Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-17
CHATTANOOGA.
THE GREAT DELUGE.
Progress Of the Flood until
it Reached its Climax.
DAMAGES AND: DEsoLATIoN
SCENES AND ENCIDENTS-INTE
EsTING DETAIIS.s


We are indebted to Mr.. E. B. Hamlin,
of st. Louis, who arrived direct from Chat
tanooga last evening for a copy of the
Chattanooga American Union Of Thursday,
containing full and interesting details of
the ravages Of the food At that place. We
give the more material and interesting por-
lions Of the narrative, being compelled to
omit great deal of what would be deemed
uninteresting incidents and details.
From the Union, March I.
Commencing at an early hour on Sunday
morning, with scarcely an intermissiOn
until the present writing, the rain has come
down in torrents. Every little run IS now
z roaring torrent, while the creeks have
become rivers, and the Tennessee river is
worthy Of being styled a huge lake. From
every direction we hear of the destruction
of bridges and the carrying away Of tres
tle-work. Communication by rail with
Nashville and Knoxville is cut of, and a
few hours will render wagon communication
with the surrounding country an impossi-
bility. No mails were received from north,
east or west yesterday, and it is scarcely
possible that any will be received for day
or two. Fortunately the telegraph lines
are yet standing, and by means of our dis
patches we are still enabled to hold COM
munication with the outside barbarians.
After dark, with the increasing food,
several cabins were reported to have been
seen floating down the river, and faint cries
as Of persons in distress were heard by
people in the vicinity Of the river, but the
darkness and the fearful storm prevailing
prevented any assistance from being az
forded to the sufferers.
The inhabitants Of the house near the
bridge, on the river bank, were compelled
to Elove early in the morning.
THE STREETS
Were nearly submerged, and the extern
pore mountain torrents which poured into
them from the numerous hills rendered it
both difficult and dangerous for pedes-
trians.
Several companies were organized yes
terday for the establishment Of lines of
ferries at the crossings, and Others were
seriously considering the propriety of
ierial bridges, such as they now use in New
York city. The miser portion Of our citi
zens discouraged these enterprises, ODE
cause" they said, nobody wants to go
out now while il rains, and when the rain
is over these things viii be of no use"
TRAVEL. FROM THE COUNTRY
is almost entirely cut of. The backwater
has overlooked the flats between the city
and Mission Ridge, and Citico and Chatta-
nooga creeks have united, so that wagons
can neither come in nor go out, and eques-
trians will be compelled to swim their
horses for a considerable distance.
From the Union. March 8th.
THE VIEW FROM CAMERON HILL,
was worth seeing, and hundreds of our cili-
zens assembled its PERCEPTIONS sides to observe
the unwonted spectacle of Chattanooga
converted into an island. Far and wide at
every point, therespread one tranquil sheet
Of water, reaching from ridge 10 ridge and
shutting us off completely from the outer
world. Here and there the little hills APP
peared az islands; trees were growing in
the water which almost covered their top
most boughs; all the ravines running up
into the mountains were rivers a good
d.
from near the waterWorks through the old
corral and so up to near the Crutchfeld
House, while another, striving to meet it
from the other side, had already submerged
the Vulcan Iron Works and was making
insidious attempts upon the Office Of the
Nashville and Chattanooga railroad
Just before dark large lot Of timber.
believed to be part of the bridge which
was built over the river at Knoxville, came
down the stream. The centre of the mass
struck against the pier Of the draw, break
ing il in two and the fragments continued
on its journey.
A portion Of the bridge near the opposite
shore of the river, hoated off during the
afternoon and went sailing down the turbid
torrent.
Log cabins and small frame buildings to
the number of at least twenty-five went
down the river during the day. There
were no occupants in any Of them as far a.
could be discovered.
Men in canoes and skiffs were working
about the saw-mills and lumber-yards try-
ing TO secure their property. Houses we're
moored to stumps with long ropes, while
others etermined to eclipse the feat reported
in the Chicago papers of moving house
a mile and a half in fifty minutes, went
gaily careening down the stream at the rate
of six miles an hour. The road at the foot
Of Cameron Hill was completely overhowed.
and little but the roof could be seen of the
house usually occupied by our late worthy
Mayor, Hon. c. f. Lewis.
From the Union, March 9.
Market street was inundated yesterday
at the corner of Eighth street, and prob
ably by the time this article is read the
greater portion Of that street may be sub
merged.
DAMAGES.
These cannot be estimated at present.
The losses Of our merchants and business
men, who have been compelled to move
their goods or have lost a part by water,
Will foot up 10 quite formidable sum.
The losses that will be felt the most how
ever, are those Of the farmers and land
owners throughout the valley Of the Ten
1essee. Hay, corn, grain, live stock, every
hing movable, have been swept away by
he Hood
The saw mill belonging to LOOMS 4
Bennett, started yesterday on a trip down
ne flNefy as ulu also the HousS lattl1 NWeil I!
n by Mayor Lewis.
Standing upon Cameron Hill about
2 NJ, we observed the large building on
he levee, formerly used by the quarter
masters department as a store house, and
which was sold last spring to Mr.. A. G.. |
'harp--a large frame building over one
hundred feet long-swing gently from its
foundations before the current, and moved /
randy down the stream, with ali the /
'arrels on TOP still standing and filled with
water.
Reports are afoai that whole families
ave been drowned, but We have heard of
10 well authenticated instance as vet, al
hough the suffering among the poorer
lass has been intense and nearly four
hundred poor creatures, men, women and
hildren, are tonight houseless, homeless
nd starving. Those to whom they have
hitherto looked for assistance are them
elves so busily engaged in protecting their
va property that they have little time TO
pare for charitable deeds ID seems, in
eed, as though upon our fair land the