Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-01-17

GREAT FREsHETs TN TUE BRANDYwINR AND Chris
TIANA-1lTH STREET BRIDGE PARTLY SWEET
AwAY-THE R. r. BRIDoR ACROSS THE CHRIsTIANA
DAMAGED AND UNSAFE.
Even more suddenly and unexpectedly than
the freehet of two weeks ago came second one
last night, which entailed far greater damage
The gathering shadows of evening foretold no
approaching storm, but the stars twinkled in =
clear sky. unobscured byla passing cloud Old
Father Probability, two, had assured us Of clear
weather, and nearly every one went to sleep
feeling secure in the faithfulness OF his PROMISE
But about O'Clock little gray clouds began to
flick the sky, which, growing more numerous,
seemed to concentrate, and to overshadow the
whole heavens. Still nothing more than pass
ing shower was expected. The rain fell very
slowly until midnight, but after that hour it
seemed as II the bottom of the great deep had
become appraised, and was pouring its contents
in great volumes down upon the earth. This,
gathering in the valleys. created current, which
wound along between the declivities. sweeping
before il everything which was lying loose upon
the ground
Tho Brandywne was increased from gently
flowing stream to great and turbulent river.
The water swept down its bed with irresistible
fury, waving and struggling amid the rocks until
lta surface swelled with pillows akin to those
which .are ofttimes witnessed along the sea
shore. 1t was q grand spectacle to view the
struggling waters, filed rs they were with debris
washed from the hisides whirling and tossing
huge objects abont on their bosom ~ if they had
been mere straws or to watch the floating ice
| coquetting with one another and then separating
| to float on down with the current. Its velocity
could not have been far short OF 20 miles per
hour, this morning Judging from the rapdity
with which floating objects passed any given
point
Looking from Market street bridge mp the
| stream, the volume OF water was SO swollen that
the lower dam was just perceptible. At the
] mills, the water was nearly even with the lower
| floors, but cannot enter until it rises several
| feet more. This. however, it may do; for the
| tide was low in the Delaware and ebbing, this
| morning and when it begins TO flow in, backing
| up the descending current in the Brandywine 1t
is expected that the water will rise several feet
| higher. Its maximum depth will probably be
attained by three o'clock. The mills are all idle,
| the back water preventing the turning OF the
wheels. The water pumps in the city mills are
also standing still, and partially submerged. No
| damage is anticipated in this locality. All the
perishAble articles had been removed to the up
per floors, several days since, in the expectation
of q flood.
The river is filed with floating ice, and debris
limbs and stumps OF trees, boards, fence posts
and all objects upon which the water could exert
| its forces. In some instances, entire panels of
fence, frozen in the ice, were lifted from their
| position, and came floating down stream, in an
| upright position. The ice gorge at the kockland
| dam has been broken, and Rpprehensions are
| no longer entertained in regard to it.
The Christiana is also swollen, and filled with
Il floating ice. huge mass of it was piled up
i against the the Railroad bridge on the Delaware
| line, swaying it fully one foot out of position
| and rendering it unsafe for the passage Of
/ trains. Foot passengers can still come on it.
| The North and Soulh bound traius, this morning
/ on the Delaware road. drew up on the opposite
| banks Of the river, exchanged passengers, and
/ in this way there was no interruption of trains,
i although some delay was caused by it. force
| Of workmen sent out to repair damages, at
| once.
White Clay Creek, 8 correspondent writes US
| from Newark, is more swollen than it has been
| for many years. Four feet of water stands in
| in the lower rooms Of Joseph Dean IL Co. mill.
The ice is all gone, and the bridges all safe
| except one railroad bridge, which is reported
/ gone, but this is doubtful Our correspondent
neglected te state on which Railroad but he
doubtless refers to the Delaware and PennA.
On the Wilmington and Reading road, a small
bridge over the Brandywine, just below Pocop-
son station, Was washed away during the night.
| 1t compelled the transfer of passengers during
| the day, but will be promptly repaired, and all
| right it ID expected by this evening.
On the Wilmington and Western. small
| bridge at Hockessin is reported gone. The
| damage is slight.
Two bridges on the Phila. L BALTIC. Central r..
| r., were also damaged. One, short distance
below Chadd's Ford, was speedily.repaired, and
| trains passed over in safety. AT Chadds Ford,
| several Of the trestles across the meadow were
washed away but the sringers still position.
Others of the trestes almostcut in two by the
/ ice. The bridge proper is uninjnred. Passengers
/ were transferred on the bridge but the freight,
&c, came down over the w. Il Il. Il. r., and will
be sent hence via the p. W. b.