The Arkansas banner., 1849-04-03
From the Will County Democrat.
,rrihIe CalamitY at Chicngo.

'
 Greailoss of Lye and ProPevty Flood EUsr
 RaoTR in Chicaq0
 CHICAGO, March l2-e, F. N
 Never before has Chicago been visited ny su great a calamity this day has witnessed. Onr harbor exhibits scene of the most terrible devastation. In the confusion which prevails it woaId be idle to at tempt 10 give the details; but we believe 1t is not tco much to say that one half of the shipping in the harboT has been destroyed. and every bridge upon ihe river has been swept away.
 About o'clock this morning a compact dam of ice raised two or three feet above inc surfce of The water, nearly opposite Gage & TTaines steam mill on the north branch, and above which large body ot water and floating ice had accumulated, suddenly gave way, sweeping down the rapid current every vessel lying below that point.
 Madison street bridge offered momentary check 10 the floating mass but it was momeniary: for the next instant the bridge iiselfwas added o the wreck Randolph street bridge was the next obstacle to inc rush of hings-but hardly an obstacle. IL resisted for moment, and then it too gave way and sunk into the chaos below, and all rushed with swift tes- tncton upon the large number of vessels and canal boats lying in the b. snch in the vicinity of Ray mond Gibbs's wareh u1e. The fleet of destruction thus swept into the main river, where the banks were lined wiib steamers. propellers, brigs schoon- CTS and canal boats, and then such crushing con- iuslon ehsaed as nopen can describe. Wells street bridge was open. leaving the middle of the stream clear; but ihe vessels closely wedged together from bank to bagk. and the ends of the bridge very soon gave way and mingled with the general wreck On, on rushed the terrible fio,a, the whole river being completely filled with steamboats propellers sehooners, canal boats, scows and every kind of crait.
 In the harbor above, the booms. bowspri,s and other portions of the rigging crushing on the mass moved on below. the hulIs coming together with s greater crash, the smaller craft bein. ground to fragments between me larger and the ice, which covered 'he whole surface of the water and was often "edsed m several feet above. Clark street bridge was completely swept away, and large number of 'aige vessels were wedged together al this point With smallet ones filling the space between. and sueh crushing it IS impossible 10 describe The hulls sa'e way as II they had been egg shells Those at me edge ground against the wharfs, tearing up the PahKs the rigging was mingled together in the greatest conlasion-spArs and cables of the laryes @ nes snapped every moment as if they had been ~ihe. The vessels were crowded with persons suouuhg ana endeavoring 10 do something eD arrest 'helr progress below this point
 Itreluc o'eIoct.-The mass of vessels still ,o ~ ma'ns "eosed lh above the garrison, and an im- .ue"se dnp ado ice and wreck is accommodating above nue''s me pressure against the shipping. earfnl :, "u"os' o' vessels have been swept beyond the I's's anu are DO" ticing al anchor. Several boats f ~ 'u' upon the idke, sone with men on board. and I"e's .t eh'teiy destroyed. The whole surface of ne 'SNe' Tor mites out is covered @ith floating "5e'hs ne vessels m the north branch are stIl lfa are entertained n ltth-y loo may he
 o"'' lb sehophers and vessels -IHiated aud
 Piopete's and sleamb0ais do., g canal boa,s ''"''1'en' men and woman killed.