The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-02


increasing volume OF water against the railroad
bridge becoming more dense ana dangerous, super
intendent D0damead had large number OF mats
loaded with 1850 tons OF pig and railroad IRON,
an engineer, fireman aud gang OF hands, had them
placed on the bridge This Saved 4 for the present,
hut as the water has not yet subsidized II may yet sue
cumb TO the disastrous flood
AT Rockets, which il completely submerged. the
scenes Of suffering and desolation were heartrend
ing. hundreds OF families were rescued from waery
graves IN their own homes by boats. Hundreds
OF Others were perched on their rooftops to escape
the surging element that each moment seemed ready
TO swallow them up. Whole dwellings ANA stores
were swept away by the conquering water that
brought swift and sure destruction every half hour
Of the day. Wooden tenements collldcd with each
other as they were carried onward by the mood, and
III some instances people were rescued from their
During the evening the entire population OF the
city were on the streets. Wagons cars and every
property from half submerged warehouses. stores
and dwellings. This created terrible dn-nOw
ponghing Through water up To tiie horses back
quently upsetnng their loads. Drivers yelled
| and swore at each other, women and children
were crying on every side, and the thought!ess mob
cbeered as they witnessed some new achieve
ment OF me victorious food From Fifteenth
| lin, which were impossible at an early hour
number OF ferries were lmprOvised, which
during the afternoon drove thriving bust
Ia this section am Informed that the goods OF q
number OF merchants, who had just purchased
aged. so sudden was the appearance OF the
water this morning and 80 quickly did
save GOODS we're n When Soo ae
In many cases rough estimates place the damage at
nearly 81 100000 including all sorts OF property. and
Bates OF west Virginia Engineer Corps, OF the
approach Of the Hood it would far exceed this.
Those who regarded the warning voice OF his des-
patch, which plainly stated tho danger, were sue
cessia In saving their property; Others believing
At Morris large sugar refinery the water burst up
the floors. dropping all OF the machinery into the
All the large cotton, corn and hour mills, employ
Ing 1000 hands, have been forced by the nood TO
| stop operations. The city water works have also
| they cannot be repaired In two weeks. The reser
roir only contains tve days supply for the city.
and are TWENTY feet under water The water
| seven feet higher than ever known before
despatch from Lynchburg says that the river
From the ordinary level OF the river the Hood has
reached twenty six feet and IL about one foot
| beneath the track on the railroad bridge with no
| signs OF going down before morning. Sedden, Lee
| Co., A. ). Lee, Tardy Co.. Mayo, X. l.. Williams
| 4 Co., Ii. M. Smith Co., ana all the merchants on
Cary and Main Streets between Fifteenth and Seven
| teenth, besides the steamship companies, are tho
| principal sufferers by the hood.
TO add to the misfortunes OF the event to night
the city Is In gloomy darkness the gas works liv-
! ing been completely submerged. Here and there
the sickly glare OF candle can be seen IN the win
| dows in some OF the stores Few people are on the
| streets and hundreds are waterbound in their
homes, but the terrible roar OF the flood as 1t cla
mors Tor fresh destruction can be heard every
where.
From all accessible sources OF information It Il
believed here that the rain which caused the great
freshet In the James was the result OF only two
duration Ia the northwestern portion or the State
where complaints Of drought had existed until
| within week past The rapid appearance, wonderl
fu velocity and great destructlveness OF the Hood IA
| unprecedented In the history OF freshets IN this
| state.
The Danyille railroad bridge still holds out against
the insatiate water which Is said to be st though
OF over two hundred families made homeless by
| the food, one.haf are camped on the heights OF
| tuition ana suffering exist among them.
There il yet no dlrect telegraphic communication
with Lynchburg. No mails have been received, and
| the news via Augusta, Ga. Is exceedingly meagre
The Lynchburg Caiamiiy-Iucidents Of the
| Flood-Dcsrruciion Of Railroad Bridges mud
| Bnildiugs-Great Loss of Life.
| RICHMOND. Oct. !, 1870
| The only intelligence received Of the Lynchburp
disaster by the mood comes from Concord, a depo
on the South Side Railroad, six miles from that Cit
| and this side OF the bridges swept away Thursday
night. 1t Is as f0lOws:-Tne most sudde
as well as the most destructive freshet ever know
in this section occurred at Lynchburg yesterday after
noon, reaching an unprecedented height during th
night. Great destruction both OF life and property ha
resulted. Bridges have been swept away and house
debris OF wrecked buildings disointed timbers am
broken furalture. Parties from Lynchburg this morn
ing represent the excitement there as most Intense
| The unparalleled suddenness OF the Hood the sub
| merson OF the lower part OF the city and the grea
| damage caused thereby have produced profound
feeling In the community.
| The toll bridge connecting the city with the
| county opposite, and which has been IN use fol
| many years, first yielded. between nine and ten
| 7. M, to the force of the waters, and was
| carried down against the fine new iron
| bridge o; the South Side Railroad, at tue
upper end OF the island. In a brief while
the latter structure tumbled and was swept along
wreck, upon the rushing current. The new iron
bridge at The lower end OF the island also went down
! under the pressure OF the broken masses OF the
bridges above forced against 1t by the current The
destruction did not stop here. The wooden bridge
| was also carried away and portions OF II were
| lodged against the banks OF the river miles
below. me ne isiana near the city, over which
| number OF buildings, was submerged TO the depil
OF July ten feet. Every house here swep,
away except the freight depot the engine house and
aportion OF the residence occupied by Captain
Peterson Goodwin. Captain Goodwin escaped
| with his family. Ia company with Mrs. William
| Turnbull and three children, OF Dinwi1die county
across one OF the bridges but few
minutes before y was washed away. They lost all
their furniture, clothing and valuaDles. Captain r.
A. GOODWIN. master OF transportation on the road,
arrived at Lynchourg on the afternoon train for
IctcIsouIB. ApplcHcHunS udIBcT from tIlc lTeSlel
| which rapidly approaching ut that hour. he
| ordered the removal OF all the cars IRON
/ the island, and personally superinLended the
work BY his exerons the cars were
all saved and the freight trains coming up
/ from Petersburg stopped beyond the reach OF dan
| ger. Captain Goodwin, with some half dozen
| hands, were caught OH the island by the hood and
cut or from all assistance. They were compelled 10
seek safety by climbing TO the roof OF the freight
house, where they remained all night until rescued
| this morning.
| The Orange and Alexandria Railroad bridge es.
CAPPED. The depot building, though partially sub
| merged, was not destroyed. The gas works were
during the night. The washing away Of the tele
| graph poles destroyed telegrapnic communication
with the city in this direction. 1t impossible To
estimate the loss OF life by the Hood but 1t Is believed
| from best Information received from Lynchburg
| that from twenty to thirty persons were
| drowned. number OF bodies we're seen floating
down the river some OF which recognized, but
| hose names did not learn. Among the lost are q
| Mrs. Ransom and daughter II VIII probably be