The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-23
The Crevasse mt New Orieans-Threatened
Overflow OF the City.
[From the New Orleans Picayune, May 1871
THE CREvAssE AT sAUvE's

THE cREvAssE AT sAUvE's.
Yesterday afternoon, at about o'clock We visited
this crevasse Opinions respecting the probability Of
It's being stopped at present are divided Those at
work at the place still think be accomplish
ed, while others living in the immediate neighbor-
hood who have great practical experience assert that
it cannot now be stopped until fall Of water. The
planters in the vicinity have become discouraged with
the attempt to prevail the current and have call
ed home their negroes who have been rendering efi-
men at work, who have been sentf rom the city To
the eye of superficial observer the looks
much as 1t did Friday and the body of water rush
ing through it does not to be much altered The
| hull Of an old ship having been procured has been
towed opposite the weakest point Of the piling 1t is
the intention to scutle her here and thus form
porary barrier. With many persons the idea prevails
that the greatest difficulties have already been
come and that thc breach will soon be closed with the
means and force at work. TO unpractiscd eye
this would appear to be the reasonable opinion but
those having experience in such matters dissent from
| this.
In all works of this kind firm base Is indispensable
TO ultimate success. Many persons long acquainted
With the working ct this mighty aud accustom-
ed to watch its declare that the
deepening Of the water where the piles have been dr
yen that the river is undermining all the work already
done, and will yet all before it at the
mencement of the undertaking.
MN VI .neso wv oPp1S,.o op,uo"s 70 ootroo. VIC
hours may decide it. Persons ut distance from the
scene of action can have no idea of the
that those employ ed labor under in rendering efficient
assistance, from the cramped and confined space in
which so large body of workmen have to operate
This should be understood in order rightly to apprec
ate the endorsements with which the surveyor has
to struggle. is well known that he compelled
to send to the city yesterday for further
it to be conceded that he builds his hopes
very much upon the effect which the sinking of the
old hulk may have in breaking the force of the stream
There was infinite difficulty in getting the vessel into
the proper position for his purpose but when the boat
left, upon which we returned to town, 1t thought
that the third trial had been successful he assist
aDce he demanded was promptly forwarded to him by
the Mayor, and at any moment may hear something
Having thus stated in general terms own impress
sions-for it would hardly become to have very de-
cided opinions points where experts ditferwe
give the views of planter residing close by scene
Of danger, who is familiar with all that has been done
from the outset. His opinions, every account
New ORLEANS, May 12-SP.M
left the crevasse board of the Mathilda Jane ut
about half past O'Clock this afternoon aud
Tess that the prospect rather gloomy Last night
portion of the work. which had taken upwards of three
days to complete gave way and we have crevasse in
the crevasse The planters have become dismayeu and
have AsaIly all left the work MIR dunbar is hard
work and II Is due him say that he does all that
he with the limited means left at his disposal He
has twice attempted to sink the hull Of the old vessel
strongest believe with the view of breaking the
force Of the water as to allow him repair the da
| the piles must have greatly weakened them and /
fear that the water will underneath the hull
such force as to deepen considerably the channel
and carry off the piles. Any attempt to close the
crevasse must soon be made with full force of white
men. They must be provided with number Of flats
to sleep in, and to protect them from rain the first
bad day they will have to Six boats to tow the
fats to the ought to be constantly employed
and force Of six seven hundred men employed It
is useless to try with smaller means. The work is
gigantic one. and requires all the energies of great
city What week ago could have been done for few
hundred dollars, will now require thousands. Mean
while have given up the snip and finding no dry
land in the parish of Jefferson will il there is any
such thing in the Crescent City. +. t.
THE cREvAssE AT THE ENGLISH TURN.
Our accounts from the below the city on this
side Of the river are highly cheering The contractor
for closing the breach is very sanguine that he will
close it to-day, but by his contract he has two
days allowed him Should he fail to close it in five
d rpad
ers will readily understand the difference between this
ed that the levee In front of the powder magazines Is
but four feet In height that ut Mr. Sauves ten faet
approximations have been expressed for MIR. Benja-
minis fine plantation. but understand 1t is now per-
fectly dry and he is amply prepared protect himself
should the crevasse be closed at any time between
from Fortiers unite with those from tho Pow
der Magazine crevasse. Should neither Of them be
tain himself throughout the with water all
sides Of him But great confidence is felt that the
crevasse so TO him will be stopped in few days
o week at farthest.
TIE OVERFLOW.
We regret being compelled to record the continued
rise of the in the Of the city and conse
quent increase Of damage The flood above the New
Basin was about the same last night stated in
evening edition, but districts in the First Municpali
ty which have heretofore been considered
now seriously threatened The water in this vicinity
upwards Of six inches yesterday and is setting in
towards the town with rapidty which creates much
alarm. AS will be in another column. the First
Municipality Council met last evening, and 1t was
probability be visited by the flood in the
srevasse is stopped very soon As means Of prescr
vaton sluces have already been cut through the up
per levee along the Canal Csrondeet and this canal Is
fast filing up.
The Inhabitants below this point as was the case in
the Seventh Ward, Second Municipality, entertain
strong fears that when the anal Carondoet shall have
become full the people above viii be for cutting through
the lower bank, producing the same results have
been witnessed below the new canal We think how
there is little fear of this The Bayou St John is
capable of carrying of large quantity Of water and If
I fhe n Ane NOT mi ufe Ton Ahnv
line. the residents below have nothing to fear.
The rear Of the Second Municipality below the new
canal is now the first place to be looked to- as the
water Is here setting back with considerable rapdity
and some apprelensons are felt that the gas works
will be seriously injured. Protective measures have
already been resorted to- and even in case Of con-
siderable rise we think they will prove sufficient
We would again bring to the attention Of the bene-
VIOLENT and the authorities the numerous of dis
tress among the poor families who have been driven
from their dwellings in the upper part Of munich
/ patty. We saw family yesterday which had just
succeeded in obtaining their scany furniture by
of raft. from their dwelling and upon the ban
quette without shelter They kindly cared for,
however by gentleman who resides in the vicinity =
! We have heard Of many similar aud they will
increase to fearful extent should the water make
much more progress towards the river it doubtless
will do unless prompt taken to check the
disaster In its present stage.
[From the New Orleans Crescent, May141
We are sorry to that the water continued to rise
night before last and all day yesterday in the back
portion of the city. Above the canal the rise is
slight though very appreciate Below That line where
the Inhabitants had previously thought themselves Sc
they surprised in the morning to find that
during the night the food had crossed the canal and
invaded the 7th ward As far st. Paul street, the
water the streets around the basin The work.
house is entirely surrounded and a levee was com
mencsd to protect it To-day II the rise continues the
Protestant cemetery will be inundated and the water
may possibly reach Circus street SO suddenly
the back part Of the 7th ward invaded by the incl
dious element that persons in the morning found
their dwellings entirely surrounded.
The scene in Dryadts street and other inundated
districts, would be amusing enough were not in
looking upon it, reminded Of the suffering incident to
1t All kinds Of aquatic conveyances in the great
est demand and the number Of them skimming the
surface of the water and threading the streets brings
to the imagination pictures Of Venice Amsterdam.
In fact all communication is suspended excepting by
means of skifs. barges RATS We have heard Of
Of distress among the poorer residents who
have been driven from their homes but happy
to say those Of the surrounding inhabitants whose
premises have escaped have evnced the most iaudabc
| spirit Of bene Violence