The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-28
Another Terrible Flood at Richmond, Wa.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND LOSS OF
rFrom the Ricbmond wb,y Jul

GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND LOSS OF
LIFE.
From the Richmond WING July %
We chronicled the other day severe storm that
visited our city, and have now to make known de-
ton of known the Valley and lying either side
of shockoe creek We also have to record loss OF life
clouds which had been gathering over us since day
break, discharged tremendous shower us, which
continued without intsrmission for one hour, Owing,
suppose, to the quantity Of earth lying about the
stree from the gas excavations the mouths Of the
Main street sewers soon became stopped up and Main
street from to the Creek between the coal
holes Of the psvements either side completely
submerged for three quarters Of an hour. Many
cellar floors were Inundated therefrom. Mean
while the storm had extended along the
whole line of Adams valley and every rivuet poured
into shockoe creek It's hood and stream Of waters
and the quantity Of water in IL became great that
the archways under Broad Franklin, Main and Cary
streets became unable to pass with sufficient freedom
and IL commenced immediately to overflow all the low
grounds and carry off the loose fences and out
houses that reached The Inhabitants Of the houses
the such the rapdity of the RISE had TO be-
take themselves In many instances TO the upper
Of their dwellings from which they were subsequently,
rescued by boats conveyed In wagons from the river
One good sized frame building only kept from be-
ing swept away by its chimney In the centre. Others
the current About Ii O'Clock, when the torrent
at the height Of s fury and violence brick building
which being built for w Goddin, the Ian
casterian school on Marshall street fell In carrying
with IL beams rafters, &C. Mr. Parnell brick mason
and four negroes were In II at the time together with
horse. tied in the basement story The horse broke
the bride and escaped. One Of the negroes on the
frst Hoor called to p. when the water came pouring
the street, aud then made his escape with two
others A boy named Emanuel, hired by Lewis Hll
to and insured In the Fire Association for three
clingng to a window frame, which floating the
current, but soon washed OF and drowned.
sostins out. houss which backed the Waters IN to
Lumpkins negro jail carrying away two side and end
brick walls quite high and caused them to reach neatly
10 the door Of the Central Railroad depot The water
then flowed the portion offrankn street the
end OF the Old Markethouse, subnerging the small
groceries BY running into the cellars Of Messrs
Burton, druggist and Newberu, hardware merchant,
and attaining foot In depth In the stores
On the other side the Easements o. the meath houses
In the lower end Of the old Market house covered
70 the depth Of I've or SIX inches, and the water
Seventeenth street 60 West Seventeenth street The
huehsters vegetable women, &C, had to take TO the
buyers had TO purchase whilst standing in the turbid
element, best they could. We noticed q country
man standing In the Of his cart, whose horses
feet and wheels we're now some six inches under water
ohafcring with purchaser, and apparently moving
each moment higher upon the pavement TO give way
for the incoming food Many Of the cellars In East
Seventeenth street nlled and the doors Of the
Of groceries the other side Of the Market were
covered TO the depth OF three feet in short space Of
time The loss By injury will fall hard upon their In
mates.
suddenly fifteen feet The cellars in the vicinity
we're nmedistely hIed Winstons young man, who
bad gone down for the purpose Of securing sos vala
a little while the water was In avery cellar on both
sides Of Main street from the creek nearly 20 18th
street and from the creek 60 the cellars Of the City
Hotel corner Of 18th street. Such the rApidity
with which they we're submerged that the occupants
able articles destroyed, materially damaged
10 be ~ rtte value Guano. In bags, was quickly
dissolved and sent vhriing down the imPetuous cur
rent 20 enrich gratis the bottoms Of the James River
In cellar near the bridge the water rose ave feet
IN thirty minutes.
man named Bridgewster, who standing upon
the upper portion OF the Franklin street arch lost
his balance and fell In. The rapid current quck ky
carried him under and the drift wood kept him tor
some time Just before reaching the Main street arch
one Of his arms vas visible, and remained 20 unt he
hurried under. Below Main street, a rope was
thrown him hat net quick enough TO be Of service
In little while he carried under the low archway
efCary street and driven down With immense velocity,
the dock. Here quantity o. drift wood, Witch had
ehoksd the archway impeded his progress for mo-
men but he vas soon ost 70 sight aud supposed TO be
dead but most extraordinary 20 cay, he came out
the other sidest alive and negro. Who vas hooking
drif wood In the outlet At James River seiled him BY
the hair. and saved him Tue distance which he vas
carried must have been quarter Of mile, and hat
too with driit wood pressing him down all the while
The lees 20 the Virginia Central Railroad in timber,
vashsd from the upper part Of the valley, must be
considerable large amount q household furni-
iure was also carried s-ay segross we're TO be seen
about like % many Charons saving or playing sal
vors TO whatever they could The loss % the dry
grocers. &C. Market bridge. Main street,
have not heard estimated but u must be quite large
The rest q the oss above this point falls those Who
can badly afford 60 encounter 10.
largs Tin rooted she'd erected upon the margin Of
the creek. sud attached 20 the tobacco factory Of
Poitiaux Robinson, was threatened with destruction
In an early stage o. the food in consequences Of the
stone wall upon which Il built having yielded 20
the violence % the current short time before II
o'crck TIE wstrs having partially subsided, the
buldiYg vas deprived % its support and the larger
portion ~ u fell with n into the stream danminR
up the Cary street arch for while, with its tmbors
aud crushing the vail on the pavement The factory
has received no injury. though tie foundation does
not extend 20 the depth Of the creek
The abuimsnts Of the James River and Kanawha
Company 20 their aqueduct over the creek. will be-
very much injured from the washing away o. the earth
which supports them portion of the stone wall
had already fallen IN yesterday morning
This 10 outline of one 81 the most severe and
destructive freshsts 10 which city has been sub
iscted for long time IL was disastrous a.
ptctsd We ~il endeavor TO give more particulars az
w shall obtain them.
fast evening the water had subsidsd. Estimated
loss $50 600; Mr. winston loses $4,000 in ruano.