The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-02-24
The Great Freshets at the west

1
The Cincinnati papers Of Monday are filled will
accounts of the freshets in the Western rivers
From the Gazette, Of Monday morning, We selec
the following:
The present overflow in the Ohio river and tri
butaries is a novel feature for this time Of the
year. In the middle OF February, generally, the
c1fdest days Of winter prevail yet, this season n
| now presents an atmosphere Of almost spring
warmth, accompanied by vivid lightning, heavy
.hnnder and tremendous iucessant rains. Sstur-
day was Just such Il day, and yesterday the wea-
fher was clear, with high and powerful March
Winds The river opposite this port was steadiI Y
advancing when We left the levee, at O late hour
last night With ity-three feet water in the chan
nel BY the water works conpany's esuye The
water was within four feet Of the second ioor OF
| the buildings below Main street, and six and a
BAH ieet OF the second floor OF the buildings above
Broafway, with fifteen inches water 10 The Gel
iar OF tue spencer House on the corner Of Front
ana broadway. Much apprehension was mani
Tested yesterday morning that the water would
yet advance from five to ten feet more but last
evening the intelligence from above, aud indica.
lions oil the weather, dispeiled all such fears and
the general opinion prevailed that the river would
be stationary this morning. The encroachmeuts
OF the water upon the buildings commenced ON
Saturday, SO that by evening, the occupants with
their miscellaneous traps" had moved to more
cougenlsl quarters. This freshet is within three
feet III Inches OF the rise of 1858, when the water
was up to the curb stones on the southeast corner
OF Front and Broadway. The rapidity of the
rise this time, however, 10 much greater than il
was then.
SO great was the anxiety of cur citizens 10 wit
ness the mighty water as it went rolling down,
that the ferry boats were tbr0uged to their ut-
most capacity TO and fro the entire day while on
the ievee there could not have been less than
$4,000 persons, pstrolling the wharf during the
day. The weather turning off quite cold last
evening, will have beneficial influence in caas-
ing rapid recediug river.
The overflow Of the LckiD. river has sur
! rounded many of the houses in Newport and
C1vington with water, forcing the occupants to
move into the second stories As yet 10 great
damage has been done to property here, except to
the gardeners along Mill Creek, the water having
backed up that ''muddy marsh" to the Brighton
House, iDundatiDg the bridges and railway tracks
OF both roads, but not enough to interrupt travel
All the water courses are ~ flood height above
and below, inundating all the low lands for miles
around, carrying away fences and doing immense
damage to crops and private property. This is
particularly the case along the Musaugum. Sci
ota aud Ksnawha rivers. The rains have been
tremendous, and generally eastward aud west
ward, so tnat anything like an approximation TO
she real amount of damage done, cannot at this
| time be arrived at. The Argyle, Jenny Grey, and
Caledonia, from above, bring the latest intelii-
gence in relation to the water and overflow
Smith Metcaf's landings under water. and
the citizens were alarmed for their safety. At
Ripley, the water was up in the second story OF
the tobacco warehouse, and all the tobacco re-
moved. The Caledonia landed at Richmond and
took out OF Gibson's distilIery several hundred
barrels Of whiskey, there being no secure place
TO stow 1t. The water was up into the streets
and at Neville, the 5luice dividing the town from
the landing, was bank full, cutting off all inter-
course with the river, except by skffs. Muskjn.
| gum, kanawha, Scota, Big Sandy, Little Miami
aud all the side streams reported bank full
| aud Jisiug fast when the Argyle passed down.
| Tho Jacob Strader, from Louisville, brings dis
couragiDg accounts OF the river hence to and a,
| Louisville. Big Miami aud Kentucky rivers are
| unusually high, and rising rapidly. At Lawrence
| burg, the water va. up into the Iown aud in the
lower part skiffs we're brought into requisition to
| go from house to house. Nevay Was ia a similar
| predicament. Warsaw is almost entirely sur,
rounded by water, and below the town a sea o
water for miles can be seen. The entire country
is represented TO be under water, and fences and
trees swept off in large quantities.
| At Louisville, the water is up into the house;
along Water street, and up to the Third ST. bridge
| Falls pilots dispenssbe institution, 70,
boats can go down and up with ordinary pilot,
| quite easily. The lower Ohio is bank tuil, anc
fears of an overflow are entertained at Evansvill,
| and Cairo. Capt. James Z. Fisher, who srriyec
| from New Orleans yesterday noou, via rail iron
| Cairo, informs Us that the rains on the prairies
and along the Wabash valley, have been YER,
great. and that almost the entire couatry Ia unde
| water Wabash, Green ant White rivers were a
| food height. aud at TIncennes reports were mad,
| of heavy damages to farms along the Wabash val
ley. Ali the prairie roads were oVerfiUwed, es pc
ciaily along the Illinois, Alton, Terre Haute ant
| Indianapolis routes. The railroad tracks coult
not be seen, and trains appeared to be plowiDg O.
| calling through 8 sea of wateis.