Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-10-21
AWFUL AND Destructive nm
DER STORM AND FIoop.

SlohM AND EtOnD
Tsro-thirds IF U7nckestef Tapnals,,a-- ~, -
I fa"ilies sggerrrs--Grsai les ef Grosu,., =.
other .atychanaise--fiouses Undermined sr3 p
/ Dosea--Strests and Paremen;s Tern Ti.-p--s.
tons Of erery kind S,rspi .fsce1-- Bri.,r,, an
( Iananeries, Barns, Stables, Essess. &C.. Ir.,-,
/ QgI-Caaie aud Ssrias Dssiroyes--.N,yy,,, r.,
from Dre,ening
4 Ii is our unpleasant task to recosn, Az, -.
astrous effects Of one OF the most terr,6r So.
and Floods that has ever occurred IN ,k;s.e-
lion OF country, even within the rnemors ~
( the Oldest residents. During several dars ~
last week, heavy quantities OF ram feA !, i
tervals, but on Thursday night, about 10
O'Clock, the wind arose, and the ram inrr.,
sed to such violence that in less than haf,s
hour the Town Run swelled 10 such an m.
precedented height that more than half M
town was inundated, and the principal street,
were IN many places some three or four le,,
under water. So rapid the accumulation and
rush oil the Flood, that il forced its way
through nearly all the dwellings and stores n
the centre OF the Town, bursting open door.
tearing down walls, ripping up floors, and
I Heating furniture, besides sweeping away pro.
visions OF every kind, making numerous fam.
lies almost destitute Of eaiables.
Many persons, along the course ofihe Run
made narrow escapes. One gentleman was
seen wading out with a lighted candle N his
mouth and child in each hand Mr.
! George Johnston was rescued from the aoos
and after great difficulty was recuscitaied.--
! l.. L. Moore, Esq. was attempting to eosa
Loudoun Street, and was near being swept
under the bridge; fortunately floating lca
saved him. Several youths were also rescued
from the food.
Some OK the stores on Loudoun. Market.
and Water Streets, were filed some three and
four feet deep in the first floors, and large
quantities of Groceries, Oils, Liquors, SAT-
Sc, Sc, IN the cellars, were completely des
troyed. brick building, being erected in an
elevated part of the town, was completely torn
down. and the bricks and tnnbers scattered il
ruins all around. The Tanneries along the
| Run were all nearly entirely destroyed.
The streets and pavements have been un
dermined and torn up. and immense piles Of
stone, drift wood, and timber, accumulated in
the principal thoroughfares Mill Dam, Sta.
bling, Corn Houses, Fences, Farming lmple
ments, Cattle, and Swine, were swept away
MIR. David Hollingworh's loss is very hea.
Wy, as is also that OF many other farmers con
tlguous 10 town.
The terror ofihe scene was increased by the
wailings of woman and children in distress
And, as the appalling crashing peas Of ,hun.
der reverberated and died away, the squealing
and meanings ofca,ile and swine, with the con-
cussion Of floating timbers, bridges. boxes,
cellar doors, porches, and other articles, all
broke in upon the startled, attentive years
while anon the anxious eye would cast its
gaze above, the glazing, kissing llghtnings
would develop huge masses warning clouds,e
| lowering around the town ike towering noun
tains, hemming in, as il were, mighty float
ing ocean.
Such is but faint description Of Thursday
night week--a night never to be forgotten by
the citizens Of Winchester.
| The loss TO the merchants, private indlyid
uals, and the Corporation, is estimated al near
100000. One merchant alone, Mr.. William
Miller lost near 5000 worth Of Groceries,
Oils, sc. We had designed giving list Of
all the principal sufferers, but we have been
unable to do SO, owing to the great confusion
now going on. Ever since Friday morning
hundreds Of hands have been engaged in pun
ping out water from the cellars, dwellings, no
tells, and yards. And the town, for nearly
week, has been one scene OF melancholy rula
and confusion, from which it will take great
length Of time 10 recover.
| In addition TO the particulars Of the storm
which visited our town yesterday (Thursday)
week, we give summary Of the destructive
effects experienced IN other sections OF ceun-
try, from which we have received accounts
In various parts of Maryland--from Cum
berland, Hancock, Fredericktown, Ehcotts,
and Baltimore, along the Potomac, Patuxent,
and other streams, TO the coast--great damage
has been sustained.
| Most of the principal bridges along the line
of the Railroad between Washington and
Baltimore have been swept away, and the
Road considerably injured. Georgetown,
| Washington, Alexandria, and most all The
towns and villages along the Potomac, on the
Virginia and Maryland shores, have been
more or less inundated. Shipping and other
property destroyed, and lives lost. The Ches
apeake and Ohio Canal is considerably InJu-
red.
We also learn through our exchanges, that
the storm extended as lar Southeast as Fal-
mouth and Fredericksburg, where its effects
were severely felt, casting steamboats, and 9th
err vessels high and dry, and destroying large
quantities Of -four, grain, Sc, and filling
stores and dwellings with water TO the ceilings
of the second floors.
We are told that, although there was not an
unusual fall of rain about Harper's Ferry and
vicinity, still the town was entirely inundated,
and the water within few inches OF the Rail
road Bridge across the Potomac. However,
the travel upon the road was not interrupted
more than day We fear hearing from the
seacoast, lest we may have TO record more
appalling calamity. Winchester Rep.
MEXICAN wHIGIsM.