Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-10-11
THE GREAT FLOOD.
Further Particulars.
LYNcnBuRa.

From the LynchDurg correspondence OF the
New York Herald, we gather the following
At half,p past 10 the torrent surged and swept
around the piers of the immense wagon bridge
across the river, and, laundering against the
walls, swept it away with terrific crash car
rying the broken fragments, like an avalanche,
down the river. 1t disappeared in the dark
ness, 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 chill
dren had just crept through the bridge
When the excitement was at its acme, the
packet-bell rung for relief, and the court house
and jaiI>bells quickly responded. The crowd
momentarily increased, the excitement was
intense, and the picture of terror and peril
defes the power of words. All around was
the blackness of night, and beneath was hell
of waters. the havoc of whose fury no one
dared estimate.
The damage to the railroads is severe. The
Southside road, in addition to damage sus-
ting bridges, is very heavy. Two bridges are
down, and the loss is 100000. A number of
houses were completely washed away
The largo bridge on the Orange and Alex
andria railroad, quarter ola mile long, which
cross the river. is entirely gone also those
over the Rockfsh and Tye rivers. The loss
to this road is heavy, but has been greatly ex-
aggerated.
Many exciting incidents occurred during
the raging OF the food. Two men saved
themselves by climbing up tree, where they
remained until the next morning, and were
rescued-the foot of one being badly mashed
BY floating houses which struck the tree. A
man was seen floating down the river on log
He called for help, and was answered that it
was impossible. can right" said he, "1'll
bring up on some hammoc." He was saved.
A mule jumped from a canal boat into the
river and swan into the railroad depot, where
the the owner recognized him in the morning
A hog which swan into the Office of Johns &
Miller made himself at home till morning.
A dwelling, with family in it and lights
on the mnntels, was seen floating down the
river, and has not been heard of since.
Three large canal boats went down the river
during the night; one. having head lights and
a crew aboard. is said to have struck the bridge
pier below and gone to pieces, and all on board
drowned.
"A large carpenter shop, with $4,000 of
improved machinery. was washed from the city
and lod ged on an island five miles below. and
is standing as erect as though it had been
regularly placed there, with the machinery
intact
A mother and her children were clingine to
some object to save themselves One little
girl, whose strength was exhausted, said :
kiss me- mother; can't hold on any long
err" and the little sonl went down.
The canal thus flooded the island from eight
to eleven feet The water was more than
three feet over the ground floor of residences;
and everything was abandoned by the fright
ened people, who betook themselves to the
upper stories and expended every effort
to escape. Cries of murder" "help,"
ENERGY" and piteous prayers and appeals to
Heaven for assistance, rent the air, mingled
with the noise of the storm and swelling wa
ters.
Strong men testify that in all their expe-
rience of war and peril they never experienced
such sensations nor looked on such scene.
All the dwellings on tho Island, with one
exception, were upset or capsized by the storm.
Foundations were washed away-out. houses
and porches carried off. The losses Inflicted
on the company and workmen arc very heavy
tho former. 900 or SIS 900 the latter,
$4,000 or $4,000. in furniture. bedding. &c.
The scene of desoatiOn is so extended that it
is impossible to estimate all tho losses. II
will exceed millions. The perpendicular rise
of the water thirty six feet.
INSANITY OF MR.. RANSOM.
The Lynchburg Wrginian Of tho Cd says ::
The condition of Mr. Ransom. whose wife and
daughter were washed away from his arms and
drowned, Thursday night, in the storm, has
been most pitiable, and his grief and agony
wore so intense as to deprive bin of reason.
Saturday the bereaved man appeared on the
streets in such distressed state that a crowd
soon collected around him-some drawn by
curiosity and some by pity. Mr.. Ransom
gave vent to the most violent and passionate
expressions Of grief. giving rise. by some of
his actions. to tho belief that his mind was
unsettled. and that he was in danger of COM
hitting some rash act upon himself 1t was
therefore deemed proper to put restraints urOn
him, and he was taken in custody to prevent
his iniuring himself or others during the Pc
Rod of his mental alteration.
The bodies of Mrs. Ransom and her daugh-
ter were recovered Saturday, at the first lock
below the city. They were found with their
hands clasred together United in life, they
wer not divided in death.
RICHMOND.
On saturday morning, before the river had
risen much in Main street. the proprietor OF
one of the stores which the water had not
then reached, left hts little boy to watch the
premises, and in the excitement the little fell
low was overlooked until party passing in a
boat was hailed by lady flom the window
and asked to look into tho store and see if he
was there They pushed open the door, and,
padding in, found the diminutive chap pad
ding his own canoe in the shape of an invert-
ed counter. He was taken out very much
frightened, extremely moist, and not at all
hurt.
The water accomplished what General But
Ter long stroye without success to effect. Dutch
Gap canal is now open, the James river hav-
ing broken the neck of the peninsula in its
struggles to make short cut.