Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-08-05
TERRIBLE PAoODs IN THE WEST.

In TExAs.-Friday this beautiful little town
presented scene which, for excitement and ter
ror, has rarely been surpassed in the annals Of our
State For week past, the Colorado river has
been very high, rendering it difficult and generally
dangerous to cross even in skif, thns cutting off
nearly an communication with Bastrop and Austin,
the stages and mails being henfined up and unable
to get out. Thursday night, the good people of
La Grange went to thsf beds, leaving tke river
still some ten Or fifteen feet within its banks and
at 9 clock it broke over its banks above and be
on the town. At Ito 'cietk, the water had met in
the flats or valleys between town and.the river on
the Southwest side; aud was swelling very rapidly.
At y o'clock, it found its level dnd having driven
all the inhabitants cut of the Western portion of
the town, it began turning over the smaller houses
and floating them away toward the Gulf At
o'clock, it was within block IF the public square,
and rising so fast that it drove the crowds back
from its edge. Here the scene beggared descrip-
tion Great crowds of women and children stood
at the waters edge, and with wringing hands and
straining eyes saw their homes filled. by the ruth
less food and many Of them swept away or turned
over where they steod, whae'the crash offurniture
and smashing of doors and windows, told too hor-
ribIy tie ruin that WA going on within. Men
rushed back and forth on horseback. or on foot,
seeking their families or asking for assistance to
tie house already swimming, or claining help
from the Idle lockers on to move their furniture
from those not yet inundated, but very soon to
share the general fate. Wagons loaded with
furniture ratified to and fro at full gaop, some to
the high ground With their confused mass ofhouse-
hold wares, and Others to take of the remaining
stores. Before o'clock, the public square was
sheet of water Store doors were thrown open,
and merchants and clerks strore to save their goods
L. &lo,, -, fbosr caoond or nd On THAR
counters, while every man and everything avail
able was put into requisition to save the women
and children from the mad torrent, which was now
rushing over three.foarths Of the town. But the
day sank into the night and all night through ef
forts never ceased, although in the darkness but
little could be seen. Yet tbe. sound Of the hammer
and saw indicated tbe eE tsapore construction Of
boats and RATS, while the lowing Of cattle, the
shouting of men, the screaming Of women and
children, crying for help, mingled withtA ncreas
ing heach-lke roar Of the mighty surge, filed the
midnight air: They feed tbe imagination with
horrible fancies, and the steady rising Of the waters
bade them speed with their good work or it would
be toUlate A boat was made of the boards of
houses, and filled with stiDug oatsmen, whewen
through the streets and yards ssorabing for those
who needed help. There was no party distinction;
friend and foe allied together to meet the common
enemy. Slowly, one after another, they brought
of the few who had determined to- stay and meet
the fate-of their homes, " but who beeameterri6ed
wlren they found Il so far exceeded their expecta-
tions.
Saturday morning came and found the little
town. which but the day before had looked so fair
and G,iet in the confidence of IT'S security ROW DEL
urcd witha 4 remorseless food; for en- the square
and IN every store stood four Or Eve feet Of water.
& was wholly deserted and all the inhabitants had
Aed to the high grounds and hills in the Northern
and Northeastern suburbs. There was scene Of
general confusion Every house was filled with
the fugiti1es, not only homeless, but without food
for they had not time to tax" provisions with
them; or, they had, they w..e too terrified to
think of it. The scene was terrible. For fifteen
miles, as far as the eye could reach to the North,
sheet of water, except one hill, of sornetwo and
half acres, about five miles away.
Alftf Rabb's prairie was under water and fair
the water reached nearly to the second story win
dows Of Captain McDows large residence, which
stands on the general level of the prairie. Here
and there, away in the distance, among the ciumps
of oaks, whose matted branches tapped in the glas
sy food, might be seen the roots Of houses, but
yesterday occupied by prosperous planters, Near
er, above and below on the South and Eastward,
the zigzag track Of the river was marked by the
rush of great oaks and cotton woods that stood
for years Side by side with these, in wild con.
fusion, foated the roofs Of hoases and the dead
forms of CATTLE that told too we'll the devasta-
ton that had gone On above and ip the whole
valley of the river. Never before had country
looked SO prosperous, crops so we'll grown, farms
SO we'll titled. Every circumstance seemed to have
aided to build up the hopes and prospects Of each
planter. promising unexampled prosperity to re.
ward him for the year Of sunbnrnt tell =
As yet the amount Of damage to the town and
inhabitants cannot be estimated. Yet it is $780,.
600 surely; while the damage done the crops and
country it would take millions to recover.
While We thus describe La Grange, have We
thought justly of the sister towns-Bastrop above
and Columbus below-both on lower ground, and
from whom communication is cut of? We CAN
only base our opinion upon the calamity before u.s.
and imagine how far greater it is with them The
wires are down between here, Bastrop and Austin;
therefore, no news from either.
This overflow, which has never been equalled on
the Colorado within the history of Texas, has ru-