The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-02-29
GREAT FLOOD IN THE WEST.


any disaster of the kind which has occur
red IN that quarter for scores of years. We
are Informed by some friends who arrived
on Saturday from Pittsburg, and who re-
Gently passed several days in their PROGRESS
along the Ohio, that the damage caused on
the shores OF that river, is almost incacu-
lahle. Thirty houses and stores were seen
floating in the course of one afternoon
barns and hay-stacks, on the tops of which
coveys Of domestic fowls had resorted for
safety, were continually observed passing
ON the waters. portion of the village of
Marietta, was quite invisible and il was
feared the best part of the town would be
swept away On one occasion, the steam
boat was lodged in the tops of some low
trees, which the captain and crew were
obliged TO cut away. The following ac-
count is from Plttshurg paper of the 18th
instant.
On Friday last, Pittsburg, Alleghany-
town, and the lowlands bordering the riv-
ers, were visited by the horrors and devas-
tations of the greatest food that has oc-
Cured since the erection of Fort Gu Quesne
by the French. It would be in vain to give
particulars of the loss sustained by our fell
low citizens-to describe the perilous es-
capes from the raging element-or the
alarm. that pervaded the city at the pros
pect of general inundation. An eye wit
ness of the terrific scene, we can but faint
ly portray, the destruction and distress bv
which 1t was attended.
On Thursday evening last, in conse-
quence Of the immense rains that had fall
en- and the rapid thaw, the river rose to an
unusual height-many houses adjacent to
the rivers became untenantable.
During the night, many families were
awakened by the food pouring into their
dwelling, and many effected their escape
at the risk of their lives. The shrieks and
cries of the women and children could be
heard throughout the night On Friday
the rivers rose with astonishing rapidity--
and deluged parts of the city with such ce-
lerity that the inmates of dwellings were
obliged to fly for personal safety without
stopping TO save their moveables 1t is i'm
practicable to estimate the precise amo1nt
of damage; but it will not surpass the re-
atty to say two hundred thousand dollars.
Several weather-boarded houses were car
ried away or spaced-bales of cotton and
cotton factory machinery maged-lumber,
dry goods, groceries, SC, destroyed or inur-
ed-and the foundations and the superstruc-
lures OF brick houses sunk and rent, to such
an extent that the above sum will hardly
repair the loss.
The rivers rose about thirty one fret above
lO,D a0dter mGrk-of course this flood ex
ceeded the memorable Pumpkin hooa" of
November, 1910, by about two or three
feet. The first fiat of Alleghany-town was
completely inundated. In this city The fol-
/ W. Al
whole Point" to Union-street-and pen-
orally north of Liberty. The water as
cended Wood-street to the middle of Sec
ond-the corner of Diamond and Jail al
leys, and the corner of Market and Liberty
streets.
Blairsville, (Pa.) Feb. Is. Three DAYS Of
heavy and almost incessant rain, swelled
our waters to an Unprecedented height.
The dam and its entertainments opposite
this borough, stood perfectly firm until the
water rose higher than the embankment.
About l o'clock on the night of the 9th
this was discovered to he the case. In n
few hours the whole of the embankment
was swept away-the Lock Slightly injured.
The damage done to the canal above this
place we understand is not very great, but
below it has been seriors.
Between this and the Tunnel several
breaches were made in the canal and one
of the abutments of the tunnel dam were
slightly injured.
One half Of the Jock at dam No. 2 was
thrown down, and the upper lock at dam
No. was swept off.
The lock and embankment of the Leech-
burg Dam have been swept away-the Dam
is uninjured.
The saw mill at this place was carried
off bodily.
The frame of canal boat which was on
the stocks, owned by Mr.. George Singly.
ioated several miles down the river.
Immense losses have been sustained by
the proprietors Of nearly all the salt works
on both rivers. Messrs. Boggs, Hill, Tai
mage, Bigham, Keesler, Brenneman e. Co.
and Chosen are the principal sufferers on
the Kiskemntas. The loss of the first
named gentleman alone is estimated at
from 40 to $4,000 dollars. On the Cone
maugh, Messrs. Rogers & McCowen were
the heaviest losers, VIM. M'Farland. Arts
g. Dobblns, Henry g. Jacob Drum, Barker
g. John Roger.
I Thousands of barrels of salt have been
destroyed, and many Of the salt establish
ments completely demolished. Houses. sta
bles, salt pans, fixtures and tools, swept off
by the resstless torrent.
With painful feelings we record also the
loss of one human life. A man in the en-
ploy of the Messrs. Drums, was endeavor-
I ing to get the horses out of the stable.
which was surrounded with water. He
was drowned and two of the horses.
Many distressing instances occurred In
families compelled to fly from their habita
tons in order to escape watery grave.
Many have lost their houses and all their
furniture. Property that could be rescued
| from the raging element was carried 10 the
high ground, where The owners were shiy-
ering over cherries fire in the open air.
waiting with intense anxiety for the SUBJ
siding of the waters.
In some instances, the rise was SO rapid
that the inhabitants had scarcely time
enough to save themselves; one case is re-
lated OF family on the shore of the ks
kemlnetas who had TO open passage in
the roof of house, and in that way re-
lease sick woman, who had been csnfin-
cd only two days before, from her perilous
situation.
An intelligent gentleman from the west.
who has recently travelled from Cincinnati
to Wheeling in a steam boat, brings dis
tressing intelligence of the destruction sus-
tanned from the flood on the Ohio river and
its tributaries. Among other scenes of suf.
fering, loss and distress, he counted up-
wards of tho hundred buildings, filled with
flour, furniture, &C., floating upon the river.
and borne onward by the waves. From
one OF the houses projected the arm of a