Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-06-30
DOMESTIC.

.aslother but more Disastrous Freshet.
FREDERICKSBURG, June IS We had occa-
sion a few days since, to notice considerable and
sudden rise in the Rappahannock river, by which
one bridge in the vicinity of our town carried
away: We have now a more melancholy duty to
perform, in recording he loss ard almos, entire
destruction of the two beautiful Bridges opposite
this place, 0ccasoned by another food, which has
not been equallel since the memorable Fall OF
1914.
On Sunday, between two and three o'clock, the
rain commenced, and continued, with shor, inter-
missions, to fall in heavy showers, until Monday
morning, when the clouds dispersed. In the course
OF this day the river began TO swell, and on Tues
day morning it attained its greatest elevation.
Many OF The houses situated near the wharves were
now completely inundated, and could only be
approached in boats. The Bridge built by the late
Major Jones, of Chatham, and which has been ever
since it erected of most delightful
prone AIDES, first gave way, and all that portion OF
IT reaching from Browns Island to the Stafford
shore, moved off with the impetuous torrent. On
reaching the lower Bridge, few hundred yards
distant, this heavy mass Of timber carried with il
several of the central arches of this Bridge also;
and, in less than hour afterwards, the whole,
Teaching from the abutments on either side rose TO
the bosom OF the flood, and hosted down the resist
less current. In the destruction of these bridges
our town has sustained great public loss. The
POWER Bridge was owned by company; the upper,
was the property of the heirs of the late Major
Churchill Jones. We have heard that Judge Coal
ter the present proprietor OF the Chatham estate,
has expressed his intention of speedily replacing
this bridge. We are happy to say that Falmouth
Bridge stands firm.
The injurious effects of the former freshet, in the
upper country, have been great. We hear from
the neighborhood of the Germanna Mills, that
many OF the mill on the small streams have
been swept away Jones's, Sknker's, Browns,
and Fields are among the number The wheat
and COIN was considerably injured. We may now
expect to hear melancholy tidings from that quarter
of the country. The corn on the river bottoms
must be entirely ruined.
The MAJ! for the South was detained here yes
terday, in consequence of the runs in this vicinity
Being rendered impossible. Herald.
MISSOURI-DISTRESS
The st. Louis Republican of the LIST instant
says" We are inforaed by gentlemen engaged
in the Fur Trade, who have arrived from the es
Enlistment the Missouri, within few days
past. that the late feshet has been very destructive
that nearly all the houses, boats, and other pro-
perty belonging TO them, have been washed away,
and the men, IN many instances, barely escaped
with their lives. AT the Mandan villages, the water
rose seventeen feet perpendicular in few hours
only. Such was lis rapidity that every thing on the
low banks was either swept away entirely inun-
dated. A band of the Sioux Indians were encamped
some distance below the AUrickaras when the
waters rising suddenly upon them, between sixty
and seventy OF their number, men, women and
children, persisted in it's bosom. The scene, az
described to us, was truly appalling: some of The
sufferers were SEEM in the attempt to swim, dashed
down by The resisless current, and crushed to
death amongst the drifting ice and timber. Others
hung to the branches of trees, until hey became
hoAv 4
grasp, and were borne down the stTeam-Sev eral
Of the men succeeded in climbing trees where they
remained a considerable time in hopes of rescue
out their inevitable fate was only for a short lime
protracted A sudden change in The atmosphere
accompanied by heavy sleet deprived them of
all feeling; and they dropped senseless in the wa
ter below. The rise is attributed to the melting of
the snow and ice at the heads of Yellow Stone and
Cheyenne Rivers
WASHINGTON, June 81. On Friday last the
Governor Of Massachusetts prorogued the Legisla-
twe Of that Common eallh to the first Wednesday
IN January, 1927 The Usury Bill, repeating the
law OF the last session, which made the trade in
money free, was passed by both Houses and re-
ceived the sanction of the Governor. Upon this,
the Philadelphia Gazette remarks, that " intellect
Is retrogressive in Massachusetts,. In this senti-
ment, so far as il implies the policy Of the usury
ply the observation TO its legislation generally,
much less the arts and sciences, in both Of which
that enlightened State makes steady progress.
Nat. Int.
Court Martial assembled on the 7h instant
at Cincinnati, in the State of Ohio for the trial Of
Major Babcock, of the u S. Corps of Engineers,
on charges Of misconduct, by neglect ofduty in
saperntendence Of the execution of the contracts
ior clearing the Ohio river Of distractions. The
court IS composed of the following officers, viz.
Lieut. Col Walbach, President; Lieut.. Col. Tay-
Tor, Major Foster, Major Davenport, Capt. Zant
Finger, Capt Smith, Capt, Legare, Capt Ia ylor;
Judge Advocate, Capt. Armstrong. Mai. plead
not guilty, and the trial began on Wednesday the
18th. A new description of military offences APP
pears to be introducing itself into the law martial
by the extension Of the duties Of officers of the
my to the subject Of Internal improvement. II
would be thought an odd association to cite an
Overseer Of County Road before Militia Court
Martial to answer for neglect Of duty. The cases
are not parallel, IL is true, but in principle they do
not widely differ We do not mean TO question
the correctness OF the course pursued by the War
Department in this case. An investigation has
been required, we suppose, by the loud complaints
irom the Western country Of the msner in which the
law has been executed, and the mode pursued is the
regular mode Of proceeding against officers Of the
army for neglect Of duty. In such a case, however
we should think it very difficult 10 discrimi
nate between neglect Of duty and error ofiudgmen
Officers have delicate duty to per form in deter
mining such points, not knowing how soon the cas-
may come to be their own, from not knowing wha
smilsr employment they may be put upon, Thes'