The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-16

The Flood-Condtt1on OF ofChattanoogn-LosS
Citixens-The WI Water Fifteen Feet Higher
than ever Known Before.
The Atlanta Iateligencer says: t.-.-i
From a gentleman who left Chattanooga at o
lete hour on Monday evening last We have obtained
few particulars Of the terrible state OF affairs in
that unfortunate city. At the time he left, the
ing, and the whole country presenting the appear
ance of vast SEQ of water. He was guest at
tho Crutchfeld House. where he remained until the
water reached the veranda, when it was deemed
water continued to rise steadily until it reached
the ceiling Of the first story Of that hotel, after
which, being in other parts of the city, he saw
nothing more Of it.
On Market street, tho main business thoroughfare,
the water was ten feet deep ut the highest points,
or oyer The tops Of the awnings in front OF the
large stores. The goods had been removed to the
second stories Of the buildings, where it is believ-
ed they would be safe and the necessity OF remoV-
ing thent to 9 more secure point was not seen IN
of the dry goods, provisions, &C., were destroyed:
Our informant estimates that at least twothirds Of
the city is literally destroyed. lie saw small
houses floating hither and thither, while many
large ones had either tumbled over or were falling
asunder. ..-'
The scene was one OF wild confusion-in Iaot, 30
terrible as to beggar description. Persons who
had remained in their homes in the vain hope
that the waters would recede, were compelled IN
some instances to make their exit through the
roofs, and escape in boats. He could not give
an opinion as to the number OF lives lost, but
they were numerous, and he saw many very mar
row escapes. The citizens we're going hom house
to house in bouts, assisting each other, and en-
deavoring to save articles OF personal apparel and
few valuables. While this was the case, how
ever, with the better class, hatwretched popula-
ton, SO peculiar to Chattanooga composed Of ne
groes and vasabond white men, were busy in tax
ing advantage of the situation by the perpetration
Of robbery and other acts Of lawlessnes. Great
loss from that cause will result to families whose
homes had been abandoned.
On the hills adjacent to the city were huddled
the refugecs from the deluge, and in the mixed
assemblage there existed most unfortunate state
of society. Among the groups Of the lower classes
both white and black, scenes OF most dlstTaceful
character were transpiring, the result OF unre-
straired drunkenness.
At the car shed the water was over seven feet
deep. All the railway rolling stock that could be
taken to o place Of safety remained intact, but
much Of it was submerged, while box cars were
seen floating in every direction.
I'VE only make brief synopsis Of the facts fur
nished to us, hoping to give our readers the full
particulars in few days. Our informant was told
that the oldest inhabltant does not remember to
have seen the Tennessee River so high by fifteen
feet, and the unprecedented magnitude Of the flood
can only be accounted for by the great quantity OF
rain, added to the rapid melting OF snow in the
mountains.