Alexandria Gazette

GREAT FRESHET AT SENECA FALLS, N. YORK.

The Seneca Farmer of Wednesday the 25th inst. states that from 12 o'clock the day previous, until ten at night, the rain poured down incessantly, which raised the streams in the vicinity with a rapidity and to a height seldom before witnessed. Owing to the contracted dimensions of the culvert west of the Seneca House on Bayard street, the ravine south became filled with an immense body of water. About 12 o'clock the embankment over which the public road passed, gave way and prostrated all before it. It poured across the basin, demolished the north embankment of the canal, and swept Messrs. Bailey & Woolsey's counting house, pertaining to the Globe Mills, and the pattern and finishing factory of Messrs. McClary and Seymour, iron founders, from their foundations. Not a vestige of these buildings remain. Their whole contents are scattered in the river. Among them is the iron safe, belonging to the Globe counting house containing it is said, the books and a sum of money. The clerk, who lodged in the office, had scarce time to escape, so sudden and unexpected the "floods came." The two establishments mentioned have sustained, it is said, the heaviest individual loss, though others in the vicinity must have suffered more or less damage. The State has also sustained heavy damages. Large portions of the canal embankments have been carried away, as have most of the canal bridges for miles down the river. The upper, central and lower bridges in the village of Seneca Falls, have all been more or less injured. The Canal navigation must of necessity, be suspended for some considerable time.