Crooked Creek Flood 1847

The Crooked Creek flood on Sept. 3, 1847 is a fairly well-known calamity. This account was original published in the Louisville Courier Journal and was reprinted in New York. Since Eagle Hollow Creek flows into the Ohio River, not Crooked Creek, the mention of it here could mean it was also affected by the flood--or this was simply an error

New York Municipal Gazette May 28, 1847

Terrible Flood And Loss of Property.—A terrible storm of rain occurred at Madison, Ind., on the 3d of September. An extra from the Banner gives full particulars of this destructive calamity.

Crooked Creek, a very small stream running parallel with the Ohio river, between the high hills in the rear of the city, rose above its banks; and the “bottom,” or "commons,” between the Michigan road and the high ground upon which the city is built, was soon converted into a lake or broad river. The culvert under the railroad embankment, across the hollow at the lower end of the city, was choked up with properly, houses, &c. The waters dammed up to a great depth, and there broke through the artificial hill, producing a terrible flood.

All the bridges Across Crooked Creek were swept off, and nearly all the property in the immediate vicinity of its banks was either entirely destroyed or greatly injured. Messrs. Jacob Shuh, Whitney & Hendricks, and Mitchell & McNaughten are among the greatest sufferers. The loss of property is estimated by some at $100,000, and by others at less. The worst remains to be told.

It is certain that nine persons lost their lives by this flood, viz: Mr. Walker and child, drowned in “Eagle Hollow;” Mrs. Judge and two children, in “Irish Hollow;” Mrs. Scott, (daughter of Mr. Cotton,) swept off from the dwelling between Mulberry and West streets: and three colored people—Charlotte, Edward and Israel. It is described as an awful and sublime spectacle. Houses, animals, fences, barrels, and all kinds of household furniture, came whirling along as though they were mere bubbles, or feathers, floating in the air.

The Louisville Journal of Saturday says, the mail boat reports that fourteen lives were lost by the freshet at Madison, on Thursday. Eleven bodies have been found. The amount of property destroyed had not been fully ascertained.—Jour. Com. Sept. 11.