Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-08-17
Another Flood.

Another Flood.
Our devoted city was visited on Monday
last by another fearful food. The destruc-
ton to property, however, was net SO great
as that caused by those Of last week, for the
simple reason that the property was not
within its reach to destroy. The body Of
water was greater than at any previous
freshet, but was carried off more rapidly by
the channels already washed out by the
waters. It rained necessarily from S O'Clock
on Sunday evening until ten on Monday
morning. The partial repairs that had been
done to damaged property and the streets
were speedily swept away, and deeper
trenches cut and more fencing borne down.
The water accumulated in the fiat above the
tan yard, at least 20 minutes before it broke
out through the gardens and streets below
and inundated the central portion ofthe town.
The most important damage sustained in
town, and which was attended by the most
fearful results, was the falling of the little
frame house on the old Fackler lot near the
Hay scales and occupied by an old lady ma
med Mrs. Parish. About o'clock in the
morning the ground beneath had washed to
such an extent that almost in the twinkling
Of an eye, the house went over into the
creek. The old lady was in the building at
the time, occupying the upper story. The
frame of the house broke into pieces and she
was thrown violently into the water, her en-
tire person being submerged. Mr.. A. D.
Chandler was standing within few feet Of
tie house when it fell, and instantly rushed
down the steep embankment to the spot
where the head of the old lady was merely
visible in her struggles to keep from drown
ing. He soon took hold of her, and by the
assistance of brave son of the Emerald
Isle, Lawrence Kiltay, extricated her from
her perilous position. The efforts of these
gentlemen-struggling in rain, water, mud
and the ruins of the house, to get the old
lady up the steep embankment were truly
commendable, especially when contrastel
with that of the fifty or sixty persons wht
stood in the streets looking at them, ant
never attempting to extend an assisting
hand. When we arrived at the spot, and
took the old lady in our arms and carried
her into Mr.. Chambers shop, that gentle
man was completely exhausted from his ex
ertions Mrs. Parish was considerably bruis
ed in the breast and side, but is doing as
we'll as could be expected under the circum
stances. Her escape from instant death il
almost miraculous. She is at least IS year.
of age, and falling some thirty feet with thu
crumbling, breaking, separating timbers Of
the house, into a maddened, surging cur
rent six or eight feet deep, it is certainly
unaccountable how she escaped being kill.
ed
Mr.. Chandler lost number Of bedsteads
and other furniture, which he had on th'
lower floor of the house The old lady lost
most Of her household furniture and fix
lures, which though not much in intrinsic
value, was her all. She is being kindly
cared for by Mr.. Chandler at his residence
The Hay Scales were almost washed dowr
by the food, and were so much disordered al
to make it necessary to tear them away or
Tuesday. to keep them from falling.
The Council met on Monday night and
determined to proceed at once to tear away
the distractions in the creek The frs
lick towards the desired object was strucE
by Mr.. Butcher and his hands on Tuesday
morning, by tearing away Mrs. Farrar'.
house. All the impediments to the passag'
of the water down the creek from the tar
yard to Beverly Street will forthwith be re-
moved, the Council taking the responsible
ty Of mourning suits for damages to private
property. 1t requires prompt, energetic
determined action to provide against re-
currence Of similar disasters
luCiC arc d uumDcI VI uduuS uOW 6Uga'
ged in digging down Augusta street, filing
up the side walks. The council seem te
have taken hold of the matter with a pur.
pose to discharge their duties speedily and
effectively.
A larger body Of water passed dowr
Lewis Greek on Monday than has ever beer
known before. The long and heavy rair
seems to have extended to the country, ane
the different feeders to Lewis Greek eacf
poured forth an immense volume of water
A great deal of damage was done to corr
and fencing below Staunton along the course
/ of the creek.
y Our town presents ragged and uninvi.
ting appearance, but will soon assume it,
wonted garb Of life, gaiety and enter.
prise. These little disasters only exhibi,
the true metal out of which our business
men are made.
The workmen are now busily engaged in
removing the Passenger Depot to more
easternly site to make room: for the freieh