Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-19
TIE EFT

THE FRESilEr.
IL is with pain that we have this morning TO recoru
one of the most awful calamities that has ever betalien
Virginia. On Thursday about +. NJ, it was observed
that the River here was rIsiDg-lt continued 10 rise WIN
unprecedented rapidity till Saturday night, at mhich
time il is said To have been four inches higher Than X
had been for forty odd years. The Compiler informs
us that ssThe cellars on Main street, for some distance
on each side of Market Bridge, were deep IN water.-
Much timber has been swept away. Mostof the stores
i'll Rockets were flooded Saturday, and communion
between the Inhabitants above and below the creek
could only be KEEP, up with the aid of boats. The water
stood three feet in The store Of Mcssrs. llaskins and
Libby.
Saturday evening n boat, with six men and a boy,
was upset in coming from Browns Island, Qmmedi-
ntely in the rear of the Armory0 and two OF them were
drowned. The rest escaped to the shore, one osthem
being severely injured by being caught between the
upset boat and a tree. Thomas Goulding and Samuel
Edwards were the names of the drowned men. iheir
bodies were seen TO go over liaxalls dam oeiow, ana
pass down under the Railroad bridge, ind thence
through the falls. They both worked al the foundry
on Belle Isle, and were E~nglishmen. Gonlding has
left a wife aud two children. Edwards was the husband
Of one Of the unfortunate women who were upset one
cold night some three years ago in gong 10 Deiie Isle,
and froze to death on n small Island TO which they
made their way. 1t appears that Goulding lived upon
Browns Island, and several OF the laborers at the iron
works boarded with him. During the freshet, the boat
was the only means of communicating with the shore,
the foot bridge having been washed away; and II tn
thought the boat was upset from wantoi sRiii III niahdg
ing it,"
The surface of the river was covered with floating
wheat and corn. On Saturday, a carriage was seen
coming over the falls, presumed to have been lost when
crossing some ferry. The farmers whose wheat es-
capped the ravages Of the rust, did no. escape the rush
ing waters. In some points, the stacks OF wheat on the
low grounds were swept of and the growing crops OF
corn and tobacco almost entirely destroycd-Al letter IN
the WING says:
CAT the best, the loss will be immense. | have not
the statistics TO estimate it, but others calculate The loss
of wheat alone, between Richmond and Lynchourg, al
300, 900 bushels. Taking this immediate neighborhood
as the index, it cannot well be less. Gen. Peyton, MIR.
Warwick (at his new purchase at Dover and DIR. Trent
are swept. Mr.. Warwick at Beaver Dam, lies high ana
is but partially injured. Opposite, Mr.. Gillian at Maid
ems Adventure, Mr.. Pemberton and Mr.. Anderson just
above him, are a mere lake. All are greatly injured
The gentleman | have named had most extensive and
SPLENDID crops"
We hear in addition that the fine estates of the
Messrs. Calls and Randolph Harrison are much injured.
These gentlemen will lose about two thirds OF their
crops.
Mayo's Bridge across James River, was in a very
critical condition. Near the Manchester side a pier
gave way and two spans sank down into the water
No part Of the superslructure is carried Oft, though tn
as yet unsafe TO cross it, and the Railroad bridge is
opened, charging toll for passengers.