New-York daily tribune., 1861-06-08
FROM RED RIVER.
RUCTIVE FLOOD

The Toronto GLOBE has received The Nor We5ter
Of the let of May. The principal item Of interest was
a great flood which was causing much damage. 30
great was the rising Of the water that The Norfester
says: The general food which is overspreading the
country will neceste temporary suspension IN the
publication of The Nor Wester If the waters con-
tinus to rso any longer shall be compelled to MI
crate with the multitude ~ distant ridges, and ENJOY
the red mans life for weeks. Should they recede
We shall continue uninterruptedly; but there may be
difficulty in the delivery nearly all the bridges are
swept away. The following graphic description Of the
flood is given:
As we write, the waters of the Red River have al
most rolled in at our Doors and there s every indlca.
ton that We arc on the Of great flood. Already
the settlers have been hittog from the river banks Ia
oil directions Fear is contsgous and in such crisis
as he present. not few invariably become seized of
apprehen ensons enough TO fiIhen a whole city full
making Themselves and their neighbors miserable as
possible Timid settlers have packed mp set their
homesteads in order, and are of; even the boliert
think it il high time 10 prepare for the worst And
Judging from preeeut appearances the prospect is we
must confess rather startling. The unusually large
quantity CT snow which fell during the Winter has en-
tirey disappeared within the past fortnight. The
creeks have been all olen to the size OF rivers and
the main river has received from this sonrce and IRON
ts numerous larger tributaries such copous supplies
that ever since the ice commenced TO break up the
channel has been constantly widening and deepening,
until the waters have all but overtopped even the
highest portions Of the banks.
Here cannot f0rbear pansing 70 tell our foreign
readers that this annual oOsenng Of the chains Of Win
ter from off the Red River l. sight well worth tho
seeing. For days previous 10 the grand disrnp-
on this year the waters fast rsng, Struggling
IA il were TO nd Themselves Of their Icy burden. Az
last came the Winter finale. With loud crash the Ice
was rent and driving before them in wild confusion,
the liberated waters rushed down. Within the Arctic
circle one might expect such scene; II feenied
srnrcely apropOs to our genial cline. river oi Ice
wus hurrying past. Huge Hoes were toesed upon
others by the force of the current and sp mp into
fragments. Ice boulder, with a coating OF earth,
came tumblng elong, looking, as they were forced
over preceding masses. like fabled monsters Of the
do, p, dispOrting themselves.
Anon thew disappeared "a elds OF ice came crushing
aiong-makug tbe waters boil and eddy ae they swept
everything before them with resisess miyht-clsspin0
close the trees which impeded their the bor
dsrs of the channe-tearing them up by the rootsnnd
cutting away the hanks themselves. This scene lasted
many days. The settlers were meanwhile buslly
"gaiiug wood ell day long, ss il iOated by them.
Some OF the industrious seculed in this way hrewood
sufficient TO keep the pot boiling all the winter; and
there were few who were not I'll. richer by TWO or
three cords. pheasants, ducks geese, cranes
and other tea,hered spring visitors, few in large ocks
-grey birds and blue birds ctirped and tTtered Gs
they hoppei from bruch 10 branch Of tie taess trees
and all nature revived and freshened under the genial
warmth ot the sun.
Al srch a ioyons season alarm seemed ont of place,
and few entertained il. Soon, however It vss ad
mited all hands that there were grounds Tor lear
As early as Il fortnight ago. the main Tiyer broke
bounds at many pOnts in thssetement and elsewhere
Al JeOrpe:own il completely Inundated The lnhab
tants-greatly deranglng the plans and WORKSHOPS oi
th- euteTprisug owners OF the Anson Northlir, ana
hoating that pioneer craft herself a long distance
into the woods, where she got entanged with some
twenty feet OF water under her, In the Companys
warehouse there the lilh inst, three feet OF
water; but fortunately the goods were all saved from
damage.
The water was not rising 70 quickly at this date;
but. according TO accounts forwarded to Gov. Mac
lavish by Mr.. A. IL. Murray, dry land was visible
from that place, except small ridge on which the
Company cattle were feeding. From Brcckiuridge
TO Georgeown the whole country was reported 10 be
submerged; and between the latter place and this
settlement the land iast dis appearing. The water
in the Company store at Pembna was two feet deep
on the 2]d ult. Ten miles this side Of Pembina, Mr..
Hugh Cameron, well known here, had been driven
from Home by the waters; and, at last accounts, the
house itself had hoated of.
Throughout "A very great section Of our own infant
colony the overlooking OF the river has caused much
confusion and dis,ress Soaltihy and steadily, day
after day, the waters No one dreamed oil being
driven from their home by the treacherous element,
but its progress watched with wonder and alarm.
Six and sometimes twelve inches Of rise between
sundown ard sunise brough, matters TO crisis with
very many before long. The river was at their doors
IN their dwellings. Then they fled from house TO
house-stu hoping the wa'ers woult abate. Fourteen
creasng iumiuency of general food which might,
probably, be greater and more ruinous than any OF its
predecessor. The creek bridges were ali swept away,
60 tha, travelling on horseback on foot became diff
cult and dangerous. To linger longer IN their home
steas seemed 10 many madness Cattle could scarcely
be poI across the creeks in their present state, and
every day only making matters worse. No the
" dumb animals we're troted OF TO IN eminence Dig
niied with the name Of ." Stony Mountain" and other
high lands
By and bye numbers Of the good people themselves
were in full march for the sgme Destination. Some
whose houses were in dangerous proximity to the
river, carried with them all their household stuff
Others had safely slowed away theirfurniture &c. in
the upper story before they deserted their homes and
merely brought with them provisions cooking utensils
and tent. This is the fitting of lSl, and goes or
as we pen these lines II il truly strange unlocked
Occurrences and one that will tend much 10 damage
the repnaion OF the settlement here and elsewhere
should be followed by anything like general food
We sinesrey hope such viii not be the care.
Thus far the change in the natural features Of the
Familiar headands have wholly disappeared aud be-
fore ne rolls river broad and WIDE, ard Deep as the
Mississippi at Go!ena Along liz course hundreds
y-hourly-msking its constant rise; and On all
sides IFS approach closer 10 every door s found 10 be
unintermtent.
On the American side of the river Kittson, Cava.
er Marion and the other settlers were flooded ou, by
the 23d nit. The main river-which had week
before invaded the habtations and stores Of August
Schubert, A. X. Gerald ALL in fact who had perched
themselves upon the Pointhad at this climbed above
the caves Of Thibauls house and left nothing OF hs
barn diseernabe save the ridgepole Gerald stable
dissolved all connection with terra irma Wednes-
day morning last, and went sailing down the shining
river as malcacsy as the crazy old structure couid
As the waters rse many more stately edifce - likely
to follow In its wake On the east bank of Red River
all the buildings in the neighborhood Of ST. Bonifaee
at least, surrounded by water Most OF the occu-