Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1844-11-09
November 9,
Feon the Buffalo Daily Economist, Oct, 81.
Tremendous Gale.
AWFUL DESTRUCTION OF LIVES
AND PROPERTY!

AND PROPERTY
On Friday night. last our city wa.
visited by most tremendous gale
which, for destrution of life and prop.
erty, has no parallel in this part ofthe
country. The gale commenced blow.
ing from the south west at about twelve
O'Clock, and in less than haitian hour the
whole lower part of the city south of
the canal, from Black Rock to the Hy.
draulics was submerged in water from
two to six or eight feet in depth. On
the east side of the city the water came
up as high as Seneca street below
Michigan, and completely covered it.
So rapid was the advance of the wa.
tiers that we are told by an individual
residing on the other side of the street
that being awakened by the noise
of the wind, and anticipating rise of
the waters-he hastily aroused his fam
ily-and before he could get his pam
falcons on, the water was three feet
deep in the house-where himself and
family were obliged to stay for about
five hours. An individual who was on
Main street near the bridge represents
the water as coming up apparently in
one huge wave Of about three or four
feet in depth. Houses were blown
down unroofcd-- cellars flled--in fact
the great amount of damage was done
almost simultaneously.
The loss OF goods to our citizens must
be Enthusiastically dealer below
the Main street bridge, or that on Com
mercial street, has escaped without
loss-yarying from 100 to 5000 dol
lars each.-The loss fgoodsin the for
warding houses is also very large
One house alone had upwards Of twen-
ty-fiye tons of dry goods in store
which are more or less damagcd--and
in groceries the loss is in many cases
particularly in sugars and teas.
/ The amount of grain and flour DANA
gcd and destroyed it is difficult to as.
certain, although it must be very large
las there was IA great quantity Of
grain in store at this time.
/ The damage and losses in STEAMBOATS,
and shipping is also great. The
Steamboat Robert Fulton will be a TO-
tai loss; the steamboat G.. w. Dole,
| "a small boat it is supposed is render.
ed unfit for service; being broken in
two. The steamboats, st. Louis, Great
Western, Com. Perry. Chatauquc and
Indian Quean, are all more or less dam.
aged. The spars, sails and riggings
of large number of vessels are also
much injured. Upwards OF eighty
canal boats have been driven high and
dry out Of the water, some OF them a
total loss, and others seriously injured.
The loss in buildings blown down,
houses unroofcd and otherwise injured
! is also very great. The bridges, side
walks, &C., of the city, have been
greatly damaged and the wharf along
the catirc length of the harbor is more
or less damaged.
The sea wall and stone pier of the
harbor have been also very seriously
damagcd---extensive breaches have
been made in the breakwater extend
ing to the light house-and large
stones. many tonsin weight, have been
carried from ten to twenty feet from
their original position.
The track ofthc Attica and Buffalo
railroad for mile and half was
washed up so that the cars had to leave
lat the Hydraulics in the afternoon
NC woods on the line of the road for
Sc miles out were levcllcd with the
or, nd.
I emost appalling partofth the calam-
ity is the loss Of life. 1t is impossible
to get ;.,sany thing like accuracy in
our estim.te. The number brought
up to the CoSyt House for inquest was
twenty-ninc--.h ese, with one killed
and two (Mr. Ha~Aps and his boy not
taken to the Court House. make s.;
to them may be added tlfvee lost on the
Fulton and four on the st. LOUIS
making 80 in all, besides sevefy who
are missing. 1t is impossible to aPeaI
vet with certainty of the number
lives lost.
BUILDINGS DESTROYED OR INJURED
The one story ware house near TIE
ship canal, owned and occupied BY
Dart, completely destroyed. n
The new White Lead Factory neS
the foot ofCourt street, is entirely dc
molished. Messrs. Thompson an'