The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-03-27

THE AwFUl FLOOD.

~.
Floating Houses and Drowning Men.
Ruin and starvation.
Thrilling Scenes and Incidents.
MARTIAL Law PROCLAIMED.
Files of the Chattanooga Union says the
CINCINNATI Gazstts have at length found
their way to this section, and from them We
collect the following account Of the ravageH
of the food in that unfortunate city:
BEGINNING OF THE CALAMITY.
From the Union Of Thursday, 18th.
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 a roaring tor
rent, while the creeks have become rivers,
and the Tennessee river is worthy of being
styled huge lake.
The river has been rising for the last
twenty-four hours at the rate of foot an
hour and is still increasing. The waters come
booming along, bearing on the angry crests
of the surging waves, hugh RATS, drift-wood,
fsh-boxes, cabins, hen-coops and every
movable thing which had accumulated
along the banks of the Tennessee and its
tributaries
After dark 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 afforded
to the sufferers.
HOUSE AFLoAr.
From the Union, Friday, 9Th.
Log cabins and small frame buildings, to
the number of at least twenty five, went down
the river during the day. There were no oc-
cupanrs in any of them SO far as could be
discovered
PEOPLE DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES.
From the Union, Saturday, 9th.
Time and space would fail us were we to
attempt to give an accurate description OF
the unprecedented freshet in the Tennessee
which still continues. The waters have al
ready passed the highest mark of any pre-
vious flood of which the Oldest inhabitant
has any recollection.
The people in the surrounding country
have been obliged to take to the hills and
knobs near their homes. Many of them have
no means of escaping from the raging floods,
and unless rescued by some more fortunate
neighbor, we fear some of them will perish
NARROW ESCAPE.
As an illustration Of the suffering which is
prevailing, we heard of an instance where a
woman in child-bed was rescued from her
house when the water was within few
inches of overlooking her bed. Scows were
manned, and were propelled yesterday all
over the submerged portions of the city, res
cuing the families who had been unable to
escape from their homes. People were seen
standing upon the roofs of houses, waving
their handkerchiefs and calling for help.
WASTE OF WATERS.
From the Union, Sunday 10th.
We have no heart this morning to dwell
at length upon the terrible calamity which
has befallen the citizens of Chattanooga and
surrounding country. For miles and miles
the land is hidden, only few of the higher
points of hills being above the water. In
Chattanooga tonight, Saturday, March
1867, there is from four to eight feet of waite,
on all the streets. The losses of our mer
chants, business men and citizens, cannot be
estimated, and we fear the injury to the flu
ture prospects of the place can never be esti
mated. Such flood has never been known
or heard of by any one in this section.
MANY INCIDENTS.
A number of the lady boarders at thu
Crutchfeld House moved yesterday afternoon
and took up their abode in the camp of the
25th Infantry, on Seminary Hill. The off
GERS calamity vacated their quarters for theil
use.
Many persons who were compelled to move
at the first uprising Of the waters, selected
places for temporary habitation that they
believed were safe, and free from any further
inrOads of the element; but many of them
have been compelled to move second an6
even third time.
Residents in the suburbs were forced, or
Friday night, to take to the roofs of theil
houses, in numerous instances, and remain
there until taken off by boats the next morn
ing Frequent capsizes of boats took place
and the occupants were only rescued from
their perilous positions after great difficulty
The clerks in the postoffice moved out tn
mail matter to the extent of forty large bag
during the day, the water being nearly fou
| feet deep in the office at the time of leaving
On the bank below Cameron Hill, scarcel,
anything can be seen of the numerous build
ings which stood there on Monday last
Nearly everything has been swept away. Al
least one hundred buildings have gone from
that part of the town alone.
| Mr.. Parham, one of our well-known citi
| zens, was instrumental in rescuing over
hundred people living in the country, be
yond Fort Wood, and taking them to tn
high ground.
From the Uniors, Tuesday 18th.
THE FLOOD AT IT'S HEIGHT
The waters continued to rise during Sat
urday night anel Sunday. On Sunday nigh
they rose seven inches between nightfall AM
daylight. During Monday morning the
/ were on stand, and about noon they bega
to fail. From that time till about 10 o'clocl
at night they fell five inches.
4 The water extends across the city fror
Cherry street on the east to Pine street on th
west, distance of nearly half a mile. Tn
only parts of the city out of water are til
hill on the east side, running north an
south from the river to the stone fort, bt
You'd the Georgia depot, and the hig
grounds known as Cameron Hill and Sem
nary Hill.
MORE DETAILS.
Large barges and scows, fiat boats an
trading boats, foated up Market Street an
around Ninth past the Crutchfield Hous
out Chestnut street, past the remains Of SUI
lertown, around Seminary Hill and in fax