Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-03-16
From The Chicag go Daily Tribune March / >
Terrible Calamity!

most terrible devastation. In the confusion
which prevails, it would be idle TO attempt
TO give The details, but we do not believe ii
is not too much to say that one half the
shipping in the harbor has been destroyed,
and every bridge upon tho river has been
swept away.
Ahout9 o'clock this morning, a compact
dam of ice, raised two or .hree feet above
the surface of the water, nearly opposite
Gage d IIaines' Steam Mill on the South
Branch, and above which large body of
water and floating ice had accumulated,
suddenly gave way, sweeping in the rapid
current every vessel lying below that point.
Madison street bridge offered momen-
tary check to the floating mass, but it was
but momentary, for the next instant the
bridge it was added to the wreck. -
Randolph street bridge was the next
obstacle to the rush of things, but hard
" an obstacIe-it resisted for moment
and then II, too, gave way and sunk mo
the chaos below, and all rushed with swift
destruction upon the large namber Of vcs-
sells and canal boats wing in the branch in
the vicinity Of Raymond q Gibbs wares
house. The fleet of destruction thus rcin-
forced, swept into the min river, whose
banks were lined with steamers propellers,
briggs, schooners, and canal boats, and then
such scene of crushing confusion ensued
as no pen can describe. Wells street
bridge was open, leaving the middle of the
stream clear, but the vessels were closely
wedged together from bank to bank, and
no IN of hri,l ro
and mingled with the general wreck.
On--on rushed the terrible floflla, the
whole river being completely filled with
steamboats,, propOllers. schooners and canal
boats, scows and every kind Of craft in The
harbor-above. the booms. bowsprts and
other portions of the rigging. crashing as the
mass moved on--below, the hulls coming
together with still greater crash, the small>
er craft being ground to fragments between
the larger and the ice, which covered the
whole surface Of the water and was often
wedged in several feet above.
Clark street bridge-thc floats Of which
were carried away, and the middle portion
partially sunk on Sunday cvening-is now
reached, but it is the fralcst poss bIe ohsta>
Gle TO the accumulated mass, and it is swept
clear and even with the wharves. Here,
for few moments there was a pause, until
the ice and water had time to gather greater
force, and then the whole was again swept
on as if impeIled by destiny. A large
number Of large vessels were wedged to-
getIler at this point, with smaller ones fill.
ing the space between, and such crunch>
ing and crashing il is impossible to describe.
The hulls gave way as if they had but been
g-shels-those atthe edge ground against
the wharves. tearing mp the plank-the rig
ging was mingled together in the greatest
possible coniuson-spars, cordage and ca
bles of the largest size snapped every mos
ment, the latter as if they had been but
twine-the vessels were crowded with pei
sons shouting and endeavoring 10 do some-
thing to arrest their prcgress-the shore
was lined with all excited and awe-struck
crowd-atogether forming a scene which
must be left to the Imagination Of those who
did not witness it.
Below this point to the Garrison there
was continued repetition of the scenes
described above, except that the destruction
and confusion were greatly increased BY the
accumulated mass of all kinds of craft that
was closely wedged together for the dis.
lance Of two or three blocks.
10 O'Clock M-Thc mass of vessels still
remain wedged in above the Garrison, an
immense amount of ice end wreck is accu-
above, rendering the pressure a.
gainst the shipping fearful. The river is
rapidly rising and is already OVERLOOKING
Water street at the head of Lake, and foot OF
Clark streets. If the mass does not give
way below, the river will inevitably sweep
through Water and Lake streets. Draws
are buslly occupied in taking out the con-
tents OF the Warehouses on Wafer street,
The Steamer Globe has dropped down a
few rods, and for the present is safe. A
number of vessels have been swept be-
You'd the pier and are now riding at anchor.
Several canal boats are out upon the lake,
some with men aboard, others entirely de-
serted. The Propeller Rostler which
reached the end of the pier in safety, is ma
king arrangements to get up steam 10 90 in
pursuit OF them. If the wind does not riso
until late in the afternoon it is hoped she
will be able TO rescue the men and fetch in |
the boats. Randolph ST. bridge is aground
within the piers and against
It, with Its broadside 10 the current, lies the |
Mahala a complete wreck. Clark street
bridge has drilied around the north pier
The whole surface of the lake for mile
out is covered with floating wrecks.
The Steamers Sam Ward and Pacific |
ire among the vessels crowded together,
md their condition is extremely critical
iome o(the vessels are so completely wreck
ID that they only await the moving of the
mass to go down.
The vessels in the North Branch are still
aie, though fears are entertained that they
90 will be swept out.
The river has been sweled to its present
extraordinary height, not only by the fall of
AIN Yesterday and last night and the melt
lg OF the snow and ice, but large body of
'ater from the Desplanes into the Canal
nd through the Canal into the river. i