Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-06-04
GREAT FRESHET OF THE
SAVANNAH RIVER!

late Flood of the Savannah River, which
uverflnwed Hamburg, S. G.
UNPARALLELED DISASTER!
We are at length able to get into our print
ng-Iinllse, to announce, in this hurried manner;
some of the particulars of the most Disastrous
| Freshet in the Savannah and its tributaries,
which has occurred within The menery OF the
oldest inhabitants, and to which the Yazoo flood
hoth as regards the hightl oil water and the
consequence was nothing. Our hnle town
has inst emerged from the river; not spot Eav-
ing escaped the food. We filled,a few hours
ogo. hut corner of the picture in which
two cities, hundreds or farns. &C., stood in
a vast lake Of water. stretching from hill 10
hill, with not spot of earth in sight.
The rain which fell OH Sunday, swelled the
river several feet; and the earth having been
completely saturated by the many rains which
have fallen within the last few weeks. the riv-
cr was ready 10 COUP rapidly with every ad-
ditional shower. BY "Wednesday morning 3
o'clock. water had rSen 10 within two feet OF
the mark made for. the great fresh OF 1883, ant
before noon, had gone up some feet above It.
Tie wafer had broken into the town from above
early in the morning; and run over the lots and
common near the hill; and at about three o.
clock The rush of water into the street was ltrl-
mence and general. Afew hurriedy construc-
ted boats were bisily pIyed all the day and nigh
in getting ont families from the houses in the
more exposed situations, and i'll preserving
goods. BY these means and tho praiswerilly
prompt and untirIng labors of several OF our
citlzeus much property was saved; and what
is more important, not single soul was per-
united 10 perish-Not life was tost
The water reached its highest mark on
Thursday morning about seven o'clnck; but
did not at once recede, as the fall for several
honrs was almost imperreptible. Many of the
families and citizens took refuge from the food
on the hill, but majority remained in the up
per stories III perfect safety.
On Wednesday night the lower Bridge on
the Savannah. after having stood severe and
repeated shocks from boats, hoaing frames &c.
throughout tile day, without apparent injury.
(saye u one Of the pars by the Office Of the
Steam Boat Company. which floaled from its
moornsS, and was driven against II, was de.
strOycd by the moving masses OF the upper
Bridge which were sweeping down the river,
that construction having given way before the
force OF the drift and current. Some Of The
piers are still standing; and il was matter of
aston sllment to all who witnessed the many
blows which il received throughout the ALTER
noon and evening Of "Wednesday, to sc it hold
up firmly against them all; and we question
whether there has ever been better framed
wooden bridge. All are satisfied that it would
have been able 10 resist the current aud DRIFT
ut their worst state, and that it would have
been now standing, had there been no upper
Bridg to come against il and break it down.
or had that bridge possessed the strength of
construction which g: long sustained the lower,
one. However, speculation upon this subject
IS now ont nl place. except f,r further appl-
cation. Both bridges are now gone; aud the
citizens of bnth sides OF the river must endure
the deprivation us they best can. and put up
with si,ch means oi crossing for the present
us may be provided.
AT thr highest stage of the water, it was up
on Mr. Ilublnrd's house. (tlre American Ho-
TEL about nine fet-at SibIey & Crapon's,
il was six and half feet decp-at KermglIan
& Wray's. about seven feet, and it reached
nearly to the caves Of Mahcr & Ronn"y's brick
store The large Warehouse of II. Kerna-
CHAN hoated from its foundation on Thursday
afternoon: and SWING down the current some
100 yards threatening the destruction of sew
eral bni dngs below. Fortunately however,
i, brought up between Nc cDonads s. Spi e's
sloreilousc, knocking them also from their
luuulntiun and then il halted, The warehouse
is of course little better than n wreck. the up
righ, frame being entirely clirushsd down.
Throughout "Wednesday afternoon d
night, great quantities of cotton foated down
the stream, and it was wholly ont Of the ques-
ton 10 catch any considerable part Of it. At
some moments, hundreds of bales were in sight
NJ ouce moving off in laige fleets. We are
told that below the town. oil both sides Of the
iiver It has banked up in immense piles along
the shore. From the Hamburg warehouses
probably as many as n thousand bales of co
ton were llnnted away. a large part Of whic,'
went from Kernag hans s. Snlivans-but all
los, more or less. The damage, too. to that
which remained in the ware houses was con-
siderable, but it is impossible to give any thing
like Il correct statement Of il now.
Our loss here are imnense-several Of orr cit
zens losing every thing they were worth in
The world. Heavy stocks Of groceries, and lots
Of salt are completely swept away. or entirely
destroyed, The distinction Of goods was gen.
cra and feartuly extensive, and long lime
must elapse ere Our citizens can recover from
this disaSternus shock. Perseverance, econo.
my and Industry, forming capital which the
lond could not destroy are sill left with u.s. and
we trust that all will employ them in laudable
effort to lecnver what The flood has ruthlessly
seized and taken from us.
Our Rail Road is torn up for perhaps
quarter or half mile, but suffered less injury
than was apprehcndcd From $6,0G0 to SlO.-
000 will probably replace the enbankment, and
repair oil the losses.
As our brethren Of thepressin Augusta have
given the particulars Of their losses, we shall not
add to these painful details any extended no.
tice OF the effects of the flood on the other side
oflhe river. The buildings in Augusta were
more injured than th"sc Of Hamburg. and the
amount Of cotton lost was greater; but their
stores being higher. the loss of goods was not
as extensive in proportion to the stocks-The
whole city was under water, with the excep
ton ofa bare spot ofearth on the south side of
Broad street, in the neighborhood Of Mr.. Ros.
seau's National Coffee House. The disaster
was general and alarming throughout Augusta;
but we are happy to have it in our power 10 an
nounce the gratifying circumstance. amidst all