The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-09

Above this the recent repairs have render
ed the levees in better condition. The
bend here also assists in throwing the heav-
lest volume to the other side. Willow
Grove, where the coal boats are landed, was
secure, and Sedgwick Hospital front showed
no signs of. weakening. All along the bank
at Greenville, now and then, low spots were
passed, where the water forcibly threw its
spray over, but beyond this no immediate
damage was discovered. As we approached
CarrOllton it was evident from
The Excited Crowds
on the bank that the food was considered
threatening. 1t is here that the united eff
forts Of wind and curren. assailed the levees,
and the strain upon them was very great,
and, to those who could appreciate the real
condition Of affairs, the scene was bordering
on the grand.
The river rolling in high pillows, surging
angrily against the restraining shores, the
sky laden with flying scud and the whistling
wind, all made the picture not unlike some
sea study. Arriving at Carrollten we put
up at the hospitable manor Of Dan HikocA,
where Administrator Turnbull had lst ar
rived from his tour from above. He had
been away from his Office all yesterday, de
voting his time to averting the flood. We
accompanied him at about P. NJ. on his
rounds. About two squares above the hotel
the first work was reached, and busy arms
were driving stakes, raining dirt and
strengthening the spot which was evidently
| about to give.
| The ground had been undermined by the
| waves, and abou. twO-thirds of the width of
the levee caved away. The employees, IN
der Mr. Turnbull had driven a revetment of
planks outside the break, and were ener-
getically filling in with earth. Men, women
and children lined the river, gazing visit
fully ont at the
Rapid Current and Lashing
waters, now and then turning to the labor
of the men at the break. The levee at this
point is fully fifteen feet above the road, and
in certain places the gardens of those who
reside on the front road abutt against the
foot Here the water insinuated itself
through the earth, and trickled down the
paths, making the prospect for the coming
crop exceedingly doubtful.
A number of visitors from New Orleans
were gathered around, amongst whom were
many ladies. who viewed with curious gaze
the labor of the men. After leaving the
break near Carrollton, we proceeded up until
we reached the old Preston property. Here,
although there was wide batture, there
was sign of breaking; but after few
minutes labor it was closed. Mr.. Turnbulrs
plucky little mare " Clip" pulled us through
a perfect slough of despond, and after some
severe tests on the buggy springs, we ar
rived safely at Parapet. The long reach OF
the river carries the current directly against
the levee here, and it was evident every
exertion was needed to prevent further
danger.
At this point we found the most serious
weakness in the embankment. Opposite
VIM. Tackles place crawfish hole through
the levee had allowed stream to run
through. This was fortunately discovered
in time, and the hands Of the city, together
with the neighbors, speedily perfected a re-
vetment around the dangerous spot and
prevented
Deluge on Our City.
Above this, and opposite the front Of the
Parapet, some four or five breaks had oc-
cured.
When we arrived on the spot, the exer-
tions of the workmen had effeltually stopped
the water from running through. A stage
was placed upon supports and the hands
were engaged in wheeling dirt to FIJI the
spaces around the new revetments made by
the hands. The heavy beat Of the waves
against the front told plainly that here was
the spot needing the support Of labor in
this eXigency.
For distance of about two hundred
yards above and below the action of the
water has been such as to
undermine, in Many Places,
the levee. Here and there cavity of three
or four feet would be made by the waves
without any sign Of its existence on the
surface Of the levee. Those who live in the |
immediate neighborhood of Parapet evi-
IDENTIFY appreciated the great danger in
which they We're placed, and here and there
knots were gathered together with AK and
mallet ready to assist the hands in case Of
emergency. No one could regard the
anxious faces of the women and chill, rem !
who reside in the neighborhood, without
feeling of sympathy for their position,
which they seemed to consider forlorn.
Attracted by natural curiosity, there were
quite number of the beautiful bellies of the !
Crescent City assembled on the levee top,
evidently interested in the excitement of
the threatened disaster. The hands engaged
in closing this break were in charge OF Mr.
Bradley, an engineer Of the Jackson Rail
road, who, in order to protect the line of the |
company, had been energetic in his work on