Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-30
The Destructive Freshets at the
West.

| West.
We gather from our exchange papers
few more particulars Of the late de.
structive freshets at the West. The
Cincinnati Atlas Of the 18th says
At II o'clock yesterday morning we
saw yawls from several steamers receiv-
ing passengers on Broadway above Co
lumbia. Owing to the slight grade OF
the street, the water was so shallow that
the boat could not get nearer than - or
90 feet from the sidewalk. When pas
senger appeared ready to embark, one of
the sturdy hands of the boat came wading
ashore, and the passenger mounted his
back, and was carried to the yawl dry
shod.
About the same time full-sized canal
boat came sailing up Columbia street,
across Main, &c, propelled by poles in
the hands of some sturdy fellows on
board. This operation was no wild
freak, but, as we understood, wise,
business-like taking advantage of circum-
stances. The owners wished to transfer
it from the Whitewater Canal, which is
out of order and likely to continue So to
the Mama and by the aid Of the water
in our streets, effected the transit of the
intervening mile at tithe Of the expense
and trouble it would have been at any
other time.
About o'clock some half dozen men
were on the water in Cofumbia-st, in a
box-shaped boat, made for the occasion
They had but one oar and did not seem
to know how to use that An old SOW
came swimming by; one Of them caught
her dexterousIy by the tail, and held Oh
ill she towed the whole boa,-oad half a
square and brought it safely to land
Cincinnatians have long been famous for
the uses to which they put swine, but we
suppose that this is the first time they
have been applied as motive power for
navigation.
The Cincinnati Commercial of the
same date, says
Mr.. Sheriff Weaver, during his char
liable tour through the flooded portions
of the city yesterday, heard music pro-
ceeding from house, of which the up
per story and roof were only above the
water, and several skiffs were htched to
the windows. Upon rowing up, il was
discovered that ball was in full blaze,
and the waltz in giddy whirI to merry
music, male and female participating
This jolly party seemed unconscious of
the danger that threatened themselves,
and of the distress which surrounded
them. "Dance and be merry, for to-
morrow we may die" was strikingly H.
lustrated.
Mr.. Ezekiel Ross, lumber merchant,
was drowned last evening in Mill Creek
bottom, while in skiff looking after
some lumber which had foated away
A child two days old died in the arms of
man who was conveying it with its
mother from flooded house.
As a sick man was being removed
from house on Pine-st., last evening, in
boat, he was seized with fit and died
At The town Of Bethlehem, Indiana +,
which is inundated, five worthy men
were drowned, on Tuesday night, while
endeayorlng to save some wood boats
from destruction. -Four men were
drowned at Lawrenceberg, while assist
ing the distressed in the removal of their
property.
BY passengers OH the steamer Lancas-
ter, we learn that the towns OF Moscow,
Neville, Belmont, New Richmond, Point
overhown, and that the people are driven
to the hills, where they have erected
tents and taken shelter in barns, &c
Some are in deplorable condition, and
two persons between Neville and Point
Pleasant, Mrs. Alice Rickson and Geo
Brownson, who were in feeble health,
died in the hills from exposure.
The City of Industry is entirely in
undated with water. The entire loss Of
property cannot be estimated until the
water recedes. Two young ladies and
young man were drowed while endeavor-
ing to reach place of security in small
boat The Kentucky river is higher at
the present time than in the last twenty
years. The locks and dams are out Of
sight, and no break can be seen--the
boats passing without any difficulty.
Cincinnati, Dec. D..
Two or three large pork houses at
Maysvile, Ky. have been washed away
by the flood, by which very heavy losses
have been sustained. Thomas Gurney
is one of the greatest sufferers by this
disaster.
Passengers who come down the river
last night state that a large brick house
occupied by a company of Socialists I've
ry new lights-some call them Somnam-
bulists) on the Ohio river in Claremont
CO., fell down on Thursday last, crush
ing seventeen persons to death and Sc
verely woundlng several others. W'ter
to the depth of ten feet surrounded the
building.
NIw CoUNTERFEITs.-5s and 3+ Ran.
dolph Bank, altered from some broken Mlchl.
gan Bank. The vigneite Of the 5s 10 fe-
male, nursing child; that OF the }' is an
] Indian chief IN m sitting nosition The $40