Litchfield enquirer., 1844-07-04
THE FLOOD AZ THE WEST.

ri, of the dates Of June 20and 21 represent the
Ond food there as being still more disastrous and
threatening than the previous one, which had
scarcely subsidized when this commenced. We
have various accounts from the papers, the most
important of which we subjoin; !.
The steamer West Wind, which left St. Louis
on the evening Of the Goth inst. brought news to
Cincinnati that the Mississippi was four feet high
er than ar the late food, being considerably above
any other Hood since the memory of man, and still
rising rapidly and what's startling, farther
rise OF ten teet was reported as coming out Of the
Missouri, and forty feet out of the Kansas, main
branch Of that stream. 80 f52t>
Illinois town was completely under water !; the
Efery-bo crossing from ST. Louis to the bluffs, a
distance Of ten miles The loss of property is be-
yond all computation; buildings were floating
down the Mississippi !; also the bodies of cattle
drowned upon the bottoms. Crops all along the
rivers were entirely destroyed In fact, such Ca
,lamity as has fallen uponthe inhabitants of the
low lands Of the western rivers was never dreamed
Of by mortal man. naa 1s
in "A hours. on the 18th. The crops, fences and
stock have been swept away, many buildings de-
stroyed land some lives lost.si.,!y
The Missouri Mail, on her trip down, was COM
PEELED to assist the inhabitants, drowning on the
banks. ' t6Eat
!.
to the houses in Alton.
The low lands below st. Louis are entirely COW
cred with water. Houses in some parts Of St LOU
is have four feet Of water on the first floor. At
the upper part of the levee steamboats, could dis
charge freight near about the roofs conveniently.
The st. Louis Reporter of the Goth says
The river is still rising. Last evening it was a
foot higher than it has been this season. The first
floors Of many stores on the levee are covered with
water to the depth two three feet, and all of
them are inundated, the water is now higher than
it has ever been within the memory of any Of
those old citizens with whom we have conversed
on the subject The whole levee stimulated. and
entirely impossible. The lower part of Second-st.
is also under water, and many houses in that part
of the city are uninhabitable Boats are employed
in the neighborhood Of the Gas Works in ferrying
passengers over the water. The business connec-
ted with the river is necessarily suspended for the
present. m rae ,a ~
All the low lands near the Mississippi are inun-
dated and the communications between the land
ings and country is cut off by the high water The
river above the Falls is at stand, but below the
Falls it is rising. ~
A letter from Independence Landing, Missouri
River, Of June ID, says: y
1t is now two feet higher than it was last year,
and is still rising rapidly The bottoms all in
inundated. Much destruction has already taken
place and should it continue to RISE land the pros
pect is fair for it to do so for it has been raining
for the last forty days much more will take place.
Our farmers, owing to the continued rains, have
not as yet pitched their crops, and prospects for
them to do so for ten days to come The ground
is completely saturated with water The Santa
Fee traders at last accounts were at Walnut Creek,
some two hundred and fifty miles from this place.
There is no knowing when they will be able to get
in. Provisions have been sent cut to them, but no
account of their having reached them. Every thing
looked appalling except politics. The Softs have
brought out two candidates for the Legislature de-
cidcdly the most popular men in the country they
are opposed to Tom Benton and all his measures
The HARDs themselves are turning Softs as fast as
az they can, and ere the election, there will be
hardly Hard to be found in country. Every
man, woman, and child almost that you meet, de-
nounces Tom, the Corinthians Sufficient to re-
mark he is completely at the bottom of the wheel:
and il will cease to revolve after the 4th Of March
next.
The ST. Louis Republican of the 2ist, the last
date we haye,) says: .-e
The rise in the river is assuming most fearful
aspect. Since Saturday it has been rising, and tor
the last twenty -four hours has risen at the average
rate of half an inch an hour When it is remember
ed that the river is now at nearly every point from
three to six miles wide, and in many places nine,
some idea NAV be formed of the immense volume Of
water which is pouring down npon us.
The water now covers all Front-strcet and the
sidewalks. We find it difficult to convey to the
reader, unacquainted, with our localities, an IN
teligble description. Those acquainted however,
can form some idea from these facts. InCatheart's
mill and in the Water Works the water is up over
the boilers, and nearly all the mills have suspen.
ded work, as have the Water Works Yesterday
evening at shutdown the steamer Lighter was lying
with her bow resting against the front OF Henry NJ
Davis's store, on the Northeast corner Of Front
and Morgan streets The water was up along Bat
tie Row nearly to the door latches. At J. & E.
Walshs store, corner of Vine and Front sreets,the
water was about "a inches on the first floor. AT
the corner of Pine and Front it was Just up to the
ton of the sill of the door of Mr.. Collins's ware
house. At Market-street it is between and 10 in
ches below the sill Of the East door OF Co0ns "
Gallagher store. The lower part OF the City, IN
the vicinity of Mill Creek, is all submerged. The
water has covered Second street below the bridge.
Mr.. Setes and most of the people in that quarter,
especially along Convent street. have removed, and
the communication is maintained by means Of boats.
Several houses up in the direction OF the dam are
several feet in water Of course, all the low lands
in Soulards addition and st. Georges are overflow
ed. II
On the opposite side every thing is under water.
At Cahokia village the inhabitants have been fore
ed to Nv TO the bluffs. They have sustained, as we
learn BY gentleman from there yesterday. Uo
them) heavy loss in the destruction Of their iurni'
| ture. cro,s gardens, sc. &C., and the drowning
Of their cattle. During the violent wind and rain
of Tuesday night, we are told, several houses In
IIlinoistown were removed from their foundation,
and some overturned. All the other towns and the
farmers in the bottoms are suffering IN the IKE
manner. fthe water were nowto snbside II would
he too late in the season to repair the injury.
The merchants on Water street have removed
most ri their goods to the upper stories, and IN