The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-22
The Overflow at New Orleans.
Iron. the NJ. q Picayune, May IL

he pNtr
the favorable signs Of success in the efforts to stop
the break that discovered. number of hands are
engaged in sinking bags OF earth against the outside OF
in the course Of few days, check the overflow.
Since first the crevassc, we must confess
that have not been altogether so sanguine some
in the hope of closing it. When water gets
the mastery, 1t is most difficult foe to subdue, and
we must ack nowledge some fear that the line Of piles
will be found inadequate to resist the force Of the
sweeping Notwithstanding confidence
in the skill and untring energies Of the gentlemen
who direct the works. 1t Ia not design to
alarm any individual, but think it our duty to say
what believe, from observation is the truth let
belief go for what it may be worth Even if the work
already done at this should stand, it Is
opinion that the flood through the breach cannot be
should give way however of course all will have to be
done again and in the mean time the city must
become thoroughly inundated While at the crevassc
we were told that where the piles driven
in places thirteen feet in DEPTH where three
days before 1t was but two
IL appears that of the planters above the
vase have become discouraged, and withdrawn their
forces from working. This, were informed was the
case with MIR Minor Kenner and Mr. Butler Kenner
Their negroes who had been several days working at
the crevasse have been taken away. MIR. Trudeau is
the only planter above who continues his force at the
break He has thirty of under water which
is of ruined Besides this he has lost two OF his
negroes cholera who exposed to labor in the
water Besides these of his servants have died Of
the disease during the whole season
One of the piles in the lower part OF the line.
gave way while we were present yesterday Our at
tention called to the fact by several gentlemen
who witnessed it,
The water in the fields of Mr.. Trudeau and Mr..
Sauve the crevasse is beginning to recede slight
ly-owng, presume to the rapidity with which 1t
off through the numerous outlets and chan
nes in and the city, which is much greater than
it was for some days after the levee broken 1t
appeared to Us that the rush Of water through the
breach nearly If not quite, rapid and alarming
when first visited the crevasse; though view.
ed it from dif1sssnt point yesterday
Just as we were leaving, about half past o'clock, p
NJ. we learned that 1t the intention of the white
hands to quit working last night and to the city
they having been told that such was the demand for
that they could command from 81 so to So per day.
This may be true not We give it AS we heard it.
We also had view of the Fortier crevassc, short
distance below the opposite side of the river 1t
has been abandoned, and the turbulent waters
rushing in destructive torrents, without bound to
their wildncs tens Of thousands Of Of devo
ted lands.
Unfavorabe as is the report we have above given of
the prospect of closing the it is not to be
cealed that in the opinion of very competent gentle
have deprecated the danger to be apprehend
ed and given too favorable account of the progress
of the work. Were to publish all the letters we
have from the crevasse and other representa-
tons in regard to it, should alarm our readers But
the reports in circulation last evening that the
work of the past week around the gorge had all been
carried away before O'Clock, p NJ, we know to be I'M
founded In any aspect the condition of things is bad
enough and demands the unceasng vigilance OF the
public authorities.
We again visited the at the English turn
yesterday afternoon and found that but little progress
had been made towards stopping the breach The whole
country around presents of devastation painful
to contemplate. The breach Is about hundred
and twenty feet in width and through it is flowing a
volume of water about five feet in depth with fall
Of four five feet giving it great force, and forming
miniature cataract. The lcyee is gradually giving way
at each end of the crevasse and the volume of water
will be much larger before the new evee be m
peted 1t is estimated by those who have charge
Of the operate that the work will be completed
in five days ii accident eccurs; but in the opinion
OF others week at least will eapse before this desira
bic result can be attained The progress OF the work Is
necessarily slow. Pile drivers cannot be used to advan-
tage and consequently the piles pickets have to be
driven by hand The earth to fill in with has to be car
Il
row levee, which is constantly so thronged with
proes engaged i'm the work that they make hut little
headway The new levee which is being made about a
hundred feet inside the old one, will be about three
hundred feet in length and not hundred feet OF
it is yet completed.
The powder magazine being of brick, of with
stads the food, which is rolling by there wi tn great
velocity but there are two frame dwelling houses
near which have been abandoned and will probably
be swept away The force of the current is so great,
can with much difficulty stand in it, and the work
progresses this difficulty will DE more severely felt.
The principal part of the levee is being built in
the bed of the road where the ground is solid
than on either side and the piles are being driven to
such a depth that they will probably Withstand the
force Of the tood otherwise upon bringing the works
together in the centre, they would undoubtedly be
carried away.
The cleared fields upon Mr. Moriers plantation, OPP
ud we are informed that the crops are nearly all de-
stroyed The food is rapidly extending across the
swamp and ON to the plantations below DING an i'm
in the vicinity that unless the should be I'm
ediaely closed, nearly all the crops between there
and the Baze will be partially II not totally destroyed
1t feared that the water would arise sufficiently be-
low to destroy the levee around Colonel Benjamins
and also ruin his crops. We heard it stated
that the the is quite deep fourteen
miles below and this being case have no reason
to doubt the realization OF the worst ,hat
that be- and trust that shall soon be enabled
to that the tide Of disaster has been checked
The water in the swamps and in tho upper part Of
the Second Municipality Is gradually on the rise, and
pc ope are daily moving out of their dwellings, being
compelled to abandon them to resort to the upper
stories and to skfs as means Of communicating with
terra frma White and Benton streets are now under
water as also are portions OF Hercules and Dryades
The market in the latter street has been for two
three days entirely surrounded by the food being
ly accessible by boats on horseback. The distress
by this state of affairs is every day increasing
sorry to say that but little prospect
at present of speedy change. The water Is running
over the north bank Of the canal many places and
the inhabitants in the Seventh ward Second Munich
paty, and in the Of the First Municipality are
growing exceedingly uneasy Should the crcvasse con-
rear of these portions Of the city will fill up, and the
water consequently set back into the streets Wehope
that such will be the but it is hope contend
ing with fear. considerable portion Of the Shell
Road this side the Half Way House Is submerged and
the water the street this side OF the New Ba
is estimated that three hundred houses
rounded by water and the amount Of damage done is
already very large.
From the New Orleans Crescent, May 12l
Mayor Crossman received an express, at late hour
last night from the crevase, at MIR. sauves plantation
going successfully with every indication of
those employed being able to stop the further flow
of water during the day Saturday The messenger
left the at hapast 10 O'Clock last night The
stories current during the evening Of the increase Of
the crevasse pleased to learn destitute of
truth. Should untoward accident occur, our ct-
Of the inundated districts will In day or two be
once more on dry land.
[From the New Orleans Bulletin, May H.
During yesterday evening" the most contradictory re-
ports flying about town to the condition of the
at Sauve's plantation We are glad to be able
relieve by the following the xious fears caused by
hose rumors The letter which append comes from |
e. g. Forshey, Esq civil engineer, who Is well known |
IS gentleman of high att.,nments in his profession.
We give it without alteration
CARRoLLroS, May 100 r. NJ.
| have this moment returned from the at
sauves and would like to report something definite.
can at least relieve the approximations created by the
eport Of this afternoon that the work had given
say IL is not that any Of the works have given
way though point (the only portion OF the line
4 smiles not vet dryen the water is rushing through