The Daily Herald

The Freshet at the West. From the Mt. Morris Spectator, of the 22d inst. we take the following particulars of the rise of the waters there.

Freshet.—We have not had a mail from the East since last Saturday, owing to the excessive rains and floods.

It commenced raining about 11 o'clock on Sunday evening, when it came down in torrents, and continued to rain, with but little intermission, till yesterday morning. Monday afternoon the Genesee river commenced rising, and continued to rise rapidly until Tuesday morning, when it was evident, should it continue to rise through the day, that the dam at Squakie Hill or the embankment would be eventually carried away. The citizens of this village for the most part turned out, and no effort was spared to secure the dam, until the waters had raised in some places a foot higher than the original embankment, and a foot and a half to two feet above the top of the guard lock.

It became evident about half past 4 o'clock that no human agency could preserve the embankment or dam—one or the other of which would necessarily be carried away. An effort was made to cut a channel through the north end of the embankment, that the mills and machinery at the village might be saved. This, however, was unavailing—the water had forced its way through at the sides of the guard lock, while nearly at the same time it carried away the block work below the bridge abutments, when the dam immediately gave way, which prevented the water from forcing into the Canal, and extending its devastations in the direction of the village.

When it became evident that the enormous press of water must have a larger outlet in some direction, all were anxious to see the block work escape. It moved from its foundation just in time to save the guard lock, the canal, the flouring mills occupied by James Campbell & Co. and the rich alluvial flats of Gen. Mills and others.

The old foundation of the dam rests in its place as firm as adamant, and it is our opinion that a thousand times the force could not move it. This tremendous flood furnishes conclusive evidence that this important work will stand. It is the opinion of good judges that $2000 will repair the damage. Never since the settlement of the Genesee Valley, has such an immense quantity of water been known in it, at once, and perhaps a thousand years may pass and its like not be known again.

The citizens of Mount Morris generally distinguished themselves,—many labored intensely all day, and had it not been for their unremitting and meritorious exertions at the guard lock, a much greater destruction of property must have ensued.

All day on Tuesday the scene at the dam was truly imposing. The water swelled and foamed, and dashed along like a river of moving whirlpools. Sometimes large trees, in passing the dam, were broken with a loud crash, and their limbs thrown into the air.—From the bulk of property of all kinds which passed on Tuesday, the damage above must have been great. Stacks of grain and hay, saw logs and lumber of all sorts, parts of frames, the machinery of saw mills, and flood wood by the acre, were running all day.

Great damage was done in the valley of Cishuqua creek on Monday night—3 or 4 dwellings were entirely swept away, and the machinery greatly damaged.

A man was drowned in the Genesee river near the mouth of the Canaseraga creek on Tuesday, while attempting to save logs; and we learn that two men are missing from Messengers Hollow Allegany county, and are supposed to be drowned.