Ohio River Floods at Covington, Kentucky

The Great Flood.

The heavy rains of last week caused a big rise in all the western streams. The Ohio, already unusually high, began to rise at a very rapid rated last Sunday morning, and continued to swell till Thursday evening, at which time the water was only 6 feet 10½ inches below the great flood of 1832 and 6 feet 2½ inches below that of 1847.

Of course there has been great destruction of property all along the river bottoms. In the main, Covington is high and dry. On Scott street the water reached the brick building on the rail mill lot. Portions of the western part of the city have been overflowed, though the damage, we believe, has been slight.

Newport has suffered more. Many families were compelled to leave their dwellings, taking refuge in the court house and other public buildings.

In Cincinnati the overflow in the lower part of the city or along the river front is complete. The cellars are all filled, yards all covered, and the factories, residences, and depots partially inundated by the water. The backwater has extended from the river over a vast area of the country, and in the lowlands has submerged houses in great numbers.

The suffering and damage in consequence of the overflow will be immense.

In this connection the following communication from our fellow citizen P. S. Bush, Esq., will be read with interest:

S. Davis, Esq.,

DEAR SIR: — I was born at North Bend, Boone county, Ky., March, 27, 1795. I have resided on the banks of the Ohio River, or so convenient thereto as to have witnessed every flood that has occurred since, and marked the height of all but one on some durable object. The singular coincidence of their occurring every fifteen years has induced me to state the fact for the information of those who may not recollect or are not curious enough to inquire. I do not believe, however, that there is a philosophical cause for it.

My recollection, aided by traditionary accounts, is, that about the commencement of the present century, there was a great flood in the Ohio River. Jas. G. Arnold, Esq., who now resides in this city, and who then lived near its banks, thinks it was 1801 or 1802. I was married in 1817, and was prevented for several days from getting to my father's, who resided on the river, by a flood which rose to about four feet below the great flood which occurred in February, 1832. In December, 1847, the next great flood came up to about six inches below the preceding one. — And now, at the end of the fourth series of fifteen years, we have what may be called the flood of 1862.

"He sendeth the waters out, and they overrun the Earth."

"He bindeth the flood from overflowing it."

P. S. BUSH.

Covington, Ky., January 25, 1862.