The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-03
THE GREAT CREV-ASSE.
uow1r LOOKS IND HOW IT
OCCURRED.
A Visit to the Scene of the Disa ster
From the New Orleans T.mes.l

From the New orleans ltIneS.l
The subject of the Bonnet Carre CreVasse is
now almost household word. Yet alter all
the very lucid and lengthy information upon
the subject, no true conception can be formed
of the nature of the calamity and the appear
ance of the locality. Feeling desire to view
in propria persona, what we had heard so
much about, we left by the steamer Wild
Wagner. on Thursday, bound, with quite
party OF excursionists, for the great break.
Nineteen miles from the city, at FarVleW
plantation. was discovered the irst lntl-
ma,ion that the Father OF Waters had
broken the bounds OF his confinement, tor far
back could be seen a stretch Of the watery ele-
ment, extending beyond the reach Of the eye
in one direction, and swallowed oy tie woods
in another The distance OF this second stream
from the river varied as we progressed, at
timA ttree-fourths Of mile distant, anu
again ont a few yards. When within about
five miles of the creyasse We came upon what
was apparently q valuable plantation, bat now
covered by water to the depth OF ten. feet;
sugar-house, negro quarters, dwelling-house,
all standing in the midst OF the Wild wafer,
presented desolate picture saddenlng TO oe.
hold As we advanced, the wilderness oi
waters seemed to spread, until rounding
bend in the river, the mighty rush and roar
was before us in all its grandeur. quickly
landing, q tonr of observation sooE convinced.
us that the sight presented must be seen TO be
fully understood. The leree at Bonnet Carre IS
very high, perhap Selve feet or more, ana eX-
tends for several miles up and down at the same
altitude. Standing on the broken R edge @ OF 1 tne
levee, one can gaze down upon the nuge vol
ume Of water as it rushes through a gap twelve
hundred feet wide, foaming and seethlDg,
while its angry roar impresses sense OF Tear
upon the listener. Very near the break Is a
small collection of houses, back Q! them pian-
tations, and still farther removed long lines Oh
70, SITS; over and through all the flood pours
with q resstless force, rushing up and down
the country as tlercely as il in search Of some
thing upon which 10 satisfy Its vengeance.
From the village all light and lie nave 1ed,
and the deserted houses, with their open doors,
told too truly the painful story. We were ln'
formed by Mr. Hatch, assistant State engineer.
that the current of the water rushing tnrougi
the break is fully eight miles an hour, aid
that on Thursday about fifty additional feet OF
the leyee had been washed on, allhonGh
the day previous about two hundred feet gave
way. 1t needs no second view 10 convince
the beholder that no mortal power can ar
rest the flow OF the water. but there is en-
ployed a large force OF laborers, who are en-
gagged in constructing bulkheads, the purposes
of which is to prevent further damage to the
leSee. The unfortunate cooper, 10 whom is
attributed the diretul ,mishap. has evidently
taken unto himself. wings. His aforetlme
cooper-shopis is now made to do duty as hotel
for the sons of toll engaged upon the works,
and happening, as we did, to look In at sup
per time we we're particularly struck ey the
reflection that the amount OF provisions that
crowd could consume In one short day "would
be fearful to see." No words can convey the
desolate appearance. Of the Village Of Bonnet
Carre, abandoned as it is to the watery waste,
which covers, as with garment. the once
pleasant spot. When the people will again be
permitted to return to their homes, is mat
Ter only OF conjecture, for even after the
the river, the flood will require many days
to subside In some places the water Is
twelve feet deep, reaching beyond the
second story Of many houses. We
were Informed by gentleman residing near
the flooded section, that when the unfortunate
cooper discovered the water In the river rlSlnS
TO the level of his roadway in the gap through
the levee, he placed board across II 10 oar
old Niche Sepe out. When the board was no
longer useful, and the water continued TO rise,
several Of The inhabitants near hit upon che
happy eXpedient OF barritG1ing the creVasse
with an old flatboat, but like the formal people
of Pottsville, they disputed about the manner
of placing it; while thus engaged, the oolect
Of their solicitude was captured by the raSln:s
element and swept through the break like lhe
binding lightning. What was done alter mat
vas just what had been done, and the result IS
what we know. Had the maker OF oarrels
but remembered the little story about the
acorns and oaks, the citizens Of Bonnet Carre
might still be in the possession OF their once
happy homes, and the creVasse not nine
days sensation.