The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-12-06
DREADFUL STORM AND LOSS OF
LIFE AT BUFFALO.

23d instant:
" Rarely in the annals of our city, have
so many important events been crouded
into so short space of time, as those which
have occurred in the last twenty four hours.
The morning was warm, but lowering, yet
the firing @: cannon commenced, and was
kept up with spirit, and the preparations
went on with vigor for the ilIuminations in
the evening. Towards noon, however, the
rain poured down in torrents. Previous to
this the wind had been in the southeast, and
fleet of nearly 20 sail went up the lake in
beautiful style. About l o'clock the wind
chopped round in the S. W., aad there sp-
peared to be a prospect of a pleasant eve-
ming but those who are acquainted, with
matters, from the smell of The lake, and the
rapid rise of water, predicted The gale, which
commenced blowing in all its fury, MS soon
as night set in.
Darkness had hardly closed around us
when the city was again in blaze of light
from the splendid illuminatons in every
quarter. Tar barrels were burnt, bands of
music patrolled the streets, caDnons were
fired, rockets sent blazing in the air.
"All this time the wind was increasing
in fury, till people could hardly keep their
footing in the streets aud The water rising to
an unprecedented height about the docks,
and the lower part of the city. Amid the
roar of the winds and waves, were heard
the shrieks of drowning wretcbes, men
struggling with The waters, and little children
walked from their warm pillows by the flood,
from which, amid tho storm and darkness
there was no escape.-These persons resi-
ded in some miserable shells of buildings
on the exposed neck of land between tho
creek and lake. The Common Council of
the city directed two years ago, that no
houses should be erected there unless they
were based on good brick or stone founda-
lions at least eight feet high. The title to
the land is disputed in many instances, and
Temporary buildings have been put on blocks
At the four corners, sand several families
gone into them for the sake of obtaining
possession. 1t has been a wonder that they
would risk their lives in such trail tenemenls
tor from their appearance, one would i'm
agine that common wind would PROSTATE
them. Some of these this morning were
floating about the harbor, while here and
there lie the broken fragments Of those that
were not strong enough to resist the force
Of the inundation. Some ten or twelve
houseS-part of them uDinhabited-were
washed completely from their foundations
across the creek, and are now strewed
about in every direction. Several vessels
were stranded high nnd dry, on the beach.
The schooner Edward Bancroft lays up in
| The centre of Ohio street. She even dragged
her anchor some distance up into the city.
The steam ferry boat lays high aground
and considerably damaged. The o. p.
Sturkie, the Brandywine and the Texas,
schooners, were driven on shore, but ma
terally damaged
! "Tbe loss of life-the most dreadful por-
ton of the catastrophe-cannot, at present,
he ascertained Five bodies have been
brought to the watch house, but many prob
ably are not discovered. Those are two
children of John Germain, young man,
name unknown, the wife Of William Judson,
and colored woman. VIM. Judson
lived 10 house near the stone building, foot
of Mechanic street. When his house was
destroyed, his two cbrildren were in bed,
and have not yet been found. He and his
wife goton the canal bridge, where she per-
ished of the cold anb he escaped by SWIM
ming to pile Of boards, from which he was
rescued. We saw him this morning, wrap
ped in quilt. looking among the wreck of
his dwelling, which had fon,ed into the
canal, for the bodies of his chridrep.
MANY other vessels, steamboats,, &c.
are more or less damaged, as well ms most
of the ware houses on the docks. The loss
uf properly is difficult to estimate. l, is
strewed in every direction. About twenty
five buildings, such MS we have described,
were either totally destroyed, or torn from
their foundations, by the food.
"Several vessels and steamboats, must
have been on the lake. where il was hardly
possible for any thing to live. It's rumor-
ed that the Cleveland went down the river,
and is safe.
1--WE wait anxiously for further pariicu-
lars.
"P. S.-The New England steamboat
came in this morning. Reporis-ieft
Cleayeland at two L. NJ, yesterday, IN
company with the Constitution, the latter
not We, heard from.-Thc New England
ro.e out the whole gale without damage.
The schr. JAS. G. King came IN last night
She reports s,hooncrs Panama. Virgins,
F.yori;c and Brandywine outside. The
latter brached--Tbe resi have not vet bccn
heard from.
a woman in one of the houses clung
To the window ell, wiih the water up tn her
chin. and supported her three chri!dren.
who claug tn her back-but il,rsc ose after
another dropped otf-ihe last Lu; short
time before sij reached brr. a, ! o'clock