In South Devon the damage has been immense. The rains of Sunday and Monday caused a terrific accumulation of water in the rivers and lakes at Newton Abbot, and about five o’clock on Monday night the flood might be regarded as its height. The water rushed with great violence from the river Lemon, through Sun Court into East-street and Wolborough-street, submerging the entire neighbourhood. A large wall, sixteen feet high, fell down near the Union Bridge; portions of the bridge leading into Sun Court were washed away, and the roof of a house with part of the timbers which fell down were carried off by the current. Several lives were jeopardised Mr. Smerdon, watchmaker, rescued one of Mr. Pincent’s draymen, who was knocked down while attempting to cross Wolborough-street, and Mr. Bearne saved a woman from drowning in his lane, where the water was from eight to nine feet deep. Several dogs and other animals were drowned, and trees, hedges, and ricks were washed away by the stream. At Bradley Meadows the water was nearly four feet above the embankment of the river. The flood in November last year was not half so destructive as this sad catastrophe, upwards of seventy tradesmen and inhabitants of the town having sustained immense losses. The aggregate amount of damage is estimated at about £7,000 and we are happy to hear that a subscription has been opened to reimburse the poorer sufferers. We understand that the Rev. W. T. H. Eales, and Mr. L. Sweet, went out canvassing for contributions yesterday (Thursday) in aid of this, praiseworthy object.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0518 Devonport: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901