The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-04
VOL. XXXIX.
witness through the intense darkness the

Z
witness through the intense darkness the
rise Of the angry waters and render sucl,
assistance as might befnecessary to sufferers
by the flood. The water rose at the rate OF
an inch minute in houses along the river.
Boats and the bridges across the canal
seemed TO be In Imminent danger Of being
flooded and washed away as the waters
thundered down the bank Of the canal,
rendering IL necessary TO secure the boats
To land by strong cables attached to such
supports as were within reach. Packet,
lumber, and freight boats were kept in
place in raging currents by tremendous
efforts, The wharves were lined with ex-
+, cited observers, and light from d hundred
lanterns flashed fitfully across the turbid
flood. A perfect panic prevailed, and the
crowd appeared to think the very ground
beneath their feat was unsafe, and likely to
be undermined and inundated ut any mo-
ment. a
News of the disaster came from every
quarter. The locks above the city were
washed away and the river poured into the
| canal aqueduct, and the two hotels ut the
railroad depot were then submerged. The
ladies and children were rescued and sent
up town for safety. The Orange House had
all the rooms on the ground-iloor flooded,
and the guests, in alarm, crowded the
porehes and platform. Many ladies were
III their night robes, not anticipating the
necessity for instant fight. All the houses
| in the vicinity were flooded, and frightened
fugitives crowded around, leaving their
property to the mercy OF the deluge. The
scene was one of indescribablc confusion
and terror, and without parallel in the
history of the city.
At halt-past 10 the torrent surgcd and
swept around the piers of the immense
wagon-bridge across the river, and, thun-
dering against the walls, swept it away
! with a terrific crash, carrying the broken
! fragments, like an avalanche, down the
river. 1t disappeared in the darkness, but
was hurled against the new iron bridge of
| the Southside railroad, carrying it off also.
! The engine and train sent to the island for
| the rescue Of the women and children had
| children had just crept through the bridge.
| When the excitement was at its acme, the
packet-bell rung for relief, and the court
house and jail-bells quickly responded. The
| crowd momentarily increased, the excite
ment was intense, and the picture of terror
; and pelil defies the power of words. All
around was the blackness of night, and be-
meath was 4 he'll of waters. the havoc of
whose fury no one dared estimate.
At Sandy Hook, mile below the city,
the sudden rise of the water took the peo'
| pie by surprise, and almost before they
| were aware Of it the whole island was SUBJ
merged. All escaped across the canal who
could; others sought the highest positions
they could for safety, until they were forced
by the rising Hood to the roofs of the high
est buildings, where they remained several
hours until rescued by heroic parties, who
Iceurageously stemmed the rushing torrent
| in beats and took them over the canal in
safety.
AdistreSsing feature of the flood IN that
| locality was the loss of life. The uniortu-
nate victims known were Mrs. Ransom and
daughter, whose bodies We're recovered to-.
day at tho first locks below the city. They
were found with hands clasped together,
The others were three children Of Robert
Whitlow. The body of one was found on
Saturday. eight miles below the city. An
! old man, named Mccarthy, WAS lost ; also,
Il negro girl.
| The loss here is very heavy. Heald's
| bark mills, Dcans foundry, Fowlke Il VIM
ston's furniture factory, and private fam-
lies residing at Sandy Hook, suffered se-
vcrely in damages to furniture, stock,
store, &c. y large number of houses floatcd
of. Southsidc Island was wholly si1b-
merged and entirely cut Of from commune
cation. All the bridges connecting with
the mainland were swept away. The train
brought over to the city some occupants Of
the Island only short time before the
bridge went down.
| The railroad track is undermined its ell
tire length, and the dwelling of the agent,
on the island, twisted around and was car
ried away. Captain Goodwin, the agent,
and two assistants. took refuge on the top
of the depot, where they remained until
morning, when they were brought to the
city i'll boats. lie represented the night
he spent in the depot us one of great
terror. The waters were roaring around
| him, and the bridges, boats, and houses
We're crashing among the trees, and he did
not know what moment the building be-
meath him would be swept away. The city
is efectually cut of from the outer world.
No mails have been received from any quar-
ter since "Wednesday. Telegraphic dis
patches now reach lis ria Augusta, Ga. The
railroads are all dislocated by the loss of
bridges, washing away of viaducts and
| tracks, filling up of cuts, &C., and the canal
is totally ruined.
The city never was so Isolated any time
| during the war as now.
The damage to the railroads is severe.