The New York herald., 1867-03-22


Heavy Loss Of Property-The Damage in
Blount COunty-Sufering Among the Peo-
pie. &c.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, March IS. 1867.
Az no mention is made in the NEW YORK HERALD of
the 18th instant received here last night OF the terrible
flood which has devasted East Tennessee I conclude
that the telegraphc and other correspondents have
failed to apprse you of it. therefore send you brief
sketch of such matters have fallen under my own
servation.
The month ushered in with as bland and cheerful
weather as often occurs even in this favorite climate
but on the I'd inst heavy storm Of rain commenced
which continued with only few occasional hours of in
ermission until late in the afternoon OF the Sih The
usual rains of February had raised the Holson ard its
tributaries few inches, perhaps something than
foot above the ordinary ievel but apprehension
entertained until The 4th, when the detention of
trains, both East and West, and the constantly
Increasing depth OF in te river threatening the
bridge the Holson bult by government in 1863
Oil began excite alarm Dwollers ths river banks
called upon TO give shelter to their neighbors
whose houses stood closer to the rising waters and
many Of the lesser buildings carried of during the
night Of the 4t This doefu condition Of things was
aggravated by the continued until the night of the
9th, when the bridge was carried away. Meanwhe the
water from the river had backed up around the less
elevated land in the vicinity, and view from either OF
the hills rpon which Knoxville situated proclaimed
the city an island. On the river banks hundreds OF
groups Of from ten TO fifty persons might have been
any honr between daylight and dark watching
the invasion Of the Hood and specuatng upon the prob
abilities Of certain buildings, which had been believed
to he rods above high water mark being taken down
stream. From the morning Of the 9Th until the food
began to abat the emigration Of whole families Of poultry
porke and more ponderous live stock in or1gna pack
ages in crbs stables and every description of out
building was E witnessed BY .dnrng shrongs on the
OF water. reaped harves Of tho above mentioned
clcs as well as OF hay corn, oats kc by the dcxrous
Providence tempting would pull into the seeh
ing current load their sks canoes and come back
n.repdisy worthy Of more IL lucrative reward
Still the water rose Tho bride gone, and no comma
nication with "South Amcrca'-as the Holston
district calIed-and the highways and byways being
inundated on all sides else, the price Of eggs, butter,
potatoes and other sdbles IN which your honsokeopng
nary drug In the MARKET became as sterling as gold,
and poverty stared ms Knoxvians in the face Alas
In the Holston valley, from the Waauga to the Ten
river tho dssolaon has been caused by
flood that has occurred in immediate neghborhood
The is in the valley Of the Qinch from Cum
berand Gap TO the point. few items from Knox
ve with such as have been ablo to gather from some
what extensive travel the inundated DISTRICTS may
interest readers.
AT Knoxville three saw mills have been completely
ruined two having boen washed away entirely, ard the
other only saved by being moored by the strongest
hawsers to bo OBJ aincd machinery OF cach total loss
Aggregate loss estimated at Warehouses; with
contents entirely gonc-noatcd from foundations
total loss estimated at $46 000 Sash and blind factory
with machinery and iumber loss slo,o Pottery. in
$50 Other buildings, Of different value, al least
$4,000 Bridge, estimated at $4,000. Total FOR Knox
vle $21s,000 This does not include the losses
OF those ON First and Second crooks, who. being In
somewhat reduced circumstances feel their losses more
keeny perhaps than the capitalists.
In Blount county the section which l have
passed exhibits more deporablc state Of Affairs than
swollen to degree never before heard Of and those
which ordinarily had gentle current were converted
into torrents. On Little river, seven eight
m min hnla rstlu
away. save one house, an old tavern, which had q
few years since been surrounded by fruit trees.
subsoil and the house being washed against them was
retained on the arm On both sidos OF this for
es entire iarms were aenuded OF their TOP SOIL and
buildings, both dwellings and outbudings gone;
and In many cascs the and stables contained
in almost incacuabe quantities The mills griss and
saw-of one firm were carried one knows where; but
found three miles down stream after the water receded
Osbornes Island about three hundred acres was occu
but what they stood in and nine horses which latter
they succeeded In swimming above mile TO the main
ns % @ nsI soa ns 2, n sSn $
oneiourth Of he area and thai not the most wealthy
Above us and in the valley or the Cinch, the same
general rules III apply The railroad bridge Sas Ten
and vrgnia at Strawberry Plans Suffered to the
been ia use only about ten days prsvios the food
Miles OF railroad submerged and II Is estimated
that not less than forty miles between tbs point
and Iynchburg, Va, must be entirely renovated ~.
We hear that the Louisville andlNsshvlc Railroad is
washed badly; but that Is merely rumor, which
will not be confirmed There is NO communication
that learn OF any point between Charleston the
East Tennessee and Georgia road and Nashville One
isns sy may as ss IIs
higher than ever known before, and hfty.one
fees and eleven inches above ordinary low
The distress consequent upon this terrific flood
that OF any period OF the war; where m devastating CT
fscts have reacted An opportunity will doubles be
afforded 10 the benevolent ~ the North aid in aevi
ating the srfenng from this cause. II. ". s.