Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-08


hOusehOlders on the low lands adjoining the |
Eeek, including two squares on Market-street, |
Spent the greater part of the day in removing !
their families and effects from the theatre Of
danger. Such articles as could not he taken |
away, we're secured as weH as might be, or |
placed on the upper stories of the houses.-l
The lower doors OF some houses were taken
oil, the windows opened and every DISPOSE |
ton that was deemed prudent and that lime
permitted, was made, To turn aside, or soften,
the impending calamity.
a large and strongly built FIVE arch bridge
Of stone, had been built, some years since, over
this creek, where it intersects Market street.
1t was foreseen by the inhabitants. that + the
stream should rise high enough to ill the
arch OF this bridge, it would then operate as a
dam to the waters and the substantial and
solid character Of the structure would greatly
add to the danger. Some, however, taking
counsel from their hopes, inclined to the opin-
ION that the waters would not attain this
height. On this account the preparations for
the event were not so fall and completes as they
nigh otherwise have been.
About O'Clock, II. NJ. the arches of the
1rdge were completely filed, and the waters
were observed to he still rising The danger
nt deluge increased, from that moment, in r
double ratio. The free course of the rising
waters was cut off by the solid mass climate
curtain walls of the bridge and the arches,
themselves, no longer elected the usual guam
NY OF water-owins tn the immense q,Ianti-
.l's oil drittwood, lumber, and wrecks ofbuid-
ihSs winch pressed In confused and fearful
masses around their vortex. Large bodies of
zee, upwards oil l . inches in thickness, rils',rd
down with the lumber These were hurled
a$ainst the bridge, with i momentum aud
euect winch was astonishing. The writer,
ana several others. continued on the bridge so
long AS their station was deemed sufficiently
secure. Every shock of the ice was plainly
selt.-They canseda sensible vibration of the
s)iId mass of the bridge
FROM the time that the water rose above
tas arches, and the latter became i'm a measure
onok1,t by the TIMBER and ice, fearful strug-
sis seemed |" conmeuce, between the raging
element, and the strong and solid architecture
Oh tne bridge. The REV was terriically
Srand IL was snh'Imely awful I'm the course
~ our ii'"F, we have never witnessed any
hing that could bear comparison with This
'fementt1rS sce1e. The bridge was proba-
hiy one of The heayiest and most compact
pieces oi masonry in the state. This added
y" uin Danger ut the, buildings near it for il
was therefore cnablei the longer t. breast the
storm "t The furious element, aided, as the
onset was by 'hr ice and timber borne on the
bosom OF the latter. While the bridge con-
Hnuei I" maintain this doubtful and terrific
contest WIN The food, the waters continued,
80 use dhd strong temporary current was
formed, across Market street. on either side
the bridge. 1t was at this period thnt the
principal injury was done to the buildings and
o'nsr property in the ncighborhood If the
of'dSe mad been built of frail materials, and
iah oeen therefore early swept away, little
carnage would have been sustained.
After resisting the Omnpotence of the
waters Tor several hours, two of the central
aTches at length gave way. They were liter
al'y Torn ~ pieces, by inches and that part Of
the structure completely demolished The
wner had attained its greatest height about
malt past six, when the arches gave way. and
apassage was forced through the bridge
Soon after, the water began to slbside. and bv
morning. 1t had retreated within the natural
boundaries of the creek.
ISext day another Ofthe arches fell. There
BOW remains one shattered arch on each side
sfthe creek
Inc wafer, at its greatest height, extende d. .
as already mentioned, TO the breadth of two
squares on Markct-street. 1t rose within 4
tset oi the height of the flood in 1917, and
within foot of that of 1894.
No lives. we rejoice to state. were lost u,
town, or elsewhere, so far as we have heard
me damage sustained by our citizens in the
vicinity of the creek has been considerable
pot LOT the great precautiOp used it wonld
nave hcen far heavier The greatest sufferer,
p'rhaps,i M. Doudel, esq His large frame cur
SmS shop was swept away together with "a
great number of hides hisbr1ck ian house is so
'hnch shattered as to make rebuilding neces-
sary.
Samuel Welsh lost frame shop adjoining
hls hoise-hs dwelling and brew houses
much lnJured--part Of the walls being torn
down. '''
Jesse Spangler's stable, together with other
nut buildings and several tons of hay were
swept away.
Martin Eicheberger lost a number ofhides
rom The watts, and many tons Of bark, which
were lOated off
Jacob SchlOssar'a still house. some grain.
and upwards Of 20 cords of wood we're carried
away.
John Loves buildings were considerable
injured one corner of bis dwelling h1us;.
having been torn out.
ihese are probably the greatest sufferers.
ana in the order mentioned, among our citi
Zens.
But the floods extended from Newburv
street TO Water-Street, comprehendnr two
squares OF harket-street, and there is scarcely
house within the range which has not re-
ceyed more or less damage.
- There IS not mill or forge dam, we have
heard, remaining on the Codorus, except that
0l spring Forge, which sustained little or no
Injury.
The stone bridge at Briingers is partly dc.
lnoished as also that on Creutz Creek, on
the Columbia turnpike
Ihe large stone bridge on the Conewago.
above Berlin, is reported TO have been swept