Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-07-09
THE FLOOD AT THE WEST

Ihe Mississippi river at ~. LOUIS was sun!
rising on the evening OF The 9th nit: but as The
upper rivers had commenced falling ii WAS conf
dcutIy horcd, that it would come 10 a stand, and
! begin to fall the dav following.
The di>ifcS. and ruin created h. tie flood is
immense Not only the Missouri but the Ar
kansas. White and Red Rivers. and finally the
great Mississippi itself. have overlooked their
bounds. covering the wide and fertile plains, and
sweeping away crops. cattle, fences and, III some
instances houses and families. Numerous towns
and villages have been inundated wholly or in
part-some Of them 10 the depth OF 10 or 20 feet.
The St. Louis Reporter of the 20ih ult says:
The river is nearly three feet higher than it
was during the great flood OF l7S5. 1t is now
about thiriy->cvcn feet above low water mark,
and is still rising The water is in the stores on
the levce 10 the derih of six OF seven feet The
( lower part OF The city is inundated, and hundreds
of families have been driven from their dwell
incs The wafer is over the lower part of Fourth
street and East of the Fourth street bridge, ncst
houses are surrounded 10 the depth oi six OF
eight feet, and some to the roofs. That part OF
the city is now pas>ablc only in boats. Several
log cabins and frame houses have foaed past
this ci;y. and We learn that at different points
above, whole villages have been swept away, the
inhabitants escaping la the bluffs
The Grampus belonging to the New Ferry
4.
and returned crowded with families escaping from
the food. Captain Chandler made this chalita-
bic excursion at his own expense. The steamer
New Haven started on Saturday for Chou,eau'S
Island. TO relieve the inhabitants there Oar
Mayo rdespalched, at ms own expense the steam
er Raran Tor a similar purpose. The inhabit-
ants of Cahohia are represented as in suffering
condition, many oithem bein: destitute of provi-
sions. and scani OF clothing. Their stock is de-
81. ell l.. ..f-..
Several ferry boats, fat boats Sc, were busily
employed on Saturday and ycs,cntay, in rcscuing
families ami property from the flood. From Hi
nois town some OF the houses have loaied of, and
others were careening. Such has also been the
case al BROOKLYN.
The Missouri river is reported as falling. The
towns of Old Franklin and Nashville, il is feared,
will be entirely destroyed. Along the whole river
immense damage has been done 10 property, but
il is impossible 10 ascertain, at present, The extent
of the injury. The Missouri river is pouring into
the Mississippi above Alton, at the Mamees-
Madison is inundated, and the inhabitants sent to
this city Yesterday for assistance lnmany cases
families have remained i'll their houses not anti
cipating so tremendous a flood, and at last found
themselves deprived of all means OF escape, ex-
ccp; such as were furnished " those who came 10
their relief The steamers on the Missouri E,.yc
been buIsv employed in relieving families from
their perilous situation, and in saving property
The ST Louis Republican, of the same date,
says:
AT present, there are in the city of ST Louis,
500 persons who have been driven from their
homes BY the flood. Nearly all the people OF
Brookn, Venice, Cahokia, the Six-mie Prairie,
and at other points along the banks OF the river,
are in the city. In the vicinity of Andersons
mill, in the upper part off The city, there are up
wards OF fiiiy families and more than 200 persons.
many Of whom are destitute and all are without
shelter, except such temporary covering as they
have been able 10 erect"