Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-23
THE GREAT FRESHET.
ACCOUNTS BY MAIL.
The Flood In Pittsburgh, Rochester,
Utcs, Albany and Few England
Des trucf1On OF Life and Pro-
perty-HaiIr0ads. Canals and
TeIegraphs DesfrOyed-In-
cidents, Ske., dc.
cidents, Dc, de-


tructiveness of the great food thsn any
vet offered our readers.
THE FLOOD IN PITTSBURGH.
From the Pittsburgh papers we learn
that the food in that city was the greatest
ever known there with two exceptions
one in 1916 and one in 1882. The water
rose over thirty feet. Gas snd water were
both cut of, and great inconvenience caus-
ed thereby. The lower part of the city
was flooded. The greatest damage done
resulted from the destruction of castings in
the iron foundries, which were chilled by
the water. Two guns in the Fort Pitt
foundries were injured in this way. Ser
vices in several of the churches we're inter-
rupted. The following are among the in
cidents of the food;
A narrow escape is reported as occurring
at the mouth of Pine Greek On Saturday
morning, when number of persons in the
vicinity discovered 8 house floating down
the river, and closer examination reveal
ed the fact that 1t was occupied, as 3 Wo-
man could be seen waving white hand
kerchief as q signal. Notwithstanding the
fearful rspidity of the current of the river
at this point, the bystsnders secured several
skiffs and pulled out to the house. On
coming up to it, they found it was occupied
by the woman and two children, all of
whom, through the exertions of these brave
men, we're rescued from a watery grave
and landed safely on shore. The house,
which was of frame, was slso landed short
distance from the mouth Of the creek, and
made fast
The Cairo Ns,o8, speaking of the effects
of the food as seen down there, says;
Among the floating trophies of the pres
ent food, was q house that come down } es-
terdsy, and lodged against the bank, two
miles above the city. In it were discov-
cred the bodies of man and two children
who had been overtaken in their home
perhaps in the dead Of night, and swept off
to perish. While resting against the bank
the bodies were distinctly seen, but as all
the small craft are interdi cted, there wss
no mode Of reaching them, and the SWELL
ing river soon bore them on to another
resting place-but where2 There were
at least twenty houses seen floating past
the city yesterday. Three sheep took a
ride by here yesterday, on q little float,
afording quite novel spectacle to our
citizens.
Large quantities of properly we're saved
at the lower end of Smoky Island, but the
largest haul we have heard of wss at the
mouth Of Big Sewickley creek, where it is
estimated that fully 100000 worth of pro-
/ has gb,I
of bottom land, a short distance below,
about 81 acres m extent, is covered from
six to eight feet deep with oil barrels and
lumber, all in a confused mass, as left by
the water. 1t is said that the owner of the
land bought it for $40 per acre, and now
would not take 81, 900 per acre for It.
AT ROCHESTER,.
The telegraph has given US full details
of the destruction here. We append few
extracts from New York papers, giving q
graphic description of incidents.
From the Rochester Democrat extra.
SATURDAY, March l7-I2M.
At this hour the great food seems to be
at its height. The GeBesee river is no
longe confined to its channel anywhere,
and its turbulent waters rush through the
city in every direction. Three-fourths of
the city, (st least two square miles,, on the
west side of the river, is submerged. The
water dsshes over Main street bridge, COM
pletely hiding it from view, and plunges
furiously down Front street. The water is
three to six feet high in Main street, from
Water to StaJe street, from Main to the
Central Depot, and in all the streets and
alleys sdjscent.
The flood from Child's basin rushes down
Exchange place like mill race. Water is
two or three feet high in the Arcade, in
| spite of the distractions which have been
placed 10 keep it out. Boats have quilted
| Front, Nam and even State street, deeming
it no longer safe to venture there. Thou
sands of excited spectators throng all the
high ground on the east side of the rivers
and few adventures have gained a look
out on the Court House.
Andrews street bridge is partially car
ried away, and jostling crowd On the
east side is watching its struggle with the
surging waters that shake it and threaten
to tear it from its moorings. A great
crowd is also gathered at the falls, where
the mad river leaps through the gorge
where the Central Railroad bridge was, at
one side of which stands the sign, mock
cry now, "this bridge is the exclusive prop
erty of the Central Railroad Company"
And over the abyss below, beautiful sun
bow raises from the dirty water-to signify,
let US hope, that such deluge will never
visit Rochester again.
From the Buffalo Express, March goth:
Two square miles of the city must have
been entirely covered with the flood. Some
idea of the force of the inundation may be
drawn from the fact that street car, placed
on the Main street bridge for safety, were
swept away by current two feet in depth,
with such force thst one was driven into
an adjacent building, and the other passed
gracefully over the falls. Paving stones
several feet square were torn up and piled
in confusion on the street. The Wster
must have been twenty feet above the bed
of tho river The Main street bridge with
stood the food, although a portion of the
buildings erected upon it are swept away.
1t is in a damaged condition, however, and
for the present impossible.
The Genesee Valley is swept of bridges,
buildings, &C., to an alarming extent. A
DuI6du MtAb AoHo4 Oub VI Suo bkI6dIl ADOVe
Rochester on Saturday and found to con-
tain lot of papers, among which was q
deed of 100 acres of land in Mount Morris.
Fragments Of houses, Understanding
implements-goods,w wares and merchandise,
all passed down the stream in a mingling
mass.
The Genesee Valley Canal is regarded ss
among the things that were. 1t has been
pretty much swept out.
The Erie Canal is also very extensively
injured in the vicinity of Rochester. For
tunstely for the State the squeduct with.
stood the food. Its loss now would have
been irrepsrable.
AT SYRACUSE.
The Syracuse Standard gives full details
of losses in that city and the surrounding
country. The damage to the Salt Works