New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-10

From the jackson Pilot, May
We gather from our Meridian and Other
exchanges the following regarding the higl
water:
The Meridian Gazette, of the twenty
eighth ultimo, says that the train running
over the Alabama and Chattanooga railroad
10 York. which left there at 2:25 A. NJ, was
precipitated into Sowashee creek, about two
miles beyond the city. The engine, baggage
and mail, and second class cars were thrown
into the chasm and are fearful wreck. The
first class car, containing nearly all the pas
seDgers, was arrested on the trestle, and
consequently no lives were lost. The train
hands, express messenger and mail agent,
got away from the debris unframed. Many
of the loose letters were swept away by the
current, and several valuable trunks shared
the same fate. !.
The foundation of the eastern span of the
bridge had washed out during the night,
leaving nothing but the timber and iron
when the train came along. An engine
from the Alabama and Chattanooga road
was dispatched to the scene of the disaster
at once, but it was soon discovered the en-
bankment on the western end of the bridge
was giving away rapidly and unsafe for the
engine to return. It remains on the main
span of the bridge awaiting the failing of
the waters" and necessary track repairs.
The trestle at York is also washed out
of line, and considerable damage done at
different points between Livingston and
the Warrior The break at Sowashee
Major Wheeler thinks he will be able to re-
pair to-day, and also take up the Selma and
Meridian wreck, but it must be several days
before trains can run through.
The damage done the Mobile and Ohio
road is not fully known. At Shubuta the
telegraph wire was blown across the track
and caught on the driving wheel of the en-
CINE. About mile of wire was wound
round the wheel before the engineer discov-
cred it.
When near Okatibbee he saw the embank-
ment %as washing away, and undertook to
back down to Enterprise, but had only pro-
ceeded short distance when it was ascer-
tanned a trestle he had passed over half an
hour before was swept off by the current.
The train remains near Okatibbee and pas
sengers came TO the city on Captain Early's
"hand car" line.
The tank house below town ON this road
was turned over and badly damaged, and
the abutment of the bridge just above it
carried away. There are four breaks be-
tween Meridian and Enterprise. The down
train was caught at Tamola, where infor-
nation came that Ponte bridge, Just beyond
Lauderdale, had been washed out by the
food. Between this place and Marion there
are three breaks. The telegraph line on the
Mobile road, south, isdown in many places,
and no information can be gathered as to
the extent of the damage below.
The bridge on the Mobile and Ohio road,
near Lauderdale, was replaced at ten
O'Clock, Thursday night, when the bridge
force pushed on south of Marion. The four
breaks between this point and Marion were
repaired yesterday forenoon, and about
noon the construction train reached the city.
Work at the tank below town, and at Okla
tibbee is progressing as rapidly as possible.
Captain Early thinks it probable that to-
night trains may go through. The down
passenger was ordered here last night, and
will return on schedule. The frelghts over
due came down yesterday afternoon, and
will remain until the breaks south are
repaired.
More families came over from Rankin
county yesterday, having been driven from
their homes by the high water
a gentleman of this city, who, for a num-
Der OF years has kept careful record of
the various stages of the Pearl river re-
ports that yesterday morning the water was
higher by seven inches than for years back
In fact, it is probable that for seventeen or
eighteen years no similarly copious food
has visited this part of the country.
Thus far no human lives have been re-
ported as lost, but the damage to property,
which at present can not well be estimated,
must prove considerable. At late hour
last night the waters were still rising. They
must reach stand within few days, after
which they will commence to recede.