Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-11-19


Disastrous FLooD-THE CHEMUNG RIVER
HIGHER THAN EVER BEFORE KNowN.-The
rains of last week, which fell in torrents
through this section of the State, and more
particularly on the head waters of the Che
mung, were not without their disastrous conse-
quences. On Monday, the river commenced
raising, and by Tuesday afternoon it was bank
| full, and up TO the highest water mark. 1t
did not abate until midnight of Tuesday, when
it was two feet higher than ever known be-
FORE within the memory of the "oldest lnhaia-
tant" The damage to the country is immense,
and it will take long time to replace what has
been swept away in a moment. The upper
and lower parts of the village were inundated
and at distance of half mile Of the river,
the occupants of houses were busily engaged
in removing their household goods. Sidewalks
and fences were displaced, and in some instan-
ces houses were removed from their founda-
lions. In many Of the houses, the water
stood two foot deep on the first floors, driving
the occupants either into the upper stories or
away from the premises altogether.
In Southport, (the Third Ward, } the south
side of the river, the damage cannot be esti-
mated, aud has been much more disastrous,
than in any other locality in the village. At
the Woollen Factory, situated upon Newton
Creek, and in that vicinity the damage rs not
very great. The Junction Canal has suffered
severely, although to what extent, is not at
at present known The Railroads come in for
full share of the damage, the n. Y. & Erie
suffering extensively. At Corning, the rail-
road bridge has been partly crrried away, and
the track. east and and west of US, in num-
Der of places, has been washed out. The
Buffalo, Corning Il n. Y. Railroad is damaged
considerably, but to what extent we have not
learned. The damage up stream has undoubt-
edly been immense, though as yet we have
been unable to learn any particulars. We
hear that about $50 feet of the Chemnng Ca
nal Feeder, near Corning, has been carried
away. Almost all kinds of property has float
ed past us-barns, hay, fences wagons, timber,
pumpkins, and in fact little of everything
There can be no doubt but what the farmers
along the river have lost great deal of live
stock, from the fact that the rise was so sud
den and the idea that the flood would abate
long before it reached any previous height. In
this they were mistaken, and when the stream
reached its highest point, all thought of saving
property of any description was out of mind.
In many cases those endeavoring to save arti
cles were obliged to desist, for fear of being
carried away by the current
Tne destruction of the corn crop among the
farmers along the Chemung fats is said to be
almost beyond calculation. Pretty much the
entire crop of the season has been swept
away
The bridges over the Chemung River here
have all been considerably damaged. The
Main Street Bridge has big tree run through
the floor, and has also suffered other contusions
The Railroad Bridge is seriously damaged so
much so that trains only pass upon one track,
the other side being considered dangerous
The Lake Street Bridge has suffered severely,
and has settled away several inches
The track of the Young Mems Agricultural
Course, about a mile above the village, is
probably destroyed The fences and stands
were all carried off, and the course itself not
less than four feet under water The extent
of the damage cannot be told at present
At Horseheads, the damage done by New
ton Creek is very great. We hear that the
Crooked Lake Canal has been nearly swept
away, and so greatly damaged, that navigation
for the season is at an end.
We are glad to learn that the Chemung Ca
nal has suffered but little damage, and that
navigation will not be upted.-Elmira
Gdzette.