SEA ENCROACHMENT.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 990, 26 July 1872, Page 2

SEA ENCROACHMENT.

The regretful, but inevitable, duty presents itself of again recording a chapter of disaster similar in detail to the many previous ones, with which Westportians have been too long familiar. On Tuesday at mid day, as the tide rose, it was evident that danger impended. The surf washed right up to the rear of the few remaining houses on the beach side of Q-ladstone street, and the occupants were compelled to instantly bestir themselves to remove their stocks and furniture, despite the heavily falling rain, which continue'd nearly throughout the day. The work of clearing out, and demolition proceeded until dusk. Messrs. Mailer, Graves and Fleming, and Whyte and Pirie, removing their stocks and pulling down all fittings within their buildings. Mr Home bad previously got his building shifted a few feet forward on to the street, and hence, for the time, was in comparative safety. At the Prince of Wales, or Empire, at Clark's Odd Fellows Hotel, and the adjoining premises to Colvin's corner, the order of the day was retreat, as the surf came splashing up inch by inch and foot by foot, into the roadway. The doors of the Court House were thrown open, and in a very short time the hall of justice became converted into the semblance of a brokers shop, filled with a heterogenous collection of furniture, crockery and bedding. Meanwhile the street was littered with timber/doors, window sashes, and waifs and strays innumerable, nastily moved back for safety. Ae night came the labor ceased for a while, aud all that owners of property could do was to wait and watch for the next rising of the waters. Between twelve o'clock at night and 1 a.m. the tide raged with unabated, power. Two large rollers, following each other at a short interval, broke full on the side of Graves and Fleming's store, a substantial building about 35 feet by 20. The first roller knocked it round broadside to the beach, and the second caused it to collapse like a house of cards, Fortunately it thus afforded less surface for the action of succeeding waves; and the timbers held together until daylight; when the shattered remains were removed with all possible despatch. Meanwhile the water came sweeping through the other premises from rear to front, and Mailer's building was in great jeopardy, but it escaped destruction until the next morning when it also was removed piecemeal. On the other sido of Gladstone street the houscholdors wore sore perplexed, anticipating in their turn, the overflow of their premisea. On the footpath the water lay ankle

deep," and the surf at frrquent intervals washed over the thresholds of the houses, and even on to the raised bar floor at Gilmers' Hotel. One or two heavy rollers putting MoleßWorkh. street all a-wash, and leaving driftwood, planks, casks, and debris, Btrahded as far up as the Custom Hou*e corner. On Wednesday matters were not much better. Every hand that could be obtained being employedia pullin" down tho premises from Whyte and Pirie's corner to Calvin's butchery. At the end of Kennedy street; alio Roche's hotel was hastily dismantled and the timbers carried back for safety The tide on "Wednesday night fortunately did little damage. Gladstone street however presents a most cheer. less aspect, being blocked up with buildings and material in Course of removal. At the river end, the water at high tide washes up to the side of Draghi. cavich's Hotel, all the once intervening premises having been removed. The public inconvenience, loss of time and money, and the general feeling of uncertainty and alarm prevading, seriously impedes the ordinary course of business, and the continously wet weather adds not a little to every ones discomfort and perplexity. j ■