The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-01-06
From the Cincinnati Commercial Of the l6th.l
THE FLOOD.

From the Cincinnati Commercial Of the l6.h.l
THE FLOOD.
The extraordinary rise in the Ohio river
which is at this moment spreading desola-
ton and destruction in the valley. il the all
absorbing topic Of conversation oad but ill.,
tic else is thought Of.
At sunset, last evening, the water had
risen 10 height within twenty inches of
the Great Flood Of lS32-the highest rise
within the memory ofIiving man. We re-
member we'll, however, during the food Of
1892. that poin, ON Main steei. aborc tie
Commercial Bank, aud near to Fourth, was
marked as the spot to which the water NJ.
tanned in 1864. This was given upon tho
authority Of an Indian, who is said to have
communicated the fact 10 Mr.. II. Flint,
now deceased. i possibly may have been
true. At any rate, a food at that early
period, whatever may have been its extent
could not have produced the fraction ofths
distress following upon the one now upon
us, innsmuch MS The population was then
as nothing, while thousands are now expo
scd TO the ravarcs Of the dclugc.
Some idea of The extent OF the distress &C.
cnsioned by this flood may DO formed iron,
the fact that over Eve hundred families in
this city alone have been driven from their
homes-mnny Of them leaving their furni.
ture behind, and compelled TO seek what
ever shelter Charity might open TO them.
Hundreds were entirely destitute az even
the common nccessaries Of life, and, with
small children, were compelled to take ref.
uge in the churches and engine houses,
and rely alone upon the benevo leucc ofthc
community Tor sustcnance. Manv families
took up their quarters in the Cathedral,
and their necessities were freely administer.
ed to by the priests and others. Il was
thus in other churches and engine houses;
and thinks are particularly due the Mayor
md Marshal for their exerlions in behalf
of these sufferers.
We witnessed yesterday, in the lower
part at the city, striking incident
A drayman was asked To remove the fur.
niinre of poor woman from n dwelling in
10 which the water was then rising. The
drayman refused 10 haul the lOad 10 the dis.
,nnce ofnbout one square, for less than
two dollars, (being offered one dollsr-all
she had. and told the woman that she might
.'stny and drown ii she didn't like 10 give
IT," The distress III tho woman excited thu
sympathy Of tho crowd, aud he rudeness III
the man its Indignation. Ono individual
nmong the by-st snders ran into the wntcr
wn'st-dccp, sprang upon the dray knocked
It's owner of into the wnter, drove 10 the
door ofthe poor woman, md removed her
furniture. This was donc amidst the cheers
Of the crowd. There are incidents similar
TO this in constant Transportation, enough 10
he witnessed al oil times 10 excite the warm-
est .. mpathics Of the heart.
In Mill Creek Valley, the waters .re
backed up TO tremendous height, and we
observed, during our visit 10 that region
Yesterday, tha, many Of the prctticst resi-.
denccs were surrounded by water. Sever
al hundred hogs were drowned At tho White
Mills and other places in the bottom. Thir-
~ head were taken out alive from Bates.
after having floundcrcd about amongst the
drift the whole night.
All the foundrics of,hc city have suspen.
dcd operntions-some in consequence Of .
want Of water BY the stoppage Of the Water
Works, and some from having too much
water.
| Columbia, Front and Water streets are
al! entirely inundated, end heavy charges
are made to ferry people. across the streets.
The Broadway Hotel is cnlaled, and has
started ferry! Congress street wns also
partially inundated las: evening, and tho
wnter wns rising with rapidi,y that threat.
cncd to go beyond ls32!
The wood.ynrds being oil flood ed out
steamboat business is also suspended not be.
ing able To get fuel, nor 10 receive OF dis
charge freight or passengers.
Fire houses passed the city Yesterday
upon one Of which man was seated hailine
to those on shore, and upon the roof Of
another were scattered the bricks Of the
chmnics, mud the grape vines were vet
hanging upon the front.
BY accounts brought in last ev ching by
the steamer Monongahela al the towns
above nrc flooded, the streams pouring out
aud the river rising nj every point.
From the Cincinnati Gazette Of the 10th.
we ascertain that tho river alter rising
within six inches of the highest point at
tained in 1882, was again rapidly reee-
ding. The amount Of damage sustained
by the city cannot be nsccrtaincd.