The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-05-10

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over again. Everything in the streets swan;
the cutters ran Alpine torrents, and cellars
were converted into young lakes.
| The same phenomena having taken place
for miles on all sides of us, an amount of
damage has been done as yet uncstimated.
All the railroads converging to the city have
suffered more or less. On the Harlem, Hud-
son River, and Philadelphia lines, the wash
was so great as to make long breaks in scv-
eral places, to interfere witt. the running &c
the trains, to obstruct the mails, and to
cause great apprehension and detention to
those caught on the way. Passengers are
still obliged to change ears at different points
of these roads, in order to get over the breaks
not yet repaired. The Erie, however, as is
generally its fate, suffered most The track
settled in numerous places, and was else
where inundated TO such depth as to be
impossible. Several bridges over which
the track passed were swept away; ON one
OF these were nine men, seven Of whom lost
their lives in the swollen stream. Even the
mighty locomotives employed on this road
were completely nonplussed, and for thirty
six hours it was impossible to attempt n
passage. The city depends almost entirely
Tor its milk supply on the country bordering
the Erie Road, we were by this temporary
obstruction made to realize what wo owe TO
the benign institution of cows All day
Sunday and till late hour on Monday, nei H.
er love nor money could procure drop Of
milk throughout the length and breadth of
New York; and many hungry youngster
with lactenls just developed was thrown for
the time on solid diet that WAS far from
being palatabe.
At our sister city Brooklyn the continued
rains produced land slide from tho Heights
which buried a house, crushed two persons
10 death, and more or loss injured several
others.
The most alarming result of the rain,
however, and one which threatened the most
serious evil TO us inhabitants of the city, was
a breach in the works at the Croton Dam,
in consequence of which it was at one time
feared that we might be cut off from our
supply ofwatcr. The city uses $4,000. .OOO
| gallons daily; and there wcru but 100000
600 gallons in the Reservoir. The water
was at once cut off from shipping, manufac-
tories, lighthouses, &c; and the Mayor is
sued proclamation, calling on good citizens
TO be as sparing as possible in their use of
It. 1t is found however, that the Damage is
less serious than was anticipated; and that
the repairs can re made and the water turn.
ed on before the present supply in the Res
ervor is exhausted.
On the day of the squall, the famous CAL
oric ship Ericsson, which has been undergo
ing changes in her machinery, started on n
trial trip, with an invited company on board
The experiment was in all respects satisfac-
tory established beyond doubt, the eir,c.
tveness Of Caloric a. m otive agent. The
maximum speed attained was "a knots.-
When the Ericsson, on her return, had near
| ly reached her wharf, she was struk by the
whirlwind above referred, keeIcd over. and
the water pouring in through her headlights
she sank in eight Gthoms' wafer. Here
she still lies submerged; an cff"rt will be
made to day to raise her. The guests were
all saved.
The fire on Broadway, alluded TO in my
last letter, was more fatal in its destruction
OF life than was supposed nj the time wrote.
The fall OF the wall caused the death Of
thirteen persons connected with the Fire
Department, and injured twenty others
The deceased Firemen were buried with
ronp on Sunday last, their funeral being
attended by seven thousand of their breth-
rem, the heads Of our city Government, and
delegations from the Fire Department Of 9TH
er cities. The causes of the catastrophe are
now undergoing investigation before an in
telligent Coroner's Jury. Il appears from
the evidence that the fall was owing 10 the
Insecure and reckless manner in which the
buildings was put up; and from the records
of the Fire-wardens il seems that there are
in different parts Of the city five hundred
other buildings equally dangerous.
Col. Gates, lately tried by Court Martial
in this city for unsoldierlike conduct on
board Of the San Francisco, has been found
guilty on several of the specifications and
will be obliged TO resign his command. The
Department have kept the matter as quiet
as possible, in consideration Of the age and
former services Of the Colonel and the try
ing circumstances In which he was placed,
To-day commences, at Governors Island,
before Court Martial just organized, the
trial Of Major Wyse, another of the San
francisco officers. lie oi:::s.se Is disobc-
dience Of orders in refusing to lead his com.
mand on Board Of the Falcon Zone Of the
transports provided for the conveyance Of
the San Francisco survivors to AspinwaID
because, having ordered thorough exam
ination Of the vessel, he found her unsea-
worthy. Having declined going and resign
81 his command into the hands Of the next
senior officer, he was Immediately after the
sailing Of the detachment, arrested by Gen.
scotts orders and confined on Governors
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