The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-01
,rHE RISING JAMES.
The Fresh Reaches Richmond
Rnpld Rise Of the yyater-Pre.
parati0ns for a Flood
Scenes and En.
dents.
a FRESH d HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

Not a little excitement was created in
Richmond yesterday by the special telegram
(which appeared in the Dispatch contain
ing the news Of great rise in the James
river, and destruction of property at Lynch
burg and other points. Further news was
anxiously looked for during the early part
of the day by persons having friends or
property in the country likely to be affected
by the flood. The only reliable information
received, however, until late in the after
noon was embodied in q telegram received
by the superintendent of the Western Union
Telegraph Company. The wires being down
ON the line of the Orange and Alexandria and
southside railroads, this scrap OF informa-
ton, so eagerly devoured, had to come to
Richmond, like our own specials of the night
before, by the roundabout way Of Augusta,
Ga, or Louisville, KY, making circuit of
over $1,000 miles to get here. Under
these circumstances it will not be wOn-
dered ut that little news was received
but the wires were loaded with messages
to persons in Richmond to put their pro-
perty out Of the reach Of danger and all
kinds of rumors were af1oat as to the height
of the water and the extent of the damage.
A canal-boat captain teleoraphed that the
water was twenty-five feet higher than it
was ever known to be before-a statement
to be received with q very large grain Of
salt.
Many people went down to the river
bank during the morning to see if there
were any indications of a rise in the cur
rent as it swept by Richmond. But up to Il
o'clock the water was as placid as usual
and as clear as crystal A little later the
Riyanna mud began to show itself, and at
noon there came a strongly-tinctlIrcd flood,
sufficient to swell the body of the stream
considerably, and moving at the rate of
about five miles an hour. From that time
onward until the hour Of this writing (mid-
night the torrent has been rapidly in
creasing in strength and volume, rising not
less than foot and Il half an hour, and
there is no reason to believe that it is yet
at its height.
When the first swell came three meE,
who evidently had not read the warning in
the morning papers, were fishing in the
river at point just opposite HaXall's mills.
One was on Il trap fixing it, the others in
boat. The boat was carried away by the
sudden rush of waters, and the fisherman
on the trap was left high and dry, but with
Il prospect of soon being set aloat i'll very
dangerous current. His comrades in the
boat strove to 90 to his assistance, but their
efforts were Intellectual, and presently, DEEM
ing delay perilous, he dotted his clothes
and committed himself to the water. Being
an expert swimmer he managed to dodge
| the rocks, and got into smoother water.
when he was drawn out alive, but almost
| exhausted. He dragged himself home III Il
| state little short of nudity.
At twilight last evening large crowds were
gathered on MayO's and the Banyillc rail
| road bridges, watching the rise of the river.
The dritt-wood brought down was mostly
dead, but late in the evening some good
| framing timber was noticed atloat. As long
as the character of the floating stuff could
be diScerned. there were no traces of the
| destruction Of valuable property reported
| to have taken place up towards Iynchburg,
and this.tak III connection with the gene
| raIlv-accepted statement OF the rate ut which
the current was travelling, led to the belief
| that the water which wrought such serious
| damage had not yet reached Richmond.
During the whole afternoon might be
seen parties on either bank Of the river
preparing for the flood by removing every
! thing liable TO he set afioat. Many teams
| were engaged until very late hour in get
! ting out The tobacco from Mayo's ware
house and placing it ut points deemed safer.
1t seemed hardly probable, however, that
the water would rise high enough to move
the tobacco there stored, aS to do 50 il
would have to be several feet higher than
it has been raised by any fresh within the
memory of persons now living.
The CONSERVATION in Rockets as the Wa
ter began to lap over the wharves there
afforded an exciting spectacle. People re-
moved their valuablcs from exposed places,
and generally made their beds for the night
about as high up stairs as they could well
get. Boats were held in readiness last n ght
TO convey them to town i'll the morning
should the street be submerged. The last
messenger from that part of the town last
night reported the water to be about four
feet over the wharf, OF about twelve feet
above high-water mark.
Visiting the hotels last evening our re-
porter found about a hundred persons who
had been detained here on their way South.
Many of them, as might be expected, were
in no enviablc frame Of mind, but the ma
iorty took their mlsfortunes very coolly,
only exhibiting q very lively interest in
every bit of news respecting the progress
of the "rise," and the probabilities Of II
"fall." The situation of one young man
was truly pitiable. He was on his way to
he married, when the noble Jeems arose
and arrested the course OF true love. The
day fixed for the wedding is Thursday next,
it IS said, and the prospective bridegroom
cannot by any possibility get within fifty
miles of the place appointed for the nup-
tials by the appointed time.
In view of the present fresh, which
promises to be so destructive of property
and even of life, the Everung Neacs OF yes
terday recalls some facts concerning the
celebrated May fresh which occurred just
Il century ago. The river rose then, all Of
a sudden, to the level Of the site Of Shockoe
warehouse, carrying off many hogsheads OF
tobacco. All of the valley Of .Shdcco was
under water from the foot of Mans0n'S Hill
(the present site of the Ballard House, to
the foot of Richmond Hill.
Should the present freshet equal that OF
MAY, 1910, it is likely that all the bridges
would he swept away, and many millions
of property be destroyed in and out Of the
CITY. There is monument at Turkey
Island, said to be one OF the Oldest in lir-
einia. which records the dCvaStations OF the
Great flood. Turkey Island is now u part
of the mainland, but before 1I710 it was all
island. The river, in its rage, lifted it be-
yond it's bed, and plastered in on the adja-
cent shore. In the Virginia Gazette OF that
date there is an interesting account from
the pen of witness who lived in Rich
mond. Then, indeed, the rains had unin-
terruptedly descended for twelve days and
twelve nights.
MARSHALL WARD CONSERVATIVE MEET
1NG.-An adjourned meeting OF the citizens
of this ward was held ut Sprintield Hall last
night, Captain Joseph j. English in the
chair and Mr.. John b. Turpin secretary.
On motion, Il committee, consisting of
Captain II. b. Dickinson, Captain c. J.
Fox, John A. Meanley, d. II. Alley, and
William Simons, was appointed to recom-
mend ten names from whom to select five
delegates. After brief retirement the
committee reported as follows: j. j. Can
non. George W. Allen, j. J. English, z. G..
Coghlan, II. B. Dickinson, Francis Maho-
80. Icnna III unntnr Henry Rover ID Il