New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-06-04
REPoRToRIAL SKETCHES OF THE GREAT
FLOOD OF 1859.
The Bonnet Care crevasse.'

area of country and will prove equally destructive to
the crops. From original width of about twelve
feet it has gradually widened and deepened until it
has gained width Of twenty arpents or fye-sevenths
of mile and average depth Of about eleven feet,
the deepest point main channel Of the current be-
ing about nineteen feet. The water, as it rushes
through this immense BREACH presents fearfally
grand spectacle. The upheaving Of the waves, the
dashing RAPIDS and the almost deafenng of the
waters, reminding one of the seashore during the
prevalence of storm or Of the rapids just above the
cataract Of Niagara.
Of the damage already sustained by means Of this
crevasse it impossible to arrive anything beyond
approximate estimate.
OF the loss to the sugar crop, the damage already
sustained may be put down as in the immediate yicin.
ity Of fourteen thousand hogsheads or upwards Of
million Of dollars. Bat of the damage to hundreds |
of small and poor planters along the coast, for dis
tance of forty miles, and to equal number in the
thicky populated neghborhoods in the vicinity Of |
Lake Pontchartran and its little bayou tributaries it
is impossible to estimate it. |
In the matter of fences swept away, and damaged
buildings, and buildings demolished, and cattle
drowned, and poor laborers thrown out of employ
| ment, can only give you general and sweeping
idea OF the loss sustained and the misery caused by
| the inundation.
| pA0hS"sAoA
| Bolgny and Eganicho, in the parish Of st. John
Baptiste but has spread until the center of the break
is about the boundary line between this parish and
! st. Charles. These gentlemen generally make from
six to seven hundred hogsheads OF sugar. 1t is need
less to say that they loose everything in the shape of
crops, fences, etc., this year. The buildings on this
plantation carried away by the flood Of 1850,
and only temporary structures have since been erected
The next plantation below, is owned by Judge
Ross, who had about 600 acres in sugar when the
food came 1t is safe to estimate the loss on this
plantation at 1000 hogsheads. The whole place is
flooded.
Madam Oxley's place adjoins the last. This place
ordinarily produces about 800 hogsheads. small
Of the field is yet out of water, say abou
rs acres The remainder of the plantation is inu D.
. dated.
r The plantation of Madam Trepagnier is the next
below, and produces an average crop Of 1000 hogs
heads 1t is entirely Inundated, with the exception
oA the buildings, which elevated land and pro-
tected by circular levee in their rear.
The next place below is the old plantation of Messrs
). Onward and Labranche. Produced last year about
>, 1900 hogsheads. This plantation was sold recently
l. for the sum of $205 900. 1t is entirely inundated
, | The plantation Of Edgar Labranche, adjoining,
q contains about 800 acres in cane, all overfowed.
This plantation usually yields from 1900 to 1900 hog
n heads sugar.
a The McCutcheon plantation adjons the last, and
a standing higher in front than those just described
will loose less This plantation has about 1900
in cane, and usually produces about 1000 hogsheads
sugar. The back part Of the main field this place
is inundated The loss sustained is estimated at 70t
" hogsheads.
ID Pierre Soneat has 500 in cane, adjoining tn
r. last, lying about the same. Will make about half
,n crop.
From this pont-whcb IS about ten miles belov
se, the breakdown to within four miles above Carroll
of ton the plantations are less affected as the 1oo
N water retreats from the river and takes southeast
ely course through the swamps to the lake. Five
six planters below the Soneat place have an aggre
gate of about 1900 acres of cane covered the los
R. being estimated at $500 hogsheads sugar.
On the other Or upper side of the crevasse the frs
:" plantation inundated is the one belonging to Mr.!
George Perilloux This place has about 200 acres il
e te cane, all of which are inundated.
st Between this place and the next plantation of an
ce importance is small French settlement contanin
- eight or ten little plantations working from hal
H. dozen to forty acres of land These people feel th
It's effects of the overflow most seriously having lost
their fruit trees, consisting chiefly in oranges an
t peaches and their gardens, which, taken together
Dir was their chief reliance for income and veh oot
ch Their CATTLE too have been nearly all drowned
Ike in instances, sold at one fourth their value
- some heartless spectators, who, taking advantage
the distress of these poor wretches drove their
nd bargains and took their cattle at what would hay
been fair price for their hides In one sugar hous
in this neighborhood three of these unfortunate fan
zee lilies are hudded together, comparatively destitute
ty with their homes rendered uninhabitabe, and tt
tie limited sources of their subsistence swept away
the mercess flood, and with several cases of sckne
among them.
el This crude picture of misery is however, only OF
,vs of many which might be drawn in the Sc
Elements of the same description for thirty mill
above the crevasse and s perhaps to be taken as tt
pa one least deserving of sympathy,
ct. About one mile above the break comes the plant
ne ton of Mr. N. Louke Mr.. L. has from three to fo
ex hundred in cane, all of which are inundated
his buildings and surrounding grounds being protec
gh by private levee.
as Mr.. Lucen Montague cultvates about 150 acres
,an cane, next adjoining the Louke plantation all
ex which are covered by the water.
The next plantation is that owned by Mr. Samu
i Hollngsworth Mr.. FL. has 800 out of 400 acres
mes under water the remaining 100 being pr
in tected by back levee.
j. The plantation of Montz Bro. adjoins. This pla
usually produces abont $50 hogsheads. This year
oIk for next season.
sre The Widow Charles Russell makes abont 400 hog
@ heads This year she will loose the entire crop.
nd, The Pecon place adoins the last, and has his Cal
will field protected by back levee, which has thus
held out against the tremendous pressure of the watt
a; This sugar field with its alternate rows of corn al
me cane presents curious appearance, looming up Iii
hey an oasis in the midst of the desert of waters
lds, Immediately above, and adjoining this pantatic
Sat is the place of Madame Veckenes, which has 2
,ith acres in cane, all under water.
get Adjoining this is the plantation of NJ Zaver Lew
cen This place usually makes about 500 hogsheads OF
10Y gar-is badly overnowed on the rear portion, b
to saves about half the crop, the front portion bel
,me high and dry. This place is about three and h
that m;Ias above the creyasse
rniS .I NJ Semean Labranche owns the next plantati
adjoining the last This place generally makes abb
t. l 900 hogsheads. 1t is badly overaowed, and Y
lare not produce over 200 hogsheads this season.
six The next place is that of Mr.. Andre Desloni
dust This is large plantation, generally yielding alb
rect 1900 hogsheads The front portion is dry, but
hdiC raor i, ouerhowed Will nro1rce about half n CT