Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-08-18
JTnprecedentei Flood.

Oh Iasi TUESDAY evening", ABOUT q
o'clock. the clouds in the North. west and
West began to thicken and blacken, and
give indication Of a heavy discharge Of
water. About o'clock the rain com
menced falling, and for thirty minutes it
seemed that the clouds had bursted, and
let loose their contents in terrible fury up.
On US. Sitting in our office, it was i'm
possible almost to distinguish an object
across the street through the vast volume
Of water that was being emptied from the
heavens. There was only once slight
muttering of thunder. The clouds seemed
to be surcharged with the liquid element,
and were satisfied to pour 1t out in unmit-
igated and destructive fury upon US, with
out the usual accompaniment OF. thunder
and lightning. Al about half past three.
the rapidly increasing volume of water
that rushed with resistless power down
Nam street. from the Lutheran Church
to Morris g. Goodies corner, and down
Augusta street, from DR.. McGilI's to the
Jail yard, plainly indicated that the mad
dened element would prove the terror of
its force in short time. About o'clock
the water in the streets leading as above !,
was at least two feet in depth. About
this time, it began to rush through the
houses on Augusta and Main streets, ex.
tending from DR.. Waddell's to Biekle's
corner, on either side, and from the Luth-
efan Church to Benjamin Crawford's.
more particularly on the North side, as
the water seemed 10 come from The North
aud Northwest. 1t was becoming diff
cult at that time TO ride on horseback for
added TO the fearful rushing Of the waters
the pavements aud curb stones and streets
were being frlglifully torn up, and wood,
and logs and plank, and barrels, and kegs
and demijohns, and wagons, ana carts, and
chic kens, and hcgs, and dogs, and rats,
and cats, and almost every species Of loose
timber and small animals save human
beings, were carried upon the tur-
bulent bosom Of the enraged waters
At one time whole load of wood
came down Augusta street. II is difficult
to estimate the losses either to private or
public property. The corporation has lost
heavily. The pavements OH Augusta
street were literally plowed up and vast
holes, two aud three feet deep, eight and
ten feet long, and the width Of the pave
ment, washed out The pavement at the
east front of r. G. Bickle's house was torn
entirel y up, together with much of the
1urbing. At the East and North front of
Morris 81 Goodies store the pavement. was
entirely destroyed, and the whole width
of the walk washed out TO the depth OF
two or three feet. Down Augusta street,
then. OH the east side, running from Adam
Bickle's store to the extreme Southern
corner Of the Court House enclosure, the
pavement has been entirely washed away,
and much of the curbing also, and deep
gutter substituted. In front of VIM. Car
rolls dwelling house, tAe water did fear
full damage, and excited serious apprehen-
house foundation. But the house was
built upon rocks, and the rains descending
and the Winds beating, felled it not. From
he South corner Of the Court House
grounds down the street, running East,
he damage was heavy. First the new
Blick Law Office of Capt. D. S. Young,
vas damaged slightly, washing the found
tion from the East corner. The stone
vail inside the Jail yard, was undermined,
portion Of which fell. Then, tearing up
he walk in its course, The next serious
lamage suffered, was the property of I.
!. Niche, Esq. The walk in front of
lis new brick Office washed out TO the
iepth Of four or five feet, the east side of
he building was torn down, and many
'aluable papers and book. Destroyed
Fhe most valuable OF the papers, as we
rave since learned, have been found in the
ubbish, &C., of the destruction. 1t is
lard 10 estimate MIR. Michie's loss. 1t
nay be thousands of dollars, but should
he valuable papers be found, his loss will
ot exceed $4,000 10 $500. The NEST re-
laIkable circumstance connected with the
'hole destruction on Tuesday, was the
scape OF Mr.. Niche himself Tie was
citing in his office. on the east side, du-
ing the rain. After it had subsidized, he
topped to the door, and found the walk
n front much washed. Observing the
water rushing with frightful force against
he office Of Cap. Young, he stepped from
lis Office door, upon a stove lying west of
lis door, and thence leaped across the
.hasm, TO an unwashed spot, walked to-
wards the Jail 10 watch the progress Of
he destructive element. He had scarcely
his position, before the stove and
he ground upon which it was resting,
which were his only means OF escape,
washed away; and in quick succession
followed the east portion Of his office,
where he had been sit,ing--the large
look case in the west side of the house
iallius over, and striking about where his
chair was. Had he not thus accidentally