Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-10-07
Rhe Gront Flood.
THE fggsuET IN THE scnuYLKiIi.--r1iLApEL
PIMA

THE fEEsHET IN THE sCHUYLKILi.--pllLADE
plllA.
The Philadelphip papers are full Of the de-
tails of the great Hood there, the Schuylkill
river having risen higher than was ever be-
fore known. Looking northward from the
Wire Bridge nothing Of the large dam at
Paramount could be seen.
AT o'clock the water over the dam was
eleven and II half feet high, which was half
foot higher than there is any record Of.
About the same hour large bridge from
Manaynnk iljated down the stream por-
ton OF ii being several feet above the top
Of the flood. There were fears that it would
strike the bridge at Paramount, and the
persons who crowded it fled in terror. For
tunacly it passed under without any part
touching il except the light wood work.
otherwise serious damage might have been
done.
Some idea may be formed of the appear
ancc Of the rivcrat the Chestnut street bridge
Ut | O'Clock, when il Is stated that the water
was at that time ~ to the point where the
central arch meets the ahutments. Previous
10 this, the west bank of the Schuykill had
been submerged for a considerable distance
westward, and the water carried from the
track Of the Pennsylvania Railroad dozen
or more freight cars, and down the stream
they tloatcd until a portion Of them were
arrested by the piers Of the Chestnut street
bridge where they remainrl for short time
They were then whirlrd down the current
aud we're in little while lost sight of. Some
persons who had taken shelter from the
storm in the cars were carried into the river.
but they were rescued by daring bpalmrn
vino, IL tic risk Of their lives, rowcd out to
save ihom.
The streets aud houses all along the West
side Of the Schuj lgill were Hooded us was
also all the lower portions of Fairmuunt
Park. The water-w0rks were ovrInpwn
and stopped. the destruction Of property
all along the river front was immense, and
it will take weeks to ascertain the full
amount of l)ss.
Below Gray's Ferry bridge the flont began
to wash over the top Of the meadow banks
between ten aud eleven o'clock, and soon
after number Of breaks We're made in the
| bank itself. The water flowed swiftly across
the low meadows, and they were soon sub
merged as far as the eye could reach from
the bridge. The water was far over the
tops of the fences. Cattle sheds, pens and
ouihuuscs and all floating materials, includ
ing shocks Of corn and loose hay were car
ried off. Everything in the shape OF crops
ON the ground, such as corn, potatoes and
fodder, were overwhelmed and TO large
extent destroyed. Some of the cattle on tho
meadows We're swept away. Indeed, the
meadows looked like an immense lake.
Within sight of Gray's Ferry bridge, two
large canal boats loaded with wood were
carried fur inland. Ten freight cars ilna,cd
by the bridge Considerable apprehension
was ielt that the canal boats mud cars might
lodge against the piers Of the bridge and
carry them away, but down to six o'clock
no damage had been done to that structure,
although the fierce food was dashing be-
tween the piers like the rapids above Ma
CARA.
THE r. W. & D. II. II.
The overlooking of the schuylkil meadow
banks let the water in upon the Phiadel.
phia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad,
the track being submerged from Gibson's
| Gust below Easiwck Park, down to The
Bell road, and somewhat below it. This
fsnurrsd rho passsgs Of al truins from stvu-