A heavy fresh in the Rappahannock river.
The Fredericksburg Herald, of the 5th inst., says that the heavy fall of rain, accompanied with a terrible gale of wind, on Friday night, and which continued up to a late hour Saturday morning, produced a very destructive fresh in the Rappahannock river. The following is a list of some of the casualties which occurred:‘ The gale of wind on Saturday blew the water up stream, submerging the wharves, and as the wind subsided, the rise speedily proved that the fall of rain above was fully equal to that in our own vicinity.
’ On Sunday morning the Rappahannock was covered with logs, rails, and driftwood of all descriptions, and by noon it was within three feet of the great fresh in the river on the 10th of April last; that having been the greatest within the memory of "the oldest inhabitant," and two inches higher than the flood of 1814.
One span of Chatham bridge gave way, about 10 o'clock, owing to the heavy body of driftwood against the pier which supported it; but as nearly every stick of timber was saved, the bridge can be speedily repaired, and our communication with Stafford reopened. Indeed, persons crossed after the span gave way, as it only sunk, still retaining its connection with either side. The water rose within three feet of the flooring of the bridge. Mr. Scott's loss will not be over $150 or $200.
All the flouring mills had their lower stories submerged. Mr. T. F. Knox had a part of 400 barrels of flour under water, but as it had not been inspected, it is hoped and believed that his loss will be small, though necessitating its re-packing. Some ship stuff on the lower floor will, however, be almost a total loss.
The mills on the Falmouth side, and the corn mill of Mr. Marye, on this side, having been inundated, will be subjected to a small loss.
The bridge at Falmouth stood firm, although the water from the current splashed over on the flooring, and a little higher rise would have produced a serious loss in timber.
The country above has doubtless suffered heavily in the loss of fencing, and the crops of corn on the low grounds, judging from the wagon loads of pumpkins that came floating down the river.
The vessels in port were in great danger, but no material damage occurred except to the schooner "Ladies Delight," Captain Kinningham, which parted her cables and drifted down, and now lies in a corn field below town. She is loaded with wheat, consigned to Mr. C. C. Wellford. The steamers Virginia and Eureka were carried down, the former three, times, but she steamed back; the latter has not yet returned. A wood vessel is now lying in a field adjacent to Mr. W. P. Taylor's residence at Hayfield.
