The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-11
LOCAL MATTERs.

The Weather, yesterday, was rainy and dis
agreeable, and business generally in the city,
Of all sorts and descriptions, rather inactive
in consequence. James River, at this point,
has within the past two days risen six or
eight feet. The water continued to rise yes
terday. Mayo's island, at the south OF the
toll bridge, was nearly covered, though we
believe none of the lumber owned by Messrs.
John Il George Gibson, who have saw
mill thereon, was lost, owing to timely pre-
cautionary measures. Sundry animals We're
drowned. One COW, alive and kicking, float
cd past Mayo's bridge about twelve O'Clock,
evidently an unwilling voyageur, though un-
able to extricate itself from surrounding diff
ficuities. The wharves at Rockets Were sub
merged, though no particular damage was
done, save that which was consequent on the
introduction of the surplus fnid, which
blocked mp the strrets and impeded locomo-
ton. Extra moorings We're req ulred by some
Of the vessels at the wharves, TO prevent the
flood carrying them off. A large quantity Of
drift wood was f1oated off from the " low
grounds bordering on James river above and
below this city. Shockoe Greek was surging
and boiling in an unusual manner. Some Of
the cellars in the lower part Of the city were
filled with water, and goods damaged. The
water was not SO high, however, rs 1t was
five years since. NauAhall Is still above
ground.
The water was a it's greatest height yester-
day evening, when large proportion OF Rock.
! etts WAS overfiowed, tho tide making up TO
| the rear of Col. Haskins' store. The incon.
| that part of the city was much increased by
| the heavy volume of water forced back by the
| inilowing tide. A woman and two small chill
| dren, who were in one of the houses, which
| was fast being filled with water, made a very
| narrow escape from drowning in endeayorlng
| to reach terra frAa. The stout arms and
| willing hearts of number Of their neighbors
| saved them from watery grave.
| We learn that the Central Railroad has sus-
| tained serious injury--so much so that the
mails will not leave by that route for several
| days TO come--the earth has been washed very
| badly in sundry places along It's line of travel
| by the Fredericksburg Road, and have only to
| add that it's officers have as yet been unable to
| determine its extent.
Many farmers complain that the water has
destroyed their crops by overflowing their
| lands, besides carrying away bridges, mills
dams, drowning cattle, &c.
| The Chickahominy bridge has been washed
| away, and the freShet is higher at the
Swamp than has been known to be the case
for 40 years. The turnpike low grounds, and
all places capable of retaining water, AZ,
| oyertloWed
a friend, writing from Henrico county, un
der date of yesterday, says: The rain, sine,
Saturday, has suspended all farming opera
| tions no corn has been planted, and the fla
land wheat is all submerged several feet
Such fall of water in this section has no
been known since "Gabriel's Insurrec tion,
which happened in the year 1900. gentle
man who was one OF the Richmond troop a
| tnaI tline ana VINO STOOD guard on the mil Il
the Brook Bridge on that memorable night
informed me that the en- tire Brook stream GOV
cred the whole fiat from hill to hill, SOM
three q uarters of a mile Wide. The same fla
is now covered with water as then. l hav
known the Brook for 40 years and have neve
known the waters SO high as now
| We have learned since the above was writ
| ten that the strong stone abutInent bridg
| built over the stream crossing Bacon Quartz
Branch has been washed away, or under
| mined as to render il unfit for use when tn
| waters shall have retired.