THE FLOOD OF 1843. 35 



water, a verj^ marked diflference between the height of the 

 margin of the flood and the middle of the current. He is of 

 opinion that the difference in height did not fall much short 

 of three feet. 



The eastern abutment of the king post bridge at the south- 

 ern road, together with the superstructure was carried away. 

 The rail-road bridge over this creek was greatly damaged — 

 the extensive trussel work on the eastern shore being swept off. 



The flood appears to have attained rather a greater eleva- 

 tion in this creek than in Crum. The destruction which was 

 caused by it (without including the loss of life,) was infin- 

 itely greater. The number of trees which was uprooted and 

 carried down was very considerable, and many of them of 

 a large size. 



Chester creek. — We have now arrived at the most westward 

 of the large inundated creeks. In this stream the flood 

 attained its maximum height, and greatly exceeded that in 

 either of the foregoing streams in force and velocity, and in 

 the destruction of property. The same number of lives were 

 lost upon this creek as upon Darby creek. 



In the brief topographical view which was given of the 

 county, it is mentioned that Chester creek has its origin by 

 two principal branches termed "East" and "West," but so 

 violent was the fall of rain in this region of the county, that 

 our observations in tracing the flood will have to be extended 

 to some of the subdivisions of these branches. 



On the principal division of the east branch, no serious 

 damage occurred, except to fences, crops, &c., above the roll- 

 ing mill and nail factory of John Edwards, Esq., deceased, 

 both of which were unoccupied. On this property the dam 

 was swept out and the race broken. 



The next establishment on this stream below, is the flour 

 and paper mills of James M. Wilcox, Esq. His dam was 

 injured and an extensive protection wall at the end of his 

 mill washed down. The injury done to Abraham Sharpless' 

 saw mill, if any, has not been ascertained. 



