The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-24
The Late Floods in tho West,

try has there been such succession of heavy
rains, and of such widespread extent, as have
marked the present year, since April. From all
parts of the West there come the details of dis.
astrous freshets, and the bottom lands of the
Northwestern Safes have been 90 long sub
merged as to entirely destroy the corn crop, and
ruinously ipjure the wheat prospects. Indeed,
this destruction of the growing crops lie even
more disastrous than the destruction of build
ings, bridges, railroads, &c.
At Dubuque, the Mississippi rose three feet
in twenty hours, on Tuesday week, and the
Missouri rose at the same rate at Jefferson city,
while at Boonville, Mo-, the gain in little more
than one day was four and half feet. When
we consider the extent of these rivers, the vast
volume of water required to effect such rise
will be measurably apparent. The St. Louis
Democrat expresses fear lest the Mississippi
cut q new channel in Illinois opposite that
city-sn apprehension that has long been en-.
tertaiDed, and is now revived with considerable
force, because the river has found its way to .
small lake in Illinois, which may possibly be-
come the basis of new channel. A food was
almost daily anticipated at St. Louis, at the
last mail dates, and merchants in exposed
situations we're removing perishsble articles.
The safety of the dykes at the same city was
also a subject of apprehension, and efforts were
being made to strengthen them.
The St. Louis Democrat of Saturday, the
18th, says:
"The river rose at this point steadily ell day
yesterday, and at dark last night seemed to be
swelling. more rapidly than before. The levee,
from one end to the other, was entirely sub
merged, and in many places the water was
dashing into the store doors. From any stand
point on the levee yesterday the steamboats,
loomed high above the spectator, their chin
neys overlapping the tallest business houses.
The current was as swift as mill-race, bearing
on its turgid and tossing waves immense piles of
drifted wood and all manner of floating mate
rial. The water stretched far across Bloody
Island, and seemed to be entering the very
doors of the houses on the distant Illinois side"
Cahokis, an old French settlement, just be-
low St. Louis, on the Illinois shore, was nearly
submerged. The Mayor and several policemen
of St. Louis went down in steamboat and took
eff number of the inhabitants.
A gentleman who left Sioux city in skiff,
about the lst inst, taking the St. Louis steam
ers at Omaha, Nebraska, states that the Mis-
souri, river was rising at the rate of two feet in
six hours at Sioux city, and also rising rapidly
all the way down to St. Joseph, Mo. The Big
Platte, in Nebraska, was running out full, and
nearly all the bridges through the country had
been carried away. The steamer Platte Val
ley" laid up at Brunswick, Mo-, last week
Wednesday night, and while there the river
rose four feet she laid at Southport the fol-
lowing night, when the river rose three feet
The st. Louis Democrat of Saturday says:
"From Rocheport to the mouth, the river
is OVERLOOKING its banks, and the inhabitants
are leaving for dry land back in the country
among the hills. The rise now coming out of
Al L. A. e =. -
eight feet and very little, if any, of this great
swell has yet reached here"
Later from Utah-Return Of Gov. Cumming
Salt Lake City nearly Deserted.
st. Louis, June l6.-Col. Thomas L. Kane,
from Camp Scott, which he left on the 10th
ult., passed Bonneville last evening. He re-.
ports that Gov. Cumming bad returned, after
making an Intellectual attempt to arrest the
Mormon hegira to the south.
Salt Lake City and the northern settlements
were nearly deserted, few persons only re-
naming to guard the buildings. Forty thou.
sand persons are said to be in motion, their
trains extending for miles down the valley.
The advance trains are already three hundred
miles distant. To evade answering WHITTIER
bound, thay say they are going south, but it is
supposed their destination is Cedar Greek or
some part of Sonora.
There were no mules at Camp Scott.
The party met Col. Hoffmans train twenty
miles from Platte bridge.
Gen. JOHNSON intended awaiting the arrival
of the peace commissioners at Camp Scott.
Tie Indians are annoying the Mormons,
whom they call squaws, because they won't
fight.
Brigham Young delivered the great seal, the
&o - L. L..
destroyed, to Gov. Cumming. 4
The recent heavy rains had extended far
west, and all the streams were full.
From Utah.
Washington, June 20.-Col. Kane arrived
here last night bringing dispatches from Gov.
Cumming, whom he left at Camp Scott on the
l6.h ult. The dispatches were at once deliver.
ed to the President Of The United States. Their
purport has not officially transpired, but it is
ascertained that macy of the accounts with
which the public mind has been occupied are
erroneous, and calculated to deceive the coun.
try in respect to Utah matters generally. To
this fact may be attributed the uncourteous
refusal of Col. Kane to communicate with the
press.
1t is understood that Col. Kane denies the
truth of the telegraphic announcement from
Boonville intimating that the army would
move on the arrival of the peace commits
sioners, when in fact Gov. Cumming has re-
quested it to remain where it is until orders
shall be received from Washington.
Contrary to the reports so widely circulated,
Col. Kane does not admit that there has been
any such want of harmony between Gov. Cum.
ming and Gen. Johnston as would leopard the
public interests. He speaks in eulogstie terms
IS Ill . Ii IL
which that officer maintained in his forces, and
of the praiseworthy spirit manifested by the
army during the winter.
The friends of the Administration are mush
pleased with the manner in which Col Kane is
understood to allude to the conduct of Gov.
Cumming, saying that he is deserving of the
gratitude of the country.
There was great hope in Utah, as elsewhere,
that the war was at an end. A peace party
had been formed, and was suffc iently strong
in time to arrest the march of the Mormon
forces against our own last spring. 1t was the
impression in Utah that Brigham Young, who
openly espoused the cause of the United States,
would in this respect be able to maintain his
position.
There was at one time strong opposition to
him, before emigration Mas resolved upon, but
ever since this the feeling of hostility has been
subsiding. All the Northern settlements are
evacuated, with the exception of few Nor
mons left to guard the public property at Salt
Lake city. Besides these, there are no Nor.
mons forty miles south of that city. The
seventy families alluded to in a recent dis
patch did not, as stated, apply to Gov. Cum
ming at Camp Scott for protection. They
were brought there by him from Salt Lake
city.
Municipal Elections in Connecticut.
Waterbury, June l4.-At the annual city
election held here to day. Henry 7. Fish, on
the Citizen and Democratic ticket, was re elect.