The Mississippi Creole

Madison street bridge offered a momentary check to the floating mass, but it was momentary; for the next instant the bridge itself was added to the wreck. Randolph street bridge was the next obstacle to the rush of things--but hardly an obstacle. It resisted for a moment, and then it too gave way and sunk into the chaos below, and all rushed with swift destruction upon the large number of vessels and canal boats lying in the branch in the vicinity of Raymond & Gibbs' warehouse.

The fleet of destruction thus swept into the main river, where the banks were lined with steamers, propellers, brigs, schooners, and canal boats, and then such confusion ensued as no pen can describe. Wells-street bridge was open, leaving the middle of the stream clear; but the vessels were closely wedged together from bank to bank, and the ends of the bridge very soon gave way and mingled with the general wreck. On, on rushed the terrible flotilla, the whole river being completely filled with steamboats, propellers, schooners, canal boats, scows and every kind of craft.