Gazette Of The United States

NEWARK, August 12th

The late freshet has been unparalleled within the memory of the oldest man living in these parts of the state. So great a fall of rain within so short a space of time as happened on Monday the 3d inst. has perhaps seldom been known at any season of the year, but never been recollected at the present.--The rise of the river Passaic was sudden, owing no doubt to the bursting of the dams of the large mill ponds in Morris county.

At Paterson the overflowing of the river below the falls was not as progressive as in former freshets, but almost instantaneous the greatest height of the river has exceeded any former freshets within the memory of the oldest inhabitant by even inches.--The rapidity of the current prevented the flood from making at the mouth of the river for six days, and the navigation was for some time impeded. It is impossible to ascertain or estimate the damage that has been sustained. Some thousand tons of hay have been either totally swept away by the current or destroyed by the mud deposited in the meadow grounds. Timber and staves, and fencing stuff along the margin of the Passaic, have been floated off in immense quantities. Many Farmers along the low lands, have not only lost all their hay, but likewise their wheat, rye and oats, and buckwheat in the field. What with the loss of the farmers and injury done to mill seats, forges, &c. the total damage in these parts may not be computed at less than One Hundred Thousand Pounds.

During this breaking up of the fountains of heaven the falls at Paterson presented an object truly grand and terrific-the column of water above the falls rose at least twelve feet perpendicular higher than the common level of the river-the pressure of this vast body to find vent, afforded to the spectator a picture of the force and power of water not often presented--the river not only overflowed its usual boundaries, but at this place overshot a large proportion of the vast chasm between the stupendous walls of rock, which form the Falls, and the waters returning on the opposite side, united again midway in one vast cataract of boiling foam.

The descent of the river was so much faster than the probability of finding a vent, that the basin at the foot of the falls was raised at least 15 or 20 feet above the common level, and the water in the chasm perhaps 10 or 15 feet above the basin, so that at the juncture the height of the fall did not appear above 15 feet. Whereas in common times it exceeds 50. The sheet of water was also very much enlarged, extending to the eastward, and pouring over the perpendicular wall in that part, at least 100 feet wider than usual. The river above the falls also presented a very unusual sight, appearing, as it were pent up about 20 yards from the chasm and swelling above that part of the water about 10 feet, from whence it began to descend in one immense body, rolling with redoubled impetuosity to the brink of the precipice, where, concentrating all its rage, it precipitated itself into the abyss beneath in one astonishing whirlpool of foam, carrying along with it whole trees, timber, and the ravages of the long course of the waters from above.

The spray occasioned by the falls precipitated in a torrent of rain, and the beautiful phenomenon of the rainbow, was to be seen in its fullest splendor. Below the basin of the falls the river tumbled forward over the bed of rocks in an extensive sheet of water and foam, burying in its progress the island above the bridge--it nearly overflowed the latter-which is raised at least 14 feet above the bed of the river. The low lands on each side of the Passaic, from its source to its mouth were overflowed in such manner as rendered all travelling along the post road from this town impracticable for some days.

The water began to rise with the greatest force on Tuesday, and were nearly stationary all Wednesday-on Thursday they began to abate and fell about 14 inches-on Friday more considerably, but the river did not return to its usual confines until Monday last.

Amidst all the distresses occasioned by the flood we are happy to learn that the works of the manufacturing society at Paterson have sustained little or no damage, except the printing mill and materials, which have been considerably injured. As the waters have subsided, we have great reason to fear a very sickly autumn in consequence of the exhalation arising from the putrefactive deposits of the freshets.

Every timely precaution ought to be exerted to drain off, where possible, the stagnant waters, and remove dead carcasses of animals and fish or other putrescent matter.