The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-06-01
THE GREAT FREsHET.
Immense Damage to Crops and other
Property.
WHITE RIVER OUT OF ITS BANKS

The late heavy rains have filed the
streams north of this point to over
flowing, and caused one of the most
destructive freshets ever known In
this part. White River commenced
rising rapidly at an early hour yester-
day morning, and by the middle of
the afternoon the bottom lands around
Stringtown were submerged, present.
ing the appearance or a miniature
lake. The first floors of some of the
houses were covered to the depth of
several inches last night, and the
water was fast encroaching upon
others. The denizens of that I'M
happy burg were wild with excite
ment, and preparing to seek a more
elevated region. A range of new
floating baths, anchored near the foot
of Washington Street, were broken
In two and one eud sunk The heavy
body of water dashed madly along,
roaring like young Niagara, and
sweeping everything before it not
strong enough to withstand its force.
1t presented a scene of terrific
grandeur, and thousands hoeked to
-ae banks of the river to behold the
novel sight. The street cars were
filled every trip.
The piers of the Vincennes Rail.
road bridge were almost entirely sub
merged, and locomotive was kept at
work all the afternoon dragging off
DRIFT logs, which had caught on them
For a time the large rolling mill was
seriously threatened, its only prOtec-
ton being the branch track of the
railroad. which formed a breakwater
on the upper side. 1t only required a
further rise of six inches to let the
water over 1t, Ia which case the mill
would have been un lermined
A portion of the point Which pro
-tects the part known as Mckernan' 5
addition was washed away, and there
was some CONSERVATION among the
ungodly portion Of that vicinity, lest
they should share the fate OF String
town. The first culvert on the Vim
cennes road, across the river, was
completely washed away, and the
water came up within fourteen inches
of the pike road. The angry waters
dashed the piers, of the bridge with
great fury, as they dashed on their fu-
riOus and destructive course, impelled
by current sufficiently strong to
navigate good sized village.
The bottom lands between Broad
Ripple Spencer are all inundated,
and the damage to crops and property
is said to be immense. The fences
have been swept away, and the fields
completely washed out, entailiug
heavy loss on the farmers who have
only completed their spring work.
The trestle work of the bridge over
Sugar Creek, on the Jacksonville
Railroad, was washed away on Friday
night, since which time the passen-
gers and baggage have been trans
ferred over a temporary rope suspen-
sion bridge. The work Of rebuilding
the bridge will commence to-day.
This is one Of the heaviest freshets
that has ever visited this section.
Since the beginning of the rains, four
days ago, three inches of water has
fallen. White River. last evening,
was over one foot higher than the
freshet Of last year, aud above any
rise since 1857. About dark it COM
menced to reeede slowly, and it is
hoped that the danger which threat
ened property hereabouts is passed.
State Sentinel, 31st.