Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-22
THE FLOOD IN UPPER EAST TEN
NFSSEF

From the Knoxville Commercial, March 6.
We are now in the midst of terrible
food. The waters are upon us, and still
continue 90 come The valuable bridge
across the Holston has been swept away,
and not vestage, can now be seen to indi-
cate that such structure ever stood. The
rain continues TO fall, and at present writ
ing, 8 r. NJ, there is no indication that it
will cease. The water has now reached
the highest water mark knownto the stream,
if our information is correct. The tur-
bid waters 20 rushing by, bearing on its
surface fences, bridges remnants Of build
ings, and every conceivable floating sub
stance that comes in its way. The dam
age to the country must be immense and
if the water does not recede, before many
hours, Parks steam saw mill, and John
Coker's mill, and Williams warehouse,
with all the buildings on the bank will, be
swept away.
LATER.--The rain continues to fall, and
is falling in tSgrenis, ana the river rapidly
rising. The water IL higher than ever be-
fore known, and thunder and lightning are
blazing and booming from the dark, heavy
clouds that hang over us. 1t is gloomy in
deed.
From the Knoxville Commercial. March s.
On the night of the %, storms came and
and such storms: All will remember
that the rains fell in torrents, the lightnings
flashed, and the thunders clasbed, and from
Saturday night Sunday and Sunday night;
Monday and Monday night Tuesday and
Tuesday night Wednesday and Wednes-
day night, up to Thursday morning, the
rain continued to fall, and the floods con-
tinue to follow. Up to present writing,
IL, NJ, Thursday, the water is now eight
feet seven inches higher than ever before
known to the oldest residents of Knoxville
and still rapidly rising.
We have just returned from two hours
trip around the city. II is not over esti-
million of dollars will not cover the loss
sustained by the people of East Tennessee.
We have already learned of over four
thousand bushels Of corn that have been
washed away, and from Williams Island
his entire stock of cattle have been lost.
The old warehouse filed with valuable
property attached to Parks mill, has been
swept away.
Two O'CLOCK, P. M.-Ihe water is now
reported forty-two feet above low water and
nine feet above high water mark, or that
much higher than ever known. The old
feed store, near the slaughter house has
hoated away. Mr.. Dobson's house has also
gone, and Mr.. Cheatham's new house stu
ated in the rear of the Mcpherson House,
has also gone.
Four O'CLOCK, P. M.-At this time the
water apparently has reached its highest
point, as for the past thirty-five minutes
there has been no perceptible advance. The
main building of John Coker's mill is still
standing. The old Williams warehouse is
also left with us, and the Parks mill still
remains. First creek which passes through
the town from the railroad to the river, has
been very much swollen, but the principal
damage has resulted from the back water
of the Holston river. The Main street
bridge was raised up and fOated from its
bearings, and the timbers we're saved by
bringing them ashore The Cumberland
street bridge, which is covered, was saved
by removing the planks and allowing the
water to have full play, and az here was
no current it was not otherwise injured.
Second creek, at the foot of Main street
presented a very animated appearance.
The East Tennessee University students
Keep UOdb llltIG lOl llib tAoC Va bAACiAAoSlh
and other passers by. Several buildings in
this vicinity were submerged to the second
story windows
The rain has ceased, and We now trust
we have seen the worst. Nearly every
| family living on the streets near the river,
have been sufferers TO a greater or less ex-
tent. The amount of damage, at this time,
| cannot be estimated. A large number of
families have been rendered homeless for
| the present, and a portion have lost their
homes by being carried away by the food.
The water stands at this time, ten feet and
seven inches higher than known to the
oldest inhabitant.
Trains left here as usual yesterday on the
East Tennessee and Virginia road. Trains
hitherward were ordered TO stop at Jones'
| boroon Wednesday night, and the telegraph
line being down, the orders could not be
| countermanded President Branner and
! Superintendent Hoxie left at / p. NJ, yes
terday, determined to bring trains through
if it could be done with safety to passengers.
No serious damage is known to have oc-
Cured, and the only bridge threatened is
believed to be that of Flat creek, which is
perfectly safe as vet. The definitions oi
trains are simply the result of wise ppecau-
tons on the part of the managers of the
road, for whish the travelling public should
argue safety.
| From the Knoxville Commercial, March 10.
| We have inst returned FROM trip around
the town. The water is receding far more
rapidly than it came upon Us. We tind
many families in a destitute condition
without either supply or ready means, ant
probably with but little credit. They vii
now be compelled to seek aid from thost
who are so fortunate as to have something
to give. Let all be generous who can.
We learn thas a span of the Strawberry
Plains bridge arrived here about two
o'clock yesterday, evidently on the way
somewhere on its own account The thing
was taken in charge by some of our enter
prising boatmen, and they will probably
get liberal reward from the railroad com
pany for its detention.
From the Knoxville Commercial. March y.
We learn from the engineers Of Oh,
| Knoxville and Charleston railroad that
from the calculations they have made, tn
water in the Holston river rose forty-threi
feet and five inches above low water mark
and that il stood at that time, eight hun
dred and fifty feet above the level Of th'
sea. All our citizens know the aPparen
height of the stone piers for the railroad
bridge across the Holston. The water, a
one time, was two feet and five niche
above the top of them. The water com
menced falling at AZ o'clock, P. NJ OF
Saturday.
We learn that the only serious damag
done 10 the East Tennessee aud Virgins
road is the loss of four spans of Strawberr,
Plains bridge and the Flat creek bridge
Aside from this the damage is easily r.
paired. And unless the weather prove
very stormy these damages will be repairs
and the trains running regularly again 4
the expiration Of ten days, In the meal
time passengers and mails will be take
across the river by boats to connect wit
trains on either side. President Branne
and Superintendent ]. f. Hoxie will pns
these repairs to the utmost until completed
and everything in their power will be don
to aid the travelling public.
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