Litchfield enquirer., 1840-06-04
From ne Natchss Ere. Trader.
HE DENoUEMENr OF THE cALANfT


SABBATH EVENING, the 10th May.
What we wrote on Friday, the day after
the calamity, has since proved far too low
computation, and far too faint sketch of
the ruin which has befallen our noble spir-
tied, and yet devoted city. The estimate is
more than FIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
There are numerous dwellings in the low
er as well as upper city, where every item of
furniture, and clothing, and ornament, was
given to the gyrations of the whirlwind and
lost irrecoverably. Many ladies lost elegant
and valuable wardrobes, and were DEEPEN
dent on friendship for the initial vestments
with which they covered themselves after
they had been reduced to a state of almost
entire nudity by a tornado which was with.
ing Sin the sweat of its great agony" and
leaping from tower to tower "with delirious
bound tn
The beautiful and splendid villa of An
drew Brown, Esq, at which place the most
gorgeous and splendid fete ever given in
this city to the guests from sVicksburg last
year, is totally ruined. The cost of its erec-
ton was sixty or seventy thousand dollars.
The mansions of Peter Little, ESQ.,, and Mrs.
about a mile distant, outrode the storm, and
escaped with the loss of chimneys and the
dismantling Of some of the friezes and archi-
tectural ornaments.
e The Natchez Theatre is pile Of shapeless
ruins, beyond recovery. The entire square,
surrounded by the walls, and partly covered
by the pile of the Railroad Depot, late one of
the largest and noblest edifces of the kind in
any city in the Union, is covered with the
wreck of tower, walls, and roofs. From this
immense mass Of rubbish several wounded
persons and dead bodies have been dug, and
the work of removing the huge pile of brick
and timber has been just commenced.
From the immense ruins of Parker's
Southern Exchange, Messrs. Parish and Be-
mis- were dug out alive, after confinement of
an hour or two, and the dead body of Moses,
most valuable servant it is possible that
there may be one or two more bodies still in
those ruins.
i The Planters Hotel, formerly called "Our
House, situated on the brow of the bluff,
was blown down the precipice. Many men
were known to have been in the house at the
time; and it has become painfully evident to
the senses that the rapid decomposition of
flesh is going on under the timbers OF that
house. ~ ut9 la 81.
4 Eleven dead bodies have been taken from
the ruins of the Steamboat Hotel, which have
all been removed by the gangs of slaves of
Col. Surget, Mr.. Crossgrove, and others, gen.
erously sent by those wealthy planters.
OF the number and names Of the dead we
cannot now speak with certainly. This SUBJ
iect is committed by public meeting to
committee of three gentlemen, who will re-
port as soon as any certainty can be arrived
at. The NatcheZ Guards and the Order OF
Odd Fellows have both followed their dead
ito that bourne whence no traveller returns
- From the Natches Courier, May 10.
The Courier published this day is the
number intended for last Friday morning.
Our Office is in confusion, and we are without
paper to print upon; under these circun1-
stances, we know not when to promise anoth-
er paper, but If possible, we WY puNAash the
Weekly Courier next Thursday, in which
will appear all the particulars of the late un-
cxampled calamity.
People are leaving Natchez every hour,
and by midsummer, if the present spirit
prevails, we shall have little else than ru-
ined, deserted city. 9,
The citizens and soldiery of Vicksburg
left Natchez yesterday at four o'clock
The wounded of the storm are all under
good attention, and If medical aid and skill
can accomplish their recovery, they will
soon be upon their fest in the "god like atti-
Aude of man." DR.. Pollard has under his
charge about %, and other physicians of the
city have wounded cases to the number of
so or GO. 81. I.s.4 Gss.a.
The Mississippi is rising! rising!! ri
sing and the lowlands will this summer
know nothing but ruin ruin! ruin =
The very elements seem to conspire against
us. Amid it all, let our conduct be prudent,
and our language reverential. .@. u.
The meeting of Tuesday will decide the
fate of Natchez. Those who have power
and wealth will have to declare upon the
destiny of, the still devoted city. To the
sentiment of that meeting let us look; and if
there is still hope for the rebuilding and con-
tinuance of our city, let Hope" light US ON
to new achievements. When hope is lost to
ahe mind, then let darkness and despair do
their worst, but not until then. RiH
We refrain from publishing any estimate
of the loss of life and property by the lorna
do of Thursday both are incalculable; and
figures. though honorable. orators, cannot
now rate the amount of loss or the blighted
condition of NatcheZ. Should rain and a
wind come upon us in few days. every
building still standing on our streets will sink
10 the earth. and all the city will be no bet
ter than a heap of ruins a ga !sf5 5
Much damage was done by tho storm of
Thursday to the farms and villages of Kinds,
Madison, Holmes, and Rankin counties.
From. Murray 8 Eacyclopsdia Of Geography. a
NAreHrz.--Natchez is the largest and
most important town in the state of Mississip-
nj. Il consists Of two distinct parts. The
lower town, called !" Natchez under the hill'
or the Landing, is built on dead level on
the margin of the river. about half q mile in
length, and from 100 to 400 yards in breadth;
and is occupied by warehouses, tippling
shops, boarding houses for boatmen, &c
The upper town stands on a lofty bank or
bllff. rising abruptly to the height of 800 feet,
q 80 thsa haffar rlnao ofN sf