The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-06-07
OVERFLOW AT NEW ORLEANS.

The damage and distress caused in New
Orleans by the crcvosse, Is miles above the
city, are immense. UP TO our latest date
the 2Sth ult., all efforts to check it had moi
only proved futile bu, the crevasse was dali
Nv cnlarging. The whole country mtned
a,cly back and above the city, is inunda-
ted. The Picayune of the Odd says:-
"The flood continues to rise, and we nj
most fear that il will extend its encroach
mcnts to ST. Charles street. The water
within the past ihiriysix hours has risen
with much more rapidity than has heretofore
been noticed. Canal street on both sides
was last night completely overflowed rs far
down ms Dauphine street, and in nearly all
the streets, above BienviIle, running the
same way, the flood had reached about the
same line.
In many streets the water is three feet
deep, aud it is almost impossible for the res
idcn,s to get about. The number of skill.
furnished by the Council is entirely INSULT
cent to meet the increasing demand.--
Many of the bridges at the intersections Of
the streets have been raised by the water
and noa,ed oil, leaving perfect pitfalls, ex-
cecdingly dangerous, as they are invisible.
Numerous accidents have occurred nj such
places. and some measures should be taken
to guard against them.
There are dwellings now in the extreme
outskirts of The town which are n mile and
half from dry ground. the whole distance
hcng navigable for good sized yaws. The
dead bodies from the Charity Hospital arc
conveyed To Potter's Field, distance &c
three miles mud upwards. hv water, bnrges
having been constructed for the purpose
Mr.. Bier. Treasurer OF the Hospital, YES
terdav ordered another boat, tn be used in
conveying patients to and from the insltu-
ton"
A New Orleans correspondent of the
Mo. Republican Of las, Friday, furnishes
The following picture Of a "crcyasse," and
account of tic crcvasse:--
"'rhc grea, Father OF Waters. is brim full
and like a roaring lion, is seeking whom
he may devour. A Crcvassc is an awful
catastrophe in this country. It's disastrous
consequences eau hardly he realized by per-
sous at a distance. who have never seen the
country and witnessed its operations
Nearly the whole state Of Louisiana Inns
been made by the alluyial deposits OF the
Mississippi. Foragcs and ages tina. mighty
river has been employed in carryin. lands
from the countries washed hy the Ohio aud
Missouri, to make here great State in the
maulh ot the Mexican Calf. When the
river is high, it is walled within certain
limits by the construction of levccs. AT
this moment the Mississippi is nearly ten
feet higher than the surrounding country.
From the rear VI plantation, n steam boat
were blowing the air. Every lick Of It's
paddles sends wave over the cvec.--
Every plantation has its guards out to watch
aud give the alarm, in the event of its burs.
Ting It's bounds. ia case the levee gives
way the signal is given, the plantation bell
rings nh alarm--messengcrs are dispatched
on fast horses to the adjoining plantations
planters. eyerscers, negroes--all, run tor
the crevasse--they tear UP the fence, drive
down piles in circular rows-cram in hav,
straw, bagass, brush, bags filled with earth,
everything they can get, and then throw
On fresh earth. whic', in this country is of
the consistency Of putty. Finally. they
succeed in stopping the chasm, aud the old
Father gees on to root hole omewhere
else. Blu, the crcvassc above the city has
resisted all attempts To- stop it. Tho most
skiltul engineers has given it up in despair.
Hundreds OF iamics in this city are home.
less;o hive been driven into tho upper
stories Of their dwellings. The water is
within two squares Of the St. Charles, and
rising. The city has expended two thou
sand dollars tnr boats for the benefit of the
immediate districts. In the streets are
thousands Of wounded fish, and poisonous
reptiles. In consequence Ut 40 much water
all around, the air is cool and the city heal
thy"