Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-12-01
STORM AND FLOOD.

streets.
The recent partial inundatian of Rich 4
mOnd, Va, is thus described Notwith- I
standing all precautions taken, the de- ]
struchveness of the great rush of water
on Richmond exceeded anything ever
known in Virginia. About twelve o'clock /.
IN the night the water gradually rose
into the streets of the lower part of the
city. At two O'Clock A. NJ. it was up to
the second stories of many houses, and
was pouring into Main street, the prin-
cipal thoroughfare of Richmond. Even
with every vehicle that could be
and an immense force of
hands, goods could not be removed fast
enough, and the midnight workers
found themselves surrounded by the
surging and billowy mass of water, and
they were at last forced to leave the en-
dangered property, in order to save
themselves.
In Rockets, which is nearer to the
river than any other portion of the city,
acres of streets, thickly built, were sur
rounded, and many of the houses COM
pletely buried beneath the water. No
warning could have prepared the inhab-
itants for flood so terrible in its effects
aud so swift in its desolation. Steadily,
stealthily, swiftly theseething tide rushed
through the city into the darkened
houses, giving no warning, save when it
crashed in windows, and then by it's in
creasing volume, broke down the himsy
barriers Of doors like reed stems in the
path OF cyclone. Like gnomes and
dark water spirits, struggling men and
shrleklng women were seen moving on
housetops, while the steady fall of the
oars from the succoring boats fell upon
the midnight air. Boats enough could
not be gotten together to do what was
necessary. Sturdy fathers could be seen
moving cautiously through the water,
bearing their little ones on their shout
ders people crawled to their third
floors, and as they saw the water climb
ing upward called out for boats to take
them of. Horses and wagons, which
were first in demand, were now set aside
for skiffs and barges. At one o'clock the
moon rose. It's light, feeble though it
was, came providentially. The cries for
lamps and candles were heard now.
Boats plowed the streets weighted down
with the workingman's most precious
cargo, his wife and little ones. AS they
were safely landed at the foot of the
hills the cry of mothers calling to their
little ones to keep together was heard
and, casting one lingering sad look OF
the watery waves where once were happy
homes, they moved off to give standing
ground for other boatloads of thu
homeless. The men proved faithful ant
worked with will. Then the river ros'
higher and higher, and the roar becam,
like Niagara in its fury.
Great trunks of trees, portions o
bridges and masses of timber swep
down the stream and tore up such shan
ties and buildings as stood in their path
Nothing stayed the progress of tn
destructive food. A single timber fel
from bridge a mile up the stream. I
gathered strength and fury as it wen
on and tore up small clubhouse on til
river bank, and clinging close to this
gathered tlmbers as it moved, when til
whole mass was hurled against the roof
of the houses in its track. 1t went O.
down the stream, gathering strength an
being on the swift current very animal
engine of terror and humiliation. As
tore down the James River, crushin
everything before it, this confused mas
Of timbers looked in the ghostly light {
the moon like a living monster, finein
huge arms i'll fierce contortions whel
the river current was not broken. Sue
was the sight in Rockets.
In the vicinity of the gas works, Q
Moi, "a, l.
Seventeenth streets, the appearance
the water was more insidious and can
in more slowly. Here there was no GU
rent, and the water backed into the Gil
by way of Shocker Greek. At ten o'cloc
it was over the door in the old marke
and covered Main, Gary and Frank
. streets for distance of three squares.
The headquarters of the Chief
Police and the First police station hou
were blocked up, the water rising rapi
ly until it was above the tirst-story,
the policemen had to climb from Il
second-story windows into the fatboa
in the street.
A line of ferryboats was quickly {
tablished to enable communication b
tween the upper and lower sections
the city. The very centre of the bu
ness portion of lower Richmond W
under water at ten o'clock. The bu
ness signs of the wholesale and ret
houses tioated and the only mode
egress was from second story windov
while at half-past two o'clock to-day t
New York steamboat sheds We're unt
water and it was over the caves. 7
second floor of the company's office COT
only be seen, while the currents swe
through the building and over the off
counters.
At five o'clock the New York steam
Isaac Bell, of the Old Dominion lii
which was anchored near by the roof
the shed, broke loose from her moorir
and was hurled broadside down the G.
rent right over toward the water cover
houses in Rockets. At one moment
looked as though she would tear
path through Main street and swt
down the houses whose roofs held til
trembling owners; at another. as
current laden with tree3 and timl
struck her, she looked as though
would careen and fall on he, side.
danced on the water like o. cork {
looked from the streets she was nea
as large as the Great Eastern, for
people were below the level of her HI
The sight of large steamboat bear
down toward the narrow streets
terror inspiring, but her officers E
ceeded in finding an anchorage down
river, near Yeunglings James Ri
Brewery, and guided her from the str,
in time to save them and her fl
damage.
The whole length of Richmond fri
ing on the river, from the pump he
to the Chesapeake and Ohio whar
and streets running thereon, were III
the Hnnd q dictnnna In oil Of thrnc