The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-29
The Great Flood at LeavenwOrth.

Three Mile Creek, running through the
south part of the city of L~esvenworth
was flooded on the night OF Thursday
July 2Oth, by one OF the most terrible
storms ever known in that vicinity. We
extract from the LeavenwoIth Conserua.
tive of the 22d some facts in relation to the
food, and the loss of life and property
caused by it:
The creek rose rapidly, and even the
streets Of the city were transformed into
temporary river beds, under the descend
ing deluge. at about nine o'clock, the
stream began to threaten the houses situs-
ted nearest and lowest upon its banks, and
the inmates began to emove their furni-
ture. But so rapidly did the water accu-
mulste, that many found themselves sur
rounded by water as the first INDIGESTION of
personal danger. At eleven o'clock the
stream had risen full thirty feet The
scene, particularly about the Broadway
bridge, soon became one surprising the
powers of description. Houses began to
be dislodged from their foundations, and
The inmates, unable TO escape, were scream
ing for assistance.
The night was one Of deep darkness, and
the wild mingling of supplicsting voices
with the clash and roar of the elements,
while hundreds of excited citizens lined the
shores, eager but utterly unable TO render
assistance; conspired to render the spectacle
one of awe and sickening horror. Nothing
was TO be seen save when the vivid flashes
of lightning broke into the surrounding
blackn6ss as if in mOckery TO show the ex-
tent of the horror and desolstion caused by
the wstery elements. One house was seen
floating down with a family of four colored
persons upon it, shrieking for assistance.
A liVid flash of lightning lit up the scene
Just as the wild torrents swept them beneath
The arch Of a bridge, and they were seen no
more. By heroic efforts many of the IN
fortunate ones who we're floating down upon
drift-WOOd and wrecks of houses were res
cued from their peril and brought to the
shore. The water reached its height about
eleven o'clock, when, the rain sbating, the
floods subsidized as rapidly Ms they had risen.
The number of lives lost is unknown.
Several are missing, and it is quite probs-
bic many are lost of which no cognizance
can at present be taken. The bodies of
eight persons, SO far as we can learn, have
been recovered. They were taken from
the creek and gul,ies between the Broad
way and Fifth street bridges. They were
those of Pat Murphy, q freight cOntrsc
tor; Mr.. Turner, an employee of Mr.. M
Mr.. IWalt, proprietor of the Park Valley
House; Mrs. Coles, "a colored woman
and three children, and q colored boy. MIR.
Turner was drowned while struggling to
preserve the life OF Murphy. Mr.. Iwalt
had taken his wife and child to the Grant
House, and was returning to save some of
his goods, when he waded into deep water
and was drowned.
The loss of property to the city will
probably reach hundreds of thousands Of
dollars. SecoLd street bridge WAS washed
away, and such was the force of the water
that not q stone OF the structure remained.
Fifth street bridge wss also swept away,
and the culVerts on Delaware and Shawnee
streets badly damaged. Broadway bridge
remains unframed. The walks and pave
ments in various parts of the city, also
yielded to the inrosds Of the destroying
element.
The scene yesterday morning beggsrs all
description. The food had subsidized, and
the little stream was modestly pursuing its
way into the Missouri, as if unconscious or
regardless of the destruction and misery il
had created in the night before. It's banks
were strewn with the debris of ruined
houses, broken wagons, barrels, timbers,
etc, and here and there the %lifeless corpse
Of some poor unfortunate victim.