Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-02-06
omit amounted 10 many thousands Of

nOftotos
Attbe foot Of Arch street the ice, prob
ably impeded in its progress by the bridge
below at Market street, and the walls en-
closing the city Gas Works, just above
the bridge, has been carried up to Front
street. The streets here are covered
with blocks Of ice. Steel's store on this
wharf seems half imbedded in ice, which
surrounds il So completely for consider
able distance as to make II difficult to APP
prooch.
The cellar Of large warehouse, at
/ Market ST., wharl, seems 10 have been
! filled With water. Humphreys -four
store, at Walnut street, has been deluged;
the whole Of the basement story, covered
with barrels of -four has been filled with
water, and the flour barrels are now lying
imbedded in the ice. Many barrels are
also thrown about the yard, apparently
swept aut OF the store By the force oil the
current. The loss sustained here must
be great. The lower story Of store at
Locust street has also been filled with
water. The schooner Coaster, having
about l2S tons OF coal on board, is lying
upon this wharf, considerable distance
from the river. From this down to South
street, the coal and wood which were
piled upon the wharyes has been scatter
cd about, the coal boats and batteaux
swept up from the river into the yards,
sometimes lying in groups OF g or to-
gelher.
At South street, sloop has been car
ried up agrinst stable in Hamms q Co.,
coal yard and back of tbs Marte Hos
ptal, several coal boats have been thrown
INTO the street, so as to obstruct the cart
way. On the other side Of the rver, the
house that stood on the bank, leading up
to the AImshouse, appears now to be
standing in the middle Of the river, the
ice has been carried SO far across the
meadows. Not Il single wharf can be
seen acng the whole extent down to
Gray's ferry, they beng covered with ice,
and The water even VITA the TOP Oh
them.
At Gray's Ferry, another scene OF de-
struction is presented. The Floating
Bridge has been swept entirely away, and
not a trace Of it left. But the greatest
lass is that Of ii fine large bridge, built du-
ring the last summer by the Philadelphia
and Baltimore Railroad Company, the
spans of which, including about 200 feet
of the centre of the bridge, have been
carried away from lis piers. The top Of
two Of the piers have also been swept OIL.
I he foundations and piers otherwise
appear to be injured. The cost for bull
ding this bridge we are informed, was
$40, 00O. We understand that the Com
pany will construct a temporary bridge
in few days 20 supply The loss.
About mile below this bridge, house
occupied by Mr. Lush. came near beng
carried away by schr. his pgpens and
and pie swept eff, but recovered again by
boat hook. A small house, which
came floating down, was secured by hun,
and placed on the meadows below.
Above Gray's Ferry, a boat, apparent
Is canal boat, lies bottom upwards.
What extent of injury has been done
beyond this, we know not, Bat the sceno
we have detailed presents one the most
destructive and desolate in appearance 1t
is possible to conceive. The whole shore
is strewed with wrecks Of property
The amount destroyed il is impossible to
say.
We are informed that the Brandywinc
Bridge has been d stroyed, and the Rail
road has been much injured, both this side
ard beyond " ilmington, by being lnunda'
teG.