Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-03
[From MondGg's Lynchburg Republican.
rpEMEEDl MS FRESHET

One OF the larges, and, we fear, most deslTuc-
lire iresheis which is remembered 10 have occur
red in James River for long series oil years, is
inst sub.iding On Wednesday morning last
the tide began 10 swell and SO ra pidly, that al 5
o'clock in the afternoon it commenced al pla-
ces dashing its waters over The banks 81
the canal. On Thur:day morning il had attain
ed lis destined height, and the canal, IFS banks and
the whole bordering low-grouuds aud streets,
were one common sheet Of angry water Fa-
miles were driven from their residences, me-
chanics from their workshops and merchants
from their counters, SO completely was everything,
connected with their places, deluged with the
food. But few houses on Jefferson street but
were dashed by its waves, and filled several feet
with lis water. a. this height, The river remained
stationary until about The middle OF the day,
Thursday, when il commenced gradually 10 fall
and is now within lis banks.
The less and damage, so far as We have been
enabled to ascertain, have been great and in
many instances irreparable, and in no case more
so, we presume than in that OF our worthy and
distinguished townsnan, Judge William Da-
MEL, IT.. whose loss must be very heavy. Ills
rich and productive piece oflow grounds. exicni-
Ing from the water works 10 near The first lock,
and finely seeded in wheat, is almost entirely
washed away, there being left scarcely a FOO, Of
productive soil. Hsvery valuable island, adjoin-
inel,he water works dam, has also been greatly in
iured. The wafer forced itself around the Gam S
abu.ment, sweeping entirely away in its course,
whole acres OF The island, and the work Of de-
struclion must continue al rapid rate until the
stream is again turned into its proper channel,
which will require several weeks of great labor
aod-cxpense Damage, in >thedcs,ruction Of the
soil extends also 10 the whole island more or
less. We learn, also, that its fine cDp OF
corn had not been gathered, in which case the
loss must be greatly enhanced. The loss, We un-
derslard Of Mrs. Percival, in The vicinity OF town,
has been very great both in personal and real
property. Numerous individuals have no doubt
sustained losses and injuries 10 more or less ex-
tent, bur We cannot paricularize.
The injury sustained by the canal, we under
stand 10 have been very serions, though not as
much so as We had reason 10 apprehend from he
height and violence Of the dood. Fer more than
day and night were its banks deeply buried in
lis BOSOM We have no means, OF course. OF
ascertaininc the full extent OF injury or how long
The canal will necessarily be closed, but we have
learned lha, il will require very large number
OF hands for a month, 10 repair the bfeakases
extending from the first lock below This place,
ID Tyreeis island What length OF time il may
require TO repair the other portions of The line,
we have had no inlimation. 3-
We trust that i, may be long lime before We
are again visited with such lreshcL IL is said
10 have been hiehet than'either The one OF 1886,
or that OF 1912, both Of which were very desruc-
live |, has moi had parallel in the recollection
Of The oldest inhabitan,, except, probably, in 1873