Daily National Intelligencer

ACCIDENTS, CASUALTIES, &c.

Zanesville, April 5.—Great Flood—The Muskingum and Licking waters during last week, rose to an unprecedented height, and have even to this time subsided but a little. We anticipate immense damages have been experienced on those streams. "The post-rider from Chillicothe towards this place was drowned in attempting to cross the small stream at Tarleton; a general failure of the mails has taken place, and but a few papers have been received from a distance." The waters here were at their utmost height on Saturday last, and rose on the plank at the extreme end of the north west wing of the Muskingum and Licking bridge, and within four feet of the plank on the main bridge. The causeway leading to the north west wing was covered so deep as to be impassable. The south causeway was also covered with water, but horsemen continued to pass during the day on Friday, many however falling off, some swimming out at great risk. We lament to say, Doctor I. Fowler, of Putnam, in attempting to cross, his horse fell off the causeway, and he was drowned. The horse swam out some distance below. No discovery of the body has yet been made.

On Sunday afternoon, when the water had began to subside and the fear of damage was considerably abated, the bridge gave way on the Zanesville side, and three stretches of that elegant and convenient structure were precipitated into the current and instantly carried off. The causes of this disaster are not precisely known, but it is believed the trussel next the shore, which was of wood, and planked up to a large extent and against which the current beat in a quarterly direction, with immense force, gave way at the bottom, and being driven out let down the upper side of the bridge, which instantly on reaching the water overwhelmed the three spans, carrying away two trussels and breaking the bridge at the third. The loss to the bridge company must amount to more than one-third the whole cost of the bridge.