The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-06
The cotton crop.
Gulf At 81. Marks yeyl
high, thresteuing seriodI

| IRON the Reading (Pa) Press Sept. 81
| All the bridges from Pottsville to Philadelphia
| are said to be swept away. Within few hours,
I'VE sndges were borne past Reading by the Hood.
They are kissinger's, Leizes, the Hamburg, Penn
street and Lancaster bridges.
AT the same time, the river was covered with
floating houses, barns, stables haysacks and tim
ber Upwards of thirty Schuylkill boats tore from
their fastenings, and were hurried of by the food.
All the fences within range were swept away,
and all kinds of furniture, &c, were in the flood.
The communication with the opposite side of the
nveI is entirely cut OIL, and il can only be carried
on, On Dy means OF ferries, and with wagons where
some time, as all navigation is stopped, and lumber
The Reading Gas Works were flooded, and no
were not materially injured, and win be in order
to-day again
The loss of life cannot, at this time, be ascer-
tanned, and when the flood subsidies will it only be
known how many have been its victims. Yester-
DAY afternoon, man was seen on log in the
middle OF the river, and we are Informed that he
was rescued below the rolling mill, and that he
Three men were confined in the upper story of
frees & kissinger's store house, and the water
coming In upon them: When the bridge came
down, portion dashed upon this house. when il
instantly disappeared. They Jumped into the
water, and were carried, among the fragments,
down the stream. Two of them escaped, but the
third was drowned. We could not gather their
names.
The house owned by Mr. Charles Phillips, near
the rolling mill, was swept of, and the adjoining
one injured.
The destruction of houses in Front and Water
streets, at this time, became truly heart-rending,
and families, who had found il impossible to
escape, were reckoning for relief from the upper
windows and roof-tops, and hundreds were rescued
from watery graves, which stared them in the
face. But one boat could be used for this pur-
pose, and had there been more, the loss Of life
would have been prevented.
Mr.. William Seitzinger and William Meyer, who
were in this boat, performed many perlous acts 10
save men, women and children, from drowning,
even al the risk of losing their lives IN one
tanned family of husband, wife and four children
but the boat full, and but one, infant, could
be taken, which had just been placed in the boat
when The house a down with ma crash oung
wife sprang into the water, and were carried down
the stream until he grasPed tree, from which
he was taken by boat Mrs. Sand passed down
below the rolling mill, when she too, was re-
scued by brave man, whose name we could not
learn.
The family of Mr. Graf, on Front street, were
in their house until late hour in the afternoon,
when they were rescued by some brave and gal
liant men, in the face of the most forbdding danger.
An attempt had been made by Mr.. Daniel Byerle
and Henry Boyer TO rescue Mr.. Graf, but when
they neared the house, their boat struck with SO
much force as TO capsize il, and they were both
plunged into the angry water. They mounted the
roof of stable at hand, but il gave way, and they
were again at the mercy of the water, when they
boldly struck for shore, which they reached in q
much exhausted condition. Mr.. Boyer's house,
neat brick building, was barred in the water.
Hundreds of -four barrels were coming down the
river and il is believed that fearful destruction has
taken place among the mills on the Schuylkill and
Tulpehocken.
We regret to notice the numerous losses Of our
citizens along the river and among the wharves
and storehouses, which all contained much valu-
Frees ' & Kissinger had all their wood, coal,
office, &c, swept away.
The wood and coal yard of Mr.. Jacob Souder
shared the same fate, office and stables, carts and
drays, all carried ell
Anthony Bickeps board yard was cleared, but
William Peacocks coal and wood wharf was
cleared, and he himself vas in the most imminent
danger, and was rescued by his brother and Mr..
Zeinger.
Joel Ritter lost all his lumber, scarcely board
remaining.
Messrs. Boas IL Lott lost large lot of lumber.
Deysher ~ Brother also lost a small lot of lumber.
Fritz u Seltzer lost all their lime and wood, and
all the goods in their warehouse.
boat containing some % 600 worth of groceries
broke loose, and became a total loss.
Mr.. Bushong lost some 200 head OF hogs, and
the property in and around his dshllery was
damaged and carried away His loss is estimated
Mr.. r M. o'Brien's machine shop, with all lis
hxtures, was swept away.
Mr.. VIM. Call lost all his lumber, and several
fine Schuylkil boats.
Mr.. John Heller's two houses on Front street,
and the old Baptist Church opposite were all car
ned off.
Maj. Richards lost fine unfinished boat, and
nearly all his timber.
Jackson's rope walk was carried Of, and much
All the houses up to Third street, were greatly
damaged, and there were three feet OF water in
Lauer's Brewery.
William Peacocks two houses above Lutz's dam
were demolished
Raudenbush's hotel, at the locks in Franklin
street, was partly destroyed.
From the Pottstown, Pa, Ledger, Sept. Al
Monday last will be marked IN the local history
Of schuylkill Valley, as one memorable for the
greatest freshet that has occurred in the river
Schuylkill. The rain fell in this vicinity during
sunday night, and brought on the most rapid rise
Of water ever witnessed. No one at first antic-
pated the terrible freshei, but the continued rise
and unexamPledquantiyo OF lumber, broken timber,
hay stacks, house hold furniture, mill gearing, bar
rels, boats, great and small gave evidence OF a
great flood in the river and lie tributary streams
above us. About one O'Clock II began to be EVIL
dent that the bridge the liver at this place.
would he swept from lis piers AZ this time the
water reached the weather boarding, and the huge
iimbers on the surface commenced their batiering
assault upon its frame work. Az quarter before
two o'clock, massive wreck swept the western
end Of the old structure from the abutment, and
broke the bridge in two in the centre. The water
still rising rapidly, the floating timber began 10
bear heavily upon the remaining part. In half an
hour thereafter. A large stack on hav came against
IL and gently bore Il from the abuiment and the
pier, entire, and carried Il msjestically down the
tide, after standing the weather, Wind, and water
for twenty nine years.
The scene at this time intensely interesting
and distressing, while the wrecks Of DOuglasvllle,
three at Reading, Port Clinton and
other bridges, were passing down the now unim-
peded current. Families residing along the river,
whose habitations had never before been disturbed
by heshets, were now being surrounded with the
angry waters, and the inmates compelled 10 secure
their property by removing Il from cellar TO garrett
and leave in boats, 70 take lodgings for the night
with more favored neiRhbors. Farm houses, barns,
stables, dwellings, along the course Of the stream,
rom It's head 20 Potsiown, fortunately were visit
with the highest water during daylight, 80 that
he advantages day afforded 20 protect property,
and life was enjoy ed.
As large fragment Of one Of The upper bridges
passed this point, fine poker seemed TO b. very
womenao,ng on the floor. Quite
large number OF hogs were seen floating down the
stream.
Al this place the water was eight feet higher