The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-08-16
GREAT FLOOD IN STANTON.
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

The following extra of the Staunton Spectator,
,,,ued on Tuesday night gives the particulars OF
destructive q 5od In Stauuton. Below siso puos
ushed letter from our Stsunton correspondent:
Our town was this evening visited ~ ING moss
ass,ructiye and terrific food ever Witnessed 10 this
section Of country. The cloud commenceo gamer.
ias Ia the North West about 3 O'clock +. d., and
betokeped By Ito intense biackness, very neavy
storm, but no one anticipated the terrible ireshet
,bst Il subsequently produced. The windows OF
he's ven seemed literally wide open, and the water
a ecended In torrents, soon overlooking all tbs
streets in the western portion OF the town.
By4 O'Clock we found ourselves unable to get
IN, of our Office and remained there quietly for
several hours, watching the rise OF the water on
Augusta Stree, until relieved from our imprison-
mspt by su accommodating colored man, who
kindly consented to take US :" on behind"
But 1t Is not our object TO detail further our own
tribustions, but TO give our readers II possible,
some information In regard to the exteat of damage
and the persons who have suffered.
We have not yet heard what injury has been
done on the line of the creek above Tie residence
Of Mr.. Samuel E. Clarke, though We presume 1t
has been serious. The bridge near tie residences
Of Mr. Clarke, erected some months ago by the
Corporate authorities, was wash ed frCIa its
ings, and, forming dam, added to toe immense
stream that poured down the street leading from
Mr. Bells to DIR. Waddell's.
ersbly washed. The new Lutheran Church was
90 much Injured to crack In the front gable end;
the tower 10 evidently far from perpendicular
The walls Of the large aud handsome new building
on Main street, opposite Union Hall, are 90 much
damaged that fears are entertained that they will
yet give way.
The residences of DIR Waddell and Miss 8 Wad.
dell wsre completely flooded, so much so that the
i Inmates had TO be taken out. A chimney attach.
cd to the dwelling house of Miss s. WaddelI
fell down. carrying one end of the house with it,
DR. Waddelfs horse which was Ia the yard mar.
rowly escaped with bis life when the chimney
isL
4 Ono end of Mr.. Michies law office was washed
ou;, and we understand many valuable papers
lost. The cellars Main street, on the street
by the Virginia Hotel, on Augusta street. and on
+ the wharf" were all filled, and the merchants
have suffered severely. Mr. Eskridge had 81 500
worth of goods In his cellar Messrs. B. & J. G.
Crawford about the same amount. Mr. Cochran
lost about $500 worth of tobacco. Mr. Evans also
lost tobacco. Staples Il Martin and B Brecken-
ridge O. Son, grocers, have doubtless suffered Sc
verey.
10 one Of the houses of Augusta Street the water
was three feet deep, which feet will give the reader
sore idea OF the fosming torrent that swept through
the town.
Many other persons have been greatly damaged,
that we cannot now mention.
The Cofponation has been very heavy loser
The streets are literally torn to pieces curling al
psvements swept away. The loss in town ia vsri.
ou,ly estimated from 6, 900 to 10 600 dollars
friend from the country saath-West Of Staur-
Ton IN which direction the cloud extended, informs
~ 'iat ING iafnis wilma tnree miles OF staunton
have been very much damaged. Doubtless the same
may be said of all the farms lying ON Lewis Creek.
About dusk the waters entirely subsidized, and
crowds have been on the street veying the scene
OF Oscillation, and sndering where the water came
nom" 1t 10 indeed hard to realize, and we have
causes for thsnkfulness that it no worse. Buck
ets and tubs, AND barrels, and piles of weed. and
chickens, and dogs and even large stones float
Ing down our Streets and the great wonder il that
some human being was not hurried to destruction. Ii
hgsnersiiy conceded that the water rose higher
upon this occasion than it did in the memo "a BILE
lreshet OF 1876. We do not think, however, that
there has been as much damage done to property.