimore.
From the Federal Republican and Baltimore
Telegraph, Of Angus IL.

Rum NbE EthNfA STU oaVlWOFc
Telegraph, Of Angus IL
FRESHEr.
On the night of Friday the 9th inst the
rain descended with unusual violence, and
continued TO increase until Saturday morn
ing--betwecn the hours oil 9 and IL o'clock
of that day, the descending driuge seemed
to pour from the clouds in torrents. Large
sheets OF water pou,ed from the Fl mament
unen us in such quantities, that the lower
part OF the city became completely imerstd
i'm water. In the mean time, the descen-
ding torrents through various channels
were uniting all theie streams, the rain
continued to pour down with undated We
hemence Marked-space was completely
immersed Men and women were seen
passing in boats from one market to anoth
err, for the purpose, OF saving what little
property could be preserved from the del
uge. Al length, as far as The eye could
stretch in various directions, we beheld
whole streets swept by the defending
streams, forming spectacle equally sub.
lime and terrific. Jones falls SO suddenly
replenshed from so many sources,
swelIed beyond iss banks, bearing away ev
cry thing in triumph that opposed The ra-
pidity of the current. Ponuerous bridges
were loosened from their foundations in an
instant, and were seen swept along like
skiffs upon the floating surface.-Ilouses
that for few moments appeared 10 OBJ
struct the progress OF the stream, were
suddenly undermined, and swept away,
beating nothing bur shspeless mass OF
bricks. We do not believe that we exceed
the truth, when we assert, that the waters
raised to the height of l6 feet above its
usual leavel
Every bridge over Jones' Falls, excep-
ting Baltimore, Gay and Platt-street brilg
cs, we're demolished, and fragments of
floating timber, biosen furniture, imple-
menis of industry, articles Of merchandise,
houses, horses, cows and other cattle, all
swept away in confusion, proclaimed the
extent of the injury committed We wer.
forci5ly impressed at this moment, with
the apparent nothingness and vanity of hu
man strength, bsholding this terrific de
molition with so much ease, of works, that
required SO much ps,ien, labor to erect
we Iooked-they seemed to stand firm and
irresistible al one moment--we looked
again, and they were gone. Amid this
marring Of the elements, were to be seer
The generous and benevolent. encounterine
every hazard, and Drawing every danger,
Tor the preservation of The persons and
properly of their countrymen--sa sailing
amidst the floating wrecks, and snatching
the distressed and afflicted from what ap
peaEed 10 be instant and inevitable death:
his was q spectacle, II possible, more sub
lime than that presented by the desolation
itself. We cannot, at this early period
speak OF he extent of the injury this
must &c q matter of future calculation and
enquiry. The ensuing morning arose
brilliant and sertnt--we see nothing now
oil that destructive agent, and We can now
only trace his route by bis ravages. He
mas departed INDEED Ike dream; bu,
lie has left wrecks behind. We presume
II Is unnecessary TO state 10 cur felIow-citi,
zens, that strong imperious christian ca
" remains row 10 be pefformsd.-Ie
search out and TO relieve the sufferers by