Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-16
FROM LEBANoNs
Tbe Fiosd-Thunder and LiEnsatssss
80 s'6s9H -Damages- end .oS &c

4 y =
- s'E,eu Damages. -, ~ oss
10 the Editors Of the Union ana AmericavsTS.'1 g
| - LEBANON, Aug. IA 187l.-We have
| seldom, if ever, Witnessed 81 great . fall
of rain in SO short time, as we had IN
our city the evening Of the llth. Aboat
three O'Clock it seemed that the very at
mosphere above snd around US was trans
formed into a lowering cloud, surcbarged
with fire and water. No hurrying storm
of wind brought this cloud to han g
around us like somber curtains, 10 shut
off the light of heaven, or come to re-
heye US. The elements seemed lazy. sine
windows of heaven were opened, and
the rain descended in psttering floods.
THE SQUARE FLOODED. q, /
Soon the principal streets leading TO
the square became the beds of rustliilg,
roaring streams of water, which srGrl
flooded the square to the depth OF sc ,geral
feet in some places, and left YER little
uncovered. This was from the sudden
and rapid fall of rain and not from the
swelling of any stream. The .;ity would
have been worse oyerhown, lJut for the
fact, that repairs are being made on the
town spring, and large opening had
BEEN mfsde through " Iieh the water
passed into the spring. This sudden flood
soon sub sided and the. city was quite dry
and app rently safe again alsi7Ia oval
ilg 70 BUSINESS HOUSES FLOODED. Va.
Abou seven o'clock the creek which
runs th rough the city from the south, be-
came swollen beyond the capacity of its
banks, and the avenues through which it
passes under portion of the city, and
began rapidly to overflow the low parts
OF ie city. AT dark the entire square
was under water, and most Of the bust
ness houses on the square, and the dwell.
ing 8 IN the low parts of the town, in
tn eD: lower apartments were surrounded;
goo lie had TO be moved 10 the second sto-
RE ), and families had to take refuge from
tt e turbid flood in the high floors of their
F.ouses, if they fortunately had such
places of safety. Among the families
most distressed we mention Mrs. Gordon,
on Maple street, Mr.. N. Tolliver and T.
l ]. Thompson, Esq, on West street. Mrs.
Harrington, on North Cumberland, all of
| whom were driven to their second stories,
| where they remained in q state of sus-
pense several hours. The food rose to
DR.. J. III. Safford's residence, On West
| street; did not enter his house, but did
considerable damage to his handsome
yard and garden. From this all persons
who have been to Lebanon, can form
an ides of the extent of the food. At
o'clock, P. NJ, Lebanon was in
A SEA OF WATER.
The people in the low places are in ex-
element and distress. Passage about
the Square was difficult and dangerous,
and in many places impossible. The
roaring food passing through dwelling
and gardens, the many voices coming up
from various parts OF the watery scene,
and the splashing of water by those who
waded about in the dark, to relieve the
unfortunate or save property, presented
scene of great distress and confusion.
THE DAMAGES.
We cannot estimate the danages to
public and private property. The flood
has subsidized, leaving a carpet of mud
on the lower floors of our people who oc-
cupied the flood portion of the city,
which all are quite busy cleaning up.
The bridge on West street over the creek,
and most of the small bridges over cul-
verts and drains about the Square were
washed away or badly torn up. The
pavements in many places were torn up.
The back rooms TO the business houses
of H. III. CashWell, DR.. j. d. Owen and
L. Drifoos, all situated on.tbe creek on
the west side Of the Square, being under
mined by the flood,
ALL FILL IN,
and this morning all together form one
heap of ruins. The loss TO these gentle
men was considerable, and we learn they
| had no insurance against such a loss.
the water has now receded to its natural
bed, and our town authorities and citi :
zens who sustained loss are quite busy
in making repairs.
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.
During the rain we have seldom wit
messed such play of electricity. The
most vivid and dazzling flashes of light
ming constantly lit up the watery scene,
and the most deafeniug and dreadful claps
of thunder made the very earth tremble
Sine the rain We are glad to learn that
no more damage was done by the light
ming. DR.. j. l.. Fite's new house was
struck. 1t was unfinished, and three
workmen, two men and a boy, bad taken
shelter from the rain in it. They were
knocked down and badly shocked, but
not seriously injured. The covering to
Mr.. Gsums' cistern was struck, but none
of his family were injured. The rain
was general through the country, we be-
lieve, but we hope the fall was not so
great among our farmers. X. e