Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-06-21

4
limits that are composed oistone. yers
of course speedily filled Up with the
| timber and other materials brouob,
down from above, and with huge frso
ments of the bridges thas had besn
swept away. The passage being TIM,
Distracted, the water rose with extra
ordinary and alarming raPidity and
to the suddenness and force with which
the torrent swept on, are to be ascf.
bed the number OF deaths which occur
red, and the great destruction of pro.
perty, in the immediate neghborhooJ
Of the bridges.
The banks Of Jones' Falls for soma
distance up the stream were overflow.
ed, which caused large portions ofihen
to fall in. Where the land lies low
fences and sheds were carried away
and whole fields Of grain entirely inun.
dated and destroyed. Many persons
reading near the stream narrowly es.
capped with their lives; while others,
it is said were drowned before they
could leave their houses, or being SVEN,
off in them, were swallowed up in the
waters.
The dam at the Belyidere bridge
was carried off. The bridge, howey.
er, escaped,-bein very high and con.
sisting of but one arch, the grea, body
of water had free course to pass with.
out coming in contact with the bridge.
The dam at this bridge supplied The
present reservoirs ofthe Water Compa.
ny. The race leading from i, is riu.
red considerably by the falling Of
part Of the wall Of one side. Other
parts of the Company's works have al.
so sustained damages, and the citizens
will undergo very great inconvenience
for want of the supply of water to
which they have been accustomed, as
it will take some time 10 repair the
damages, 50 as to enable the company
to give the usual supply.
Tho extensive Coach Factory Of
Messfs. STOCKTON & STOKES has SUI.
fered considerable demage-fences,
wheels, coach lumber, &c. &c. carr.
cd off. Their loss is great.
Considerable damage was done TO
the new Universalist Church al the
corner of Calvert and Pleasant streets,
particularly in the basement story
The water penetrated within the enclO.
sure of the City Spring, and covered
the paved footways. The houses in
that neighborhood were more or less
invaded by the element, which, in some
cases, came up and above the paIlour
floors. The basement stories were all
filled. Much damage was done TO the
Presbyterian Church, corner Of HolH'
day and Saratoga streets. Some OF
the pews were forced out of their pla.
ces, and the pulpit was under water as
high as tue cushioned desk. The Cath.
Ole Male Free School escaped without
material injury; though it had FIVE
foot water inside.
In the streets leading from Market
Space to the falls the loss is also great.
Two gentlemen, Mr.. CAMPBELL and
nr. SEWAGE had rescued two valua.
Bile horses from stable and were
leading them up to Baltimore street,
when the rush Of the waters became so
strong that they could get no farther
placing the horses againgt one of,hc
pillars Of the market, they mounted up
on the hooks of the butchers stalls and
we're kept hanging there for two hours,
every moment expecting to be carried
away. The raging of the elements
above and the roar Of the waters be.
low, drowned their cries, and rendered
every effort to make themselves heard
Intellectual. When day light came the
waters had subsidized sufficiently to al.
low them TO escape from their perilous
situation. Their precaution ofplacing
the horses against the pillars proved
successful, and the lives Of the animals
were also preserved.
The bridge at Water street escaped
unhurt, the bridges and timber from
above found passage under it and
left il standing. Mr.. Walsh, who re.
sides in the house at the north west
corner of the bridge, was aroused IN
the night by the tremendous rush oil
thu flood, and jumping out Of bed found
himself in two feet water! He had
only time TO snatch up his child and to
awaken his wife, and, carrying them a.
cross the bridge to lodge them in a
place of safety. Numerous instances
occurred OF hair breadth escapes and
perlous incidents. The family OF a
gentleman residing near Hillen street
in Holiday, were aroused by the alarm
from the bells, ana getting up found
the second story of the house covered
with water, and a poor horse, attracted
BY the light in the room, struggling al
the window to gain admittanco. The
members of a family residing near the
corner of Holiday and Band streets,
were found in the morning safely lod.
l. M