The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-03
NO LIVES LOST.
MAYO'S BRIDGE SWEPT AWAY
Haasing on the Streets.
Subsiding of the Water.

SuDSlQlnS OF the Water.
Since our last issue the great food has
been the prevailing topic Of thought and
conversation. Indeed, it has been brought
to our very doors, and left such an impress
sion upon our city that few who have wit.
messed the vast eXpanse of water. and known
anything of the ruin it has wrought, will
soon forget the fresh Of 1Sl0--the greatest
OF u century. Fortunately, not single life
has been lost, hut not less than hundred
families have been expelled from theil
homes by the angry waters; and not only
have our business interests suffered mate.
rally from the suspension of trade conse.
Quent upon the excitement, but the actual
pccuniary loss sustained by this community
cannot be estimated at less than a million
dollars. We speak only OF Richmond; OF
what the country above us has suffered We
fear to hazard an opinion. Time will bring
the figures out with lrightttu bodness.
THE RISING OF THE WATERS.
Commencing to roll down upon us al
about noon on Friday, at midnight the wa
ters had attained height unusual even fol
freshet. All through the night it contin.
ued to rise in the harbor, at the rate of not
less than foot and half an hour, and those
who Went to bed tlattering themselves that
in the morning I'LL would be right, were
doomed 10 Il sad disappointment. When
morning came, bright and cloudless though
il was, the river was swollen to dimensions
calculated to ill with dislllay the hearts OF
all who dWelt or did business in low lands.
The islands i'll the river were overrun with
MT hD, in dock a
risen to the level Of the wharves; the
bridges over the James were trembling be-
meath the blows of the drilt-wood and the
beating OF the waves against their tough
timhcrs and the report was that the water
was slowly finding It's way luto the streets
in the lower part OF the city. There was
little lake Oh Cary street, and the people OF
Rockets found the river literally ut their
doors. Still there were those who said the
fresh had reached its highest, and that Rich
mond was not in danger. Nobody fully
realized the situation.
THE WATER IN THE STREETS.
Fortunately, however, some had needed
the kindly -meant warnings received from
the sufferers on the upper James, and made
preparations for the flood. A good deal OF
the tobacco had been gotten out OF Mayo's
warehouse during the night, but there were
still hundreds of hogsheads there. and some
consipnees did not seem ut all alarmed. A
few lumber merchants had taken precau-
tons. one or two foundrymen had cleared
their floors, and many people in Rockets
were ready to move. As reports were re.
ceiycd of ' still rising or "no fall,
many more began to get ready for an
overflow, and ut about 10 O'Clock the
whole OF the lower part Of the city. was III
state of excitement. The water had now
risen nearly upto the caves of the steamboat
sheds at Rockets, and Gillie'S creek had
overfown it's banks. Up town also,
matters looked serious. From Cary
street the water passed over to Main
filing Seventeenth street rs it came
along, and almost without moments
warning the butchers and hucksters at the
cid Market found their feet getting wet
When the reporters went to the Police
Court in the upper part Of the market.
house at halt-pasl 8 O'Clock they walked
there dry shod. When they came out ut
half-past 10 the water was almost knee.
deer on the pavement. The merchants and
shOp-keepers tried to get their stocks out OF
the way of the flood, but although they
worked manfully, and were assisted, they
were only partially successful. Prominent
among those who were engaged In TINS
work was Justice William Brown, man
as kind-hearted as ever scaled a nsh OF
opened an oyster. BaretOoted and with his
bleeches and red flannel drawers rolled up
to his knees, he gave his constituents most
conclusive evidence that he was not afraid
of work, and could work for others as hard
as he could for himself.
Driven from their stalls at the market
house, the butchers made very orderly
retreat to higher ground, and soon the
scene of their operations was transferred
from 11tt street to 18th, and both sides OF
Main. between 18th and 18th, while the
vendors of vegetables sandWlched them
selves between butchers wherever they
fouud an opening. 1t was rather curious
to see sweet potatoes and cabbages dis
-Diayed before an undcrtakers door, ana
roasts, sOup-pieces, and steaks adorning
the outer walls of 4 dry goods house.
Meantime the water was still rising OH
Main street, and ladies travelling from one
hill to the other were under the necessity
of standing up on the benches to keep from
getting wet. At l2 o'clock the cars could
no longer 90 across, the water being deep
enough to swim Il horse. The ears on either
side OF the stream, however, continued TO
RIM TO the waters edge during the whole
day with punctuality and regularity that
reflected credit upon the management OF
the superintendent.
AT THE BRIDGES.
Mayo's bridge was the chief point of IN
tercsf, however, during the fore part O!
Saturday, for it was expected that it would would
waited on the river bank for hours, In the
scorching sun, waiting TO see the eatastro:-
phe the truth must a be tGla, mani
% ment fsnci IS human nature) that it so long
resisted the attack Of the element. At one
time it seemed impossible that il! could
stand an hour, The river was filled with tn
drifting stuff. There came along logs, mill
timber. !lay-staeks, trunks, barrels, boxes,
pieces Of fencing, chairs, tables, benches,
gates, wagon-bodies, harness, pumpkins IN
boughs of trees, and two or three whole
roofs OF houses. On one of the latter poor
half-drowned rat was scampsrIng about !ae
wildly, much TO tue delight Of the speefa-
tors. LUCKILY most Of the debris following
the track OF the s@iftest part Of the cur
rent was carried right under the bridge,
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