Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-03-21
~ From the HarrisDurg graph. +

Bridge at Ciarks Ferry over the Sasque.
hanna, and The bridge ouer the mouth of
the Junia,a-- The Duncannon Iron Works,
md the Bridge ouer iSherman's Greek, be.
loW Duneannon- Stoppoge Of the Anthra-
cite Furnoce-- Probable Destruction of the !.
Public Works, jc. 3'c.
The rise ofthe water in the susquehanna, which
commenced on Friday last, has been the most
destructive food that has ever been witnessed
since the first settlement Of the country on its
borders. Harrisburg, at the time of writing, is
approachabe the East, South and West emily
by water communication, and, standing on an el.
evated place, il presents the appearance of a
town sinking into the sea--the honses in the
lower part of it being submerged in water, in
some instances, nearly up to the second story.
The grounds above it, lower than the main part
OF the town, are covered with water. generally
so deep to obterate all traces OF fences bridges
and streets.
Paxton creek is entirely lost in the mighty
congregation Of waters, and the Susquehanna
from shore to shore. covering entirely the large
island which lay in its centre which connected
the two divisions Of the old Harrisburg bridge,
presents a current of fierce turbulent waters,
bearing on its bosom an indescribable and nnu-
merable mass of food wood, timber, &c, that
has been torn from its resting places as trophies
OF its irresistible power
| Between 10 and Il o'clock on Saturday even.
ing, the piers of the old Harrisburg bridge THAT
celebrated structure, the first built over the Sus-
quehanna--built by Burr, on the arch principle,
| at cost of sl95 900, commenced in 1918 and
completed in 1879 which have buffeted many a
raging flood, began TO give way on this side Of
the island and to yield to the mighty current and
its battering ram Of ice, and. on Sunday morning,
between three and four o'clock, two of the mid
die span Of arches fell and were swept down the
stream; these were soon followed by two others,
leaving but single span next 10 Harrisburg,
which also fell about two o'clock and foated ma
iestically away. ....
The West part of the Harrisburg Bridge, ex-
tending from the Island to the Cumberland shore
is still standing-but whether it has sustained
injury is yet unknown.
OF the new Railroad Bridge, which was being
constructed BY Mr.. Kirkbridge, all the piers were
finished and four spans Of the frame work was e.
rected on them Two spans ofthis went just be-
fore the Harrisburg Bridge, and the two other
spans were swept off by the Duncan's Island
Bridge floating against it in its descent Thus
the Harrisburg side Of the river is entirely strip
ped of all bridges, or vestige Of them, the piers
being mostly washed away and their places be-
ing only observable by the whirl of the water as
it passes over where they were.
Two spans of the eastern end Of the bridge at
Duncan's Island, erected in ls37-one of the f.
nest structures in our ceuntry-have also been
carried away. Also, the bridge over the mouth
of the Juniata from Duncan's Island to the Perry
County shore and the bridge over Sherman's
creek in the village of Duncannon, The dam a
cross the same stream with the extensive nail
factory and rolling mill, at the same place, has al
, so been carried away, and the works of Fishe
& Co. are reported as having suffered greatly
in the destruction of buildings, machinery, &c
The nail factory is said to be entirely destroyed
The loss at this place can scarcely be estimate'
From the high water Of the Juniata, as wells
the Susquehanna and knowledge of It's effect
in former floods it is feared that the entire Mai
Line of the Canal will be rendered unnavigab,
for great part, if not the whole of the openil
season; and ifthe destruction by the food has e.
I tended mp the North and West Branches Of Il
8 Susquehanna, the Canal may be so damaged as
n be irreparsble the present year. II is sad di
!, for the hopes of Pennsylvania, and one that
}. fear may be felt by those who have placed
pendeRce on her ability to do Justice TO all.
!. All communication between Harrisburg a
n the West side Of the Susquehanna is entirelyc
}. of, and must remain so until the waters subsi
and ferry is opened The train OF the Gu
, berland Valley Railroad arrived yesterday mo
i. ing and afternoon, on the West sihe and bl
their whistles, but after finding that all csmn
: nication was cut of, they moved West az
, with their load Of passengers
7" The casting house ofthe Anthracite furnace
70 Ex Gov Porter, was covered with water, VIII
e rose as high as the hearth, and into the furna
i of the boilers. The furnace was stopped
it is supposed that the blast will be resumed
morrow.
. Parts OF buildings, water wheels, canal bs
l. rafts lumber, logs, &c, have possed down on
j. bosom of the flood One canal boat was bror
}. 10 shore short distant below town, in wi
=. were upwards of one hundred barrels Of q
d The loss to individuals as well as 10 the ST
e md to companies, will in many instances
n severe and il is not unlikely that hundreds
+. have been toiling for months in preparing lun