Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-06-16
From Tie Neao Orleans Bulletin.
THE OVERFLOW EXPLAINED

From The New Orleans Bulletin.
THE OVERFLOW EXPLAINED.
The Mississippi runs through a ridge
of land formed originally by its own
deposits, which gradually declines as it
recedes from the banks on either side.
This ridge, however though higher than
the ground further from the river, is not
high enough to keep the water within it's
banks in seasons of flood, and in conse
quence, an embankment, or levee, is rais
ed, the top of which is intended to be
above the highest floods. This levee, is
however, sometimes not substantially
made, or from some other defect, or being
undermined by the water, the latter
makes breach or crepaSse in it, which
though small at first, rapidly enlarges,
from the heavy rush of water through
it, and unless promptly checked and
closed, frequently becomes unmanagea-
bic, and impossible to be stopped. The
great body of water which thus flows
with overwhelming force through the
break, naturally seeks, first, the low lands
and swamps which exist a short distance
back from the river, which are gradually
filled up, until the whole country above
and below the crevasse, becomes over
flowed, and continues to rise to greater
or less extent, as the water may be able
to escape and diffuse itself more or less
freely, into channels, lakes or other out
lets that may exist in the rear.
The crevasse from which New Orleans
is now suffering is fourteen miles above
the city by the. course of the river, and
the break through the levee, we under
stand, is to the extent of 800 feet, thro'
which the water is rushing with great
force on an average depth of not less
than ten feet. All the country in the
neighborhood of it, and all the adjoining
plantations were soon submerged, and
the swamp in the rear was likewise filled
with water, gradually making its way
down towards the city and the swamp in
its rear, and as this latter filed, the water
steadily backed up into the rear streets of
the city, and has kept gradually swelling
higher and higher towards the more
| thickly built portions, until it has reached
In some places within six or seven squares
of the river, it being borne in mind, that
the streets are highest nearer the river,
I and that the drainage of the city contra
! ry to that of Northern towns, is from,
and not to0ards the river.
Our distant readers will at once see
/ from this statement, that all idea of loss
of life from the flood (Which appears to
have bean SO strongly impressed on their
] ina nsinationel ie ,oarfacfl,, ,,J;o,,Io, -
the greatestrise Of the water in the rear
OF the city, never exceeded seven inches
IN any twenty -four hours, and it is be-
ileved it has now attained its maximum
height, and escapes by Lake Ponchar-
train as rapidly as it is supplied through
the Crevasse, Indeed, during the last
twenty-four hours, there has been slight
fall. 800.
The business portion Of tho city has
not been at allinyaded by the water, and
no expectation that it will be. 1t has
been almost exclusively dwelling houses
that have been flooded, and those princi-
pally occupied by citizens of moderate
circumstances, ON whom the loss has
fallen with much severity. Great num-
nciS Epi VtSIh HdyS suDdnuOneu tnelr
dwellings, whilst many, however, con
tinue to occupy them under al the in
convenienceof Of either wading knee deep in
water, or being conveyed to and fro IN a
skiff.
"A large portion of The rear Of the First,
and all the rear Of the Third Municipal,
ty, h'sye THUS far escaped, as the leyce
of the Old Canal has prevented the wa !
ter from spreading inthat direction, but
great fears are entcrtqinod thaS 1t cannot