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

UTluRC ut futt sbiVSt hCaiiy ~ $50
ire, is also washed away--the course
of the stream was here nearly, totally
INSTRUCTED, by the accumulation OF
floating timbers, which lay at this bridge
wedged and piled up 10 the height OF
the bridge itself.
This is a bridge Of three arches,
which has now for the second or third
time, proved of insufficient dimensions
to pass the floating timbers which de-
scend during a freshet-and to their
obstruction of this bridge now, may be
asc:ibed much Of the extensive INJURY
which has happened.
But however deplorable is this de.
struction of valuable property, II is still
more melancholy to reflect on the num-
Der of human beings who have been
brought to an untImely end. 1t is I'M
possible now to ascertain the extent Of
the loss of life, but there is great rea-
son to apprehend that many have been
drowned and carried down the stream.
This suppositon derives great confirm,
alton from the fact that the bodies OF
five unfortunate beings were found
lodged against the draw bridge. Those
acquainted with the vicinity OF Whites
Distllery will remember a shanty,
which has been occupied for a long
time, by an humble but honest pair OF
aged persons, who made their living by
the sale of refreshments to the passers-
blythe poor old woman was found
drowned in her shed; and II is believed
that her husband has met the same
fate, though his body has nOt yet been
discovered. A most distressing spec.
tacle was presented at the residence OF
hesexton ofthe church corner Of Sa-
ratoga and Holiday st's.-The sexton
himself, bis wife, and three children
were found drowned in their beds =
The water here had risen to height
of from eight to ten feet, and it is high
" probable that without II Struggle they
passed quietly into eternity. They
have the appearance of persons in pro-
found and tranquil slurnber. 1t was
most affecting sight.
Several others were found drowned
in different parts of the city. One
poor wretch, who in state OF intoxl-
cation, had begged and obtained leave
to lodge in the kitchen ola house i'll
Water street, lost his liie--in conse-
zuence, most probably, of the power
less condition to which the liquor he
swallowed had reduced him. An aw-
ful warning to the incorporate No
doubt others met their death from the
same cause.
We have heard of some narrow es-
capes, two of the most extraordinary
of which are the following:
One Of our German residents was
started from his slumbers by the alarm,
and on descending TO the fist floor
found himself up to his waist in water.
He Immediately returned 10 his Sleep
ing apartments, and having taken his
sister succeeded in forcing his way gu:
and along the street to one Of the bird.
ges, with the view of crossing to old
town. The bridge gave way and car.
rieI both the individuals along with it.
They hoated down the stream for some
distance; and finally succeeded in get.
ting hold of fence and extricatiDg
themselves from the water. But the
stream continued to rise rapidly, and
the German was compelled to keep his
sister above the water by holding her
up by her hair. They then contrived
to cling to the branches Of tree, and
there remained till morning.
A boy oftwelve or fourteen, had fal.
len from the drift, which clogged Bal
timore street bridge, into the swollen
and whirling current of the river, and
being unable to swim was passing ra-
pidly and helpless down the stream,
only the top of his head above water,
and had once entirely disappeared,
when two young men bravely dashed
into the stream, and just as the drown
ing youth was about to be drawn un.
der the drift of lumber, &C., which
clogged in like manner the bridge be.
low on Pratt street, he was snatched
exhausted, and almost liCeless, from
death, and restored to his family. The
name Of the humane and heroic person
who thus nobly at the risk of his own
life saved that ola fellow.creature pro.
badly unknown to him, is LEWIS SrIEsE
a young mechanic of this city, whose
humanity and heroism would in the
best days of Rome have entitled him to
the laurel crown. He has, however,
what no doubt he will esteem of far
more value, the delightful conscious.
ness of having saved the life of Eel.
low being, and the hearty applause of
the numerous spectators. We have
not learned the name of the other no
less mertorious individual, who threw
himself into the raging stream without
recollecting that he could not himself
swim, but trusted TO plank with which