The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-10
THE DELUGE In new ORLEANS.
A Portion OF the City Under
Water.
Aquatic Movements, Scenes and
Incidents.

AQuaIlc movements, Scenes ana
Incidents.
From the New Orleans Times June 81
Boatng IN tne streets OF the Crescent City having
made an eStended our
| submerged district bearing between the New Canal
and canal Carondeet, and found the entire country
from Claiborne street TO the lake one WIDE eXpanse
| OF water.
On Common street the hood was visible in the
by judcious selection of the dry places aud short
journey through the miude OF the street the writer
succeeded in reaching the corner OF Claiborne street.
| The quay formed there by the railroad track was
| crowded with women ana children police officers,
bedrag.led men and vehicles while narrow strip Of
variety and bedding. Boats were constantly
arriving with new victims from the overflow, and
during brief stay nearly dozen families, many OF
them without as much as change OF clotang, came
| in. The naval display Of this flowing river could
! scarcely be considered as approaching in magnid-
cence q review or the home squadron at CnerbOurg
but for variety OF rig aud tonnage the feet certainly
rlvalied any ihat ever sailed. preponderance OF
the part OF majority but dozens more, with their
| trowsers rolled to their thighs, noated about on
| plankS and the most unseawortny RATS. Placdly
| cruising over the troubled waters were men, boys
and girls, and even women whose air OF abandon
more suggestive OF quiet desperation than any less
| worldly feeling. Many appeared undecided whether
to laugh or cry ana compromised the matter
ing very silent IN contemplation Of their own adver.
sity. corDulent gentleman, whose forlorn attempt
4 70 propel himself 70 neighborng house great
| unwleldy log eliminated in artistic dive created
great merriment, and IT was not until he had swal
lowed several mouthfuls OF brackisn water That the
| hllarity ceased and he was hshed out.
An adventurous Cushite made short voyage In
bath tub. but his efforts at Navigation were some.
what frustrated by an immense sugar-cured ham,
which. clutched In his right hand, not only pre-
vented an active use OF the pole but eventually cap.
| sized the boat. The entire street was thrOnged
with boats, which were constantly jostling, and the
exhibition or seamanship OF by far the greater num-
| hns hau an unpSv nrr,,, rAt.y, tptan
OUT COMMON STREET.
Securing tidy little cypress skin, our reporter
| gided out Common street, and was soon In the
miast OF the busy crowd. Every door On both sides
OF ME tnoroagnare stood wide open, and the in.
mates crowded the windows, all eagerly Watching
| the novel scene. For square or two though the
yards were hooded, the water had not yet reached
the floors, and the Inhabitants were somewhat
philosopnc. Tue houses In the vicinity of the mar
ket are rather higher than those further in rear,
and. with even three feet OF water on the banquette
many OF them escaped inundation. At Johnson
street. however. the entrance OF water into d0mi-
rescued articles ON hooks around the wall.
Two squares farther on the HOOD had reached
and persons employed themselves in piling up the
smaller articles of furniture on the beds. Many
women secured seat on the wndow-sills and with
their legs dangling OUT calmly awaited the receding
OF the waters.
and the water appeared nearly level with the lower
verandah. The large stable Of the Canal and Clai-
borne street was under water perhaps
gagged IN removing the mules to place OF safety.
The last car passed over the track at about eleven
O'Clock in the morning. and It Is stated that the pas
sengers "a gentleman, his wife and child, taken
out OF the vehicle in boat. In this vicinity the
floors Of houses botn sides OF the street were un
der water, aud from Poydras street to far below
Canal was an immense lake. Many OF tie habita.
tions were deserted and passing near several our
reporter could only see stray articles OF furniture
noating around IN the empty rooms.
BUGS.
Eyorv fenca bause and avon tha to,s NJ tho touor
bushes, were completely covered WITH bugs OF all dc.
scripuons, and several fences were almost black
Tue passage near them created the widest con-
sternaton among those insect castaways, but all
the last yessre Of earth with Ike 20 c, nf 70
ITSELF In one spot were massed perhaps hundred
black spiders Of I'm Immense size, large number OF
broad strip Of scum which mad gathered Just oppo-
site the Marine Hospital was fairly alive with them.
and over the whole face or the country millions OF
grassnoppers. beetles, caterplars and smaller in
scots abounded.
THE SICK.
s!Ihe removal or the SICK commenced about twelve
O'Clock Saturday night and continued until
perhaps twelve O'Clock yesterday large num-
Der were brought to the Marine Hospital. and others
taken to the residences OF their friends in more CEN
trail localities One lady we heard OF was taken from
her bed after having lain there until tue water rose
10 the depth OF TWO feet on the floor. Though the
grounds surrounding IL are submerged, the Marine
Hospital, being built brick pillars, is still free
from water. The small huts In rear Of this are
chiefly occupied by colored people, and all rem
attention was attracted by two horses standing
close together and apparently motioness. Drawing
nearer the Skin glided over float 10 which they
anchored. In This vicinity three children had
taken refuge on a rickety shed, and sat patiently
s n TO 9e pcaen up ny e poce boat strong
the break, and five minutes vigorous pulling
brought the boat into Hagan avenue. So nerce was
the tlde that with great Difficulty the Tines craft
semmed IL; but taking advantage OF the eddles,
she was at length prou hit up to the
HAGAN CREvASSE.
The break at uagan avenue, abou, one O'Clock
yesterday, was eighty-fvc feet wide, with depth
OF between eight aud nine feet. CITY Surveyor Bell
who had succeeded in gettng the necessary mate,
rails at four O'Clock Saturday afternoon, remained
at thc scene with thirty men all night. rney were
successful in spanning the creyasse with bridge or
pillng, which was rapidly being fllled with sand
bags. More than hal the WORK OF closing the open.
ing had been completed. but the water still rushed
through the centre with great force. The new canal
at that time was about foot higher than the water
on the other side and wind from the south, though
y a'd not increase lis volume, Kept the stream
stationary.
The men were almost completely exhausted, ana
MI Eel anMousiy awaited the arriN al OF fresh
laborcrS. Two parties started out in carts by way
OF Common street. but bcth were compelled 10 re-
turn. From the dredging machine lying opposite
the break, where our reporter landed he had fair
opportunity Of seeing the extent OF the overflow.
From Claiborne street. between the two canals as
far az the eye could reach vast lake. cover.
ing an area OF at least SIX square miles.
Returning, the reporter passed through many OF
Hagan avenue and Claiborne street, and every
where found frigh, eued women ana cnIlren seeS
ing the highest places attalnabe.
Macy OF them had constructed rats OF the noat-
ing bridges. and seated themselves chairs in
front OF their dwellings.
Those fortunate enough to live in two story
houses crowded tue upper doors, and not few cot
tagers sought refuge on the roof
BREAD UPON THE WATERS.
Police boats, nearly all OF which carried from
fifty TO one hundred oaves OF bread, pied to and
fro among the sufferers, distributing food. Early
III the morning officers were despatched TO the dif-
ferent bakeries with directions to purchase all the
bread that could be spared. The majority OF the
bakers had only sufficient TO supply their custom
ers and all the worKmen were absent; but by care
fu selection perhaps thousand loaves were Sc
cured and 10y three O'Clock they were all distributed.
Perhaps twenty boats III all were engaged In this
benevolent service and many fam lies were not only
prevented from famshing, but removed by them to
nlacea