The Howard union., 1865-08-03
From the Leavenworth Cons ervative, July 90
A NIGHT OF HORROR AND TEN.
PEST.
Great Loss OF PrOperty-Severa
Persons DrOwned-Scenes of An
guish-ParticuFars of the Flood.

The damage and destruction caused BY
the rains and the great flood in Three
Mile creek on Thursday night, are much
greater than at first anticipated. The more
we review the catastrophe, the greater
swells the catalogue of losses sustained,
both by the city and by individuals.
A little after dark, on Thursday evening,
the rain began to descend, and soon came
as we never saw it before. 1t seemed to
strike the earth IN unbroken streams, as if
million engines were sending their waters
from the skies. The creek rose rapidly,
and even the streets of the city were trans
formed into temporary river beds under the
descending deluge. At about 8 o'clock the
stream began to threaten the houses situated
nearest and lowest upon its banks, and the
inmates began to remove their furniture.
But SO rapidly did the water accumulate
that many found themselves surrounded by
water as the first indication of personal
danger. The scene particularly about the
Broadway bridge soon became one surpass-
ing the powers of description. Houses
began to be dislodged from their founda-
tions, and the inmates unable TO escape,
were screaming for assistance. The night
was one of deep darkness, and the wild
mingling of supplicating voices with the
clash and roar Of the elements, while hun
dreds 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 light
nlng broke into the surrounding blacknes
as if in mockery to show the extent of tn,
horror and desolation caused by the water,
elements. One house was seen hoatin.
down with family Of four colored person.
upon it, shreking for assistance.
a vivid flash of lightning lit up the seen
just as The wild torrent swept them be
meath the arch of the bridge, and they wer
seen no more. BY heroic efforts many {
the unfortunate ones, who were hoatin
down upon drift-wood and wrecks of house.
were rescued from their peril and brough
TO the shore. One colored man was save
by some gentlemen stopping at the Grar
House, who worked their way out to hir
upon piece Of sidewalk, serving as q raf
Steve Quinlon saw man hanging 10 SON
driit-wood, and, tying rope around hi
own body, he made his perilous way to Il
exausted and drowning man, and with gre,
difficulty and exertion, brought him to shor
A woman named Tusher, residing shol
distance beyond the Grant House, save
her life by breaking through the ceiling an
climbing to the roof Many other instanc,
of narrow escapes and heroic deeds tranl
pired during this terrible night which "
cannot here record. The water reacht
its height about IL o'clock, when, the ra
abating, the waters subsided as rapidly
they had risen.
The number OF lives lost is unknow
Several are missing, and it is quite probab
that mahy are lost of which no cognizanc
can at present be taken. The bodies
eight persons, SO far as we can learn, ha,
been recovered They were taken frol
the creeks and gulleys between the Broat