Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-23
GREAT FLOOD In ALABAMA.
Terrible Destruction of Crops and
other Property i'm TuskaIO0sa aud
Jefferson -S,,HeTings OF the
Pe0pIe-Incidenfs of tl,e DeIuge.

other Property I'm TuBkalO0sa aud
Jefferson -SIffeTings OF the
Pe0pIe-Incidenfs of tl,e DeIuge.
From the Montgomery Advertiser, July 20.
From gentleman from this county who
was cut of during a visit to Birmingham by
the late floods, and who was compelled to
return via Tuscaloosa. Greensboro, Marion
and Selma, we learn the following interest
ing particulars Of the damage inflicted by
the late heavy lains and the ensuing fresh
cts in the Warrior and Cahsba rivers. Be-
tween Birmingham and Tuscaloosa he
found the bridge across Big Sandy creek
washed away and the Warrior river oppo-
site the mouth of the creek more than six
miles wide. The latter stream had then
risen sixty-two feet at the city of Tuska-
loosa, and was overhowing all the farms alon g
its banks and bottoms, carrying disaster and
suffering in its course. At the crossing of
the railroad bridge of the South and North
Road, fifty miles above the city, it had risen
to the unprecedented height of so feet,
sweeping away the iron bridge as though it
had been a mere cobweb. OF the seven
bridges across Cunningham's Creek, in JEFF
ferson county, five had been. swept COM
pletely away, inhicting such damage to the
IOdQ d W OCidy It's CO1uBlCb4uAl JHO
or more. The iron bridge across the War
rior was to have been swung at Z O'Clock
of the evening on which it was destroyed.
The bridge across Turkey Greek withstoOd
the pressure notwithstanding the fact
that gin house lodged against
its timbers, and was there torn to
pieces by the waters. Every water
mill in Jefferson county, with the soil
tary exception of Boyle's mill which was
slightly careened, was carried away. Mr..
Boyle's residence was less fortunate than
his mill. lie had built on hillside facing
the stream, above high water mark, and
the first iITtimation that reached him of its
impending danger was conveyed by the
cries of his little son who slept in trund]e
bed in the same room with himself. 1t
was therefore in the night time that the
damage was done. The little boy called to
his father that it was 'trajningin the house, y
because as be said, he ''felt the water" Mr..
Boyle sprung from his bed to see what was
the matter and found the water knee deep
in the floor of his dwelling. Without a
moments delay be set about removing his
family, embracing several children and two
ladies, to place of safety, but such
was the terrible rapidity with which
the fOaming torrent gained upon
him that when be led the last lady
out the lodter came to her chin After the
family had been safely landed the torrent
tore through the back part of his house and
swept away all his household goods. Houses
of all sorts and sizes along even the most
insignificant water courses were carried
away, and their debris was on Tuesday last
everywhere visible On the surface of TIE
Warrior and Cahiba rivers.
The Cahaba, at the crossing of the Sell
ma and Meridian road, was at one time
more thar two miles wide. A number Of
trestles on the eastern side Of the stream
were destroyed, and both ends of the bridge
along with them. Everywhere, that the
waters could reach, the destruction of prop
erty has been terrible. We have heardsoi
| no loss of life however. Mr.. Boyle's little
dog was carried away with the rest Of
his household goods, and the last seen Of
| the little fellow he was passing Tuska-
| loosa in quiet possession Of his ark.
The suffering that will necessarily result
| from this terrible calamity cannot fail to be
very severe. Il Is estimated that in Tusk.
| aloosa county alone, it has cast not less thar
$500 people on the charity of the public
| Public meetings are being called to consider
the bee. means of aiding the sufferers, anC
We learn that the State will be asked to ex
tend them whatever assistance may bt
deemed right and necessary in view of al
the circumstances of the case. A numbe
of families in Hale and Greene have alst
been involved, and in Jefferson there is M
estimating the damage that has been done
or the suffering entailed upon her citizens
Blount, Winston and Walker have also beer
injured, but to what probable extent W
have not yet been advised.
As the case of the hapless sufferers D.
this unprecedented calamity is one tia
appeals strongly to the hearts of our Who'll
people, we respectfully suggest TO on
readers the propriety-nay the necessity
of taking some active steps for their relic
We hope that the matter will, therefore, b
taken directly in hand and such activ
measures adopted as the urgency of th
case imperatively demands.