The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-09-14
Letter from PottsvilIe.


U~The following letter should have
reached US in time for last weeks paper
but did not come until Saturday. 1t gives
thrilling account of The late awful flood
in the SchuylkiI.
PorrsvlLLE, PA Sept 3rd, 1850.
FRIEND RICKETTS, We have disaster
upon disaster in this region. Again we
are visited with most terrible flood the
worst that ever scourged this unfortunate
region. 1t will about finish the few coal
operators that the tariff Of forty-six had
left. Since my return the sheriff has sold
nut six or eight poor fellows who have
been striving TO keep up, IN order to keep
the families who We're dependent on them
from starvation. He will have his hands
full this week and next, for many have
their all swept away, and there is no help
tor them.
The flood in this place was terrific in
the extreme. 1t was truly mountain
torrent sweeping all before it. 1t carried
away about 20 houses at the lower end of
Poltsvllle with some OF their inmates, who
were drowned. In its wild rush it took
stables, barns, bridges, canal railroad, shops,
mills, dams, horses, cattle, sheep and hogs
all went screaming, squcaling, below
ing and tumbing, sinking and drowning
in the dI eadlul rush of the resistless cur
rent! 1t was awfullv sublime, and made
every beholder trenbe at the majesty of
Almighty God, manifest in the destroying
element Mans might was uprooted in
an instant, showing his strength 10 be
weakness indeed. In five minutes a NIGH
" dam, sixty feet in he ght and 200 vds.
or more in width, built OF immense rocks
and tlmbers OF al enormous size, and an
iron bridge, resting as one would think on
a wall OF aiamant, are uplltted from their
basis and borne on tn. breast of the mighty
current, sweeping all IN ITS course.
But awful as it was with us it beggar.
ed all description IN Tamaqua. Persons
from the seen" of destruction say that
about one halt Of the town was RACED from
is foundations, and that the houses and
offices, and shops and stables ATE piled up
III the middle of the NAN street. Besides
many that were swept entirely away bv
the flood dashed 20 pieces and their I'M
fortunate inmates were drowned. 1t is
supposed tlla' from so to 70 persons per-
'shed III The flood They had held between
20 and 30 'nqn"s's up TO noon to dav, and
the waters Were abated but slightly.
There was one house went off with IS
persons in 1t and on " two escaped An
other with II, two escaped: one man
awoke in the night and found the water
coming into his bedroom, which was in
the second story; he said 20 his wife eve
must leave here or be drowned'- he took
hold OF her and plunged into the flood,
aud incredible as it may seem, after being
carried for some two or three miles on the
rapid current, reached the shore in safety
An old lady WAS taken between some logs
tor a grea, distance and escaped death.
There was Lutheran minister dlowned
also Methodist local preacher with his
wife and eight children, and others in
family about sixteen iii number
Every thing in the course of the Little
ociiuy XIII IL swept away, mills, 1orges,
and IRON works Of every kind, and all the
houses attached TO them, except few that
happened to be a little above the food.
Polt Clinton, town at the Juncture of
the smaller and larger branches OF the
Schuylkill is said to be entirely swept
away, except the tavern house on the hill.
Mauch Chunk has suffered very much,
bu, reports say no lives lost. We hav'
heard rumors from Reading of the mos
appalling character, but my heart sickens
at the thought OF the terrible judgment
Surely God has controversy with the
Nation. Pestllence, Fire. aud Flood seem
combined to remind us OF our sins as
people. And as though God would con
vince us of our National sins; the great
men and leaders of both parties are takeu
aVay from our legislative halls q thar