Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-12
FLOOD IN TnE poToMAC VALLEY.

Ohio Railroad 10 the descending train from
Cumberland on Monday. The following re
mort from the Conductor Of the train which
left here on Monday morning and returned on
Yesterday morning, notices IN detail the OBJ
structons TO the progress OF the tram al varl-
Gus points on the road, caused BY the high
waters in the streams. 1t viii be seen that at
the time of his departure from Harper's Ferry,
at s, r. NJ. on Tuesday, the Potomac river
was still on the rise but as ii had commen-
ced falling rapidly about fifty miles above, and
as the tributary streams were fast subsiding,
there was good reason 10 hope that the Rail
road bridge at Harper's Ferry escaped without
INJURY. ~.
! To VIM. s. WooDsIDE, ESQ,
Sup't. Transportation, &c:
Sir:-The train of passenger cars under my
charge, due here at 6 O'Clock, P. NJ, yesterday,
did not arrive until a. O'Clock this morning !;
and, in accordance with my instructions, |
proceed to acquain, you with the cause of SO
! long a delay.
! We left Baltimore for Cumberland on the
morning ofMondaY the I'd instant, and pro
ceeded upon our way, without any unusual
interruption, until we reached the Catoctin
| Switch, above the Point of Rocks, where we
| found culvert had been destroyed by the high
water of the preceding night. Here we were
compelled to remain until the breach in the
| road could be trestled over which occupied be
tween one and two hours. when we again
started, and reached the Opequon Bridge, two
miles East of Mar,insburg
The rise in this stream having carried out
| the trestle, BY which the bridge had been sup
ported, the Superintendent Of its repairs for
babe an attempt to cross it with the train, and
we remained on this side until the arrival at
the other of the passenger train that left Cum
berland at O'Clock the same morning. They
reached the bridge at O'Clock, p. M. when
we exchanged passengers, &c. with each 9TH
er and proceeded as rapidly as possible, consis-
tent with proper examination OF the heavy
cuttings upon the line and the condition OF the
several wooden bridges, from under some OF
which the spur braces had been swept out
The continued rain had so loosened the earth
upon the slopes of the side cuttings as TO bring
down at various points OF the road much earth
ana fcck. which had TO be removed before we
could pass, and required US to proceed at We,
ny slow rate througi. those portions OF the road
where slips are to be expected IN such wea'h-
| er.
| At the Little Cacapon we found the rise in
the Potomac so great as to inundate the parts
|
from this point TO the South Branch bridge the
track was covered with wafer in many places
to the depth of from three to four feet. Our
progress over this par, oft the road was neces-
sariy very slow; and the excessive rise in all
the streams requiring minute examination of
their bridges before yenuring upon them, we
were delayed in our arrival at Cumberland IN
Ill s, O'Clock yesterday morning.
Here we discharged the baggage and turn
ed our cars and engine with as little delay as
possible, and after receiving the Eastern pas
sengerS in the cars, we started upon our return
at 10 O'Clock. The impediments TO our pro.
gress up the road tbe previous night were now
much greater, the river having continued TO
rise during the meantime until it overlooked
even the more elevated points ofthe road ; and
from the great Cacapon 10 Hancock it was so
high that the fire in the engine was complete
| ly extinguished at ST. Johns Run, while the
quantity Of drift logs, rails, &c made it neces-
sary for us 10 keep men on the front of the en-
CINE, with hooks, 10 remove them. AT Han
cock we made an entirely new fire, and pro-
ceeded with what speed we could through the
water and drift to the foot Of the ascending
grade at the North Mountain, after which we
had no difficulty in this respect, though the ne
cessity for caution in the deep excavations was
even greater than before. We reached the
Opequon bridge at 6 O'Clock, p. M. and found
the train from Baltimore awaiting our arrival.
Here we exchanged passengers as before, the
bridge still being impossible, and reached Har
per's Ferry at 7 O'Clock. The water in the
river being up to the floor of the old spans of
the bridge at this place, and the spur braces
being all swept out, it was not deemed safe to
carry the passengers over in the cars, and they
were accordingly directed to walk across and
enter the cars upon this side. the latter being
| conveyed over by means of ropes, in order
that the separate arches of the bridge might not
be risked with too heavy a weight | omitted
to inform you that this mode of crossing was
resored 10 at every wooden bridge we passed
over on our way up the road.
| From Harper's Ferry we startedat O'Clock,
| p M and were obliged, in consequence of
the state of the road from Weverton 10 Berlin,
to proceed al a very slow rate over it; and at
the latter point one of the cars ran off the track,
OBTAINING us upwards fan hour. After leav
| ing Berlin we encountered no further obstacles,
though the slow rate at which we deemed it
proper to proceed delayed our arrival here until
A. O'Clock this morning, as above stated.
| Ii may not be amiss, IN this connectos, to
inform YOU that the injury 10 the Canal has
been very extensive, the water having broken
| INTO II IN numerous places, ana inc low pain
being entirely submerged for many successive
miles The destruction of private property
has also been great, houses, stacks of hay,
grain, SC. being carried off and floating in the
| river.
| Respectfully,
WILLIAM OWENS, Conductor.
We learn from Cumberland that the injury
sustained by the Railroads ofthe Mount Saw
n a ~ -
be repaired in less than eight or ten days.
Bali. diner Nor 5.
The New York Express thus speaks upon
the result Of the election in the Empire State
The VINO ToRNADo.-We are as yet too
much exhausted by the labors Of arranging and
collecting Election Returns, and by the want
of sleep, 10 have much time to spare to call
attention TO the storm that has swept over Lo-