New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-16
Tremendous Flood In the MississiPpi-Sugar
Plan<ations Laid Waste.
From The n. o. Bulletin, May


We have the most disastrous accounts as 10 the
extensive flood which at present exists in the Mis-
sssippi from the mouth of the Ohio down to with
in the limits Of Louisiana. A gentleman who ar
rived yesterday from above, has given us vivid
description OF the appearance presented on the
river which is entirely over its banks, for hundreds
OF miles below the Ohio, and the levees have bro
ken in various places between this and Vicksborg.
A very large crevasse has taken place on the Lou
isiana side, opposite Rodney which has Hooded
that entire section Of country, and our informant
stated that he counted eleven sugar houses consec
utively which, with their entire plantations, dwell
lings and negro quarters, were completely flooded
TO great DEPTH and presented nothing but one
wild waste of water The town of Rodney on
the Mississippi side, through its whole extent was
flooded nearly up to the second floor OF the stores
and dwellings,
The river in some places had risen to 8 feet in a
few days, and as much as three feet in "a hours
For long distance above and below Memphis, the
water extended on both sides, as far as the eye
could reach from the hurricane deck OF steam
boat, and this was pretty much the case tor the
whole distance between the Ohio and Nicksburg,
except where there were bluffs OF highlands. Ii
was also the same below Vicksburg, where the
levees had given way The planters were at work
strengthening the levees, and in some instances
endeayorDg 10 close the breaches the water had
made, but some of the crevasses, particularly the
one opposite Rodney. was completely beyond al
control. The whole Valley OF the YaZOo, we learn,
is in the same situation the Banks of the Mis-
sissippi, being completely under water with cor
responding extent Of destruction. Though OF
course no correct estimate can be made OF the ex-
tent OF Injury which such an extensive flood will
occasion to the growing crops, we will state that
our informant says he should think, from what he
saw and heard ON the subject that the produce of
the cotton districts covered by the food, would be
equal to 200, 600 bales.
Not only the Cumberland. Tennessee aud
Ohio, with some of the smaller upper tributaries, in
very high stage of water, but the Missouri is I'M
fortunately Prem0tarely pouring out her mighty
Hood at the same time. This has been caused by
the warm wcutber in March and April, which has
melted the SHOWS on the Upper Missouri much
earlier and more rapidly than usual and the Spring
food of this river, which usually does not reach
New Orleans until late in May and in Iuue, is now
coming down in great strength, at the same time
with that from the streams situated ia a mider dis
tTict OF country whose floods generally exhaust
ed before that Of the Missouri commences The
worst OF the tale, therefore cannot probably yet be
told as the greatest volume Of the Missourls flood
is still to come.
The Mississippi continues to rush through the
old crevasse at Bonnet Care, in a stream wider
than the river ITSELF and some steamboats, that
have accidentally got into 1t have with difficulty
regained the regular channel of the river 1t is this
immense crevasse which renders the effects ofthe
Hood from beng less apparent in oar vicinity and
has probably been the cause OF preventing much
injury. From all we can learn on the subject the
channel which the water has formed will in future
be permanent outlet for the waters Of the river
and safety valve for all the country below il -
Not only is Lake POnchartrain and Lake BCrgne
completely filed with the waters of the Mississippi
but the waters of the Gulf are !reshencd ali the
way over TO the Bay Of St. Louis, Pass Christian
and Biloxi.