The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-12
HEAVY RAIN-FLOOD In THE LOWER
PARTS OF THE CITY-NO VERY Sc
RlOUS LOSS-A MISSING INCIDENTS

hlOUS LOSS-AMJSING INCIDENTS,
Yesterday morning at about halfpast two
O'Clock, it commenced raining in torrents, and
continued at intervals up to halfpast eleven
O'Clock. The quantity Of rain which fell during
that time was immense, and all the streams in and
around the city were so swollen that the water
rushed over the banks and entered the Streets
Jones' Falls presented a grand appearance. The
usually quiet stream became raging river, and
the waters hurried along its bed with the rapidity
of cataract. About halfpast nine it flowed over
the wall at Fish Market space, and about the same
time it overfowed at different points between Fay
cite aud Bath streets. 1t continued to increase in
volume until Harrison street. Centre Market
space, Holiday street, from the old City Hall
to Bath street, and Saratoga and Bath streets up
to Davis street, and Lombard Second and Pratt
Streets to Frederick street. and Gay street from
Frederick street to the bridge, were inundated
Around the Centre and Fish markets. and in Holli-
day and Harrison streets, the depth of the water
was from three to six feet. All the cellars and
first floors of the houses along the streets named
were flooded. In some along Harrison street
the water stood five feet deep in the rooms and
the occupants compelled to seek safety by
leaving the premises in boats.
The people, generally, along the line of the food
had every thing prepared for it, and, with the eX-
ceptlOn of articles which could sustain no injury
from water-furniture, goods, &c.-were removed
stories, or entirely away from the premises. Con
sequently the loss is comparatively light, the
greatest damage being that done to the walls by
the muddy water.
at the bridge and on Baltimore street at the Cen
tre market was completely submerged, the water
reaching almost to the bed of the cars. As each
car came down an amusing scene was presented. -
Dozens of persons were waiting to Jump aboard to
be carried across the stream, and every car was
filled to its utmost capacity. On one trip young
gentleman, very eXpensively gotten up, with
cherished moustache on his lip and silk umbrel-
la under his arm, jumped up on the step and hung
to the railing of the platform. just as the car got
fairly across the water he jumped off, but did not
leap with the car, and the consequence was that he
reeled towards the water and fell head foremost
into the flood he got up and gave the car with
erng look, shook himself and walked on, followed
by number of boys, who kept asking him ''wheh-
er he was wet"
Around the market and in Harrison street boats
were used to go from one house to another.
venerable reporter, connected with one of the
morning papers, on the alert, as he always is to
secure the best news first, called for boat. On
its approach, his friends demonstrated with him,
and endeayored to persuade him not to get in
But, disregarding their advice and entreates, and
in the pursuit of his business forgetting the pers
OF navigation, he embarked. The boat had pro-
ceeded butts short distance, when the elements, ap
parently angry at his presumption, ragged with
unparalleled violence, and Just as the venerable
man looking down into the water for an
eitem" the frail bark upset, and its precious
freight was "spilled out" into the furious food
"rroopS of friends" rushed reckessly to his assist
anee, and we are delighted to say he was saved
from watery grave.
wagon very heavily laden with human
freight attempted to cross the flood Gay street,
but just it reached the centre of the stream the
hind axle broke and the entire party, with the ex-
ception of the driver, made an intimate acquaint-
ance with the water.
The famous region known as ''Swampoodle," al
ly so on this occasion. At an early hour it became
apparent to the citizens that the town (Swampoo-
de) would be submerged, and aremoval of furni
ture Immediately commenced. Some, however,
exempt from this trouble, because they had
none to remove. One gentleman, believing that
the flood was going to be only second to the Del
uge, took his most valuable furniture, being tin
kettle family relic,) and hung it on the top of
the chimney of the house. He then chained his
stove (the only remaining piece of furniture) to a
ring in the floor, so that the food of waters could
not sweep it away, after which he assembled to the
comb OF the root, which he strided, and kept his
eye on the tin kettle All the cellars and first
floors of the houses were inundated, but no
serious damage was done.
Some of the cellars along Hartford run were also
filed There was but little destruction of property
along the stream. At several points along Jones'
Falls the wall was undermined and it fell
The water rushed down Liberty street with great
rapidity, extending from curb to curb, in some
places over four feet in depth. At the intersection
of the passenger cars. At the corner Of Liberty
and Howard street, the current was very rapid. A
man named Charles Justus, who was driving
horse and wagon, attempted to cross, when the ve
hicle upset and he was thrown into the water.
The horse was thrown down and narrowly escaped
drowning. On South Howard street the water
was very deep, and rushing over the pavements,
carried away planks, platforms and empty barrels
which had been left the sidewalks. At
| the corners of Baltimore and Carey streets
and Baltimore and Schroeder streets, the water
al, I'D,
cellars of the houses in the vicinity, doing no great
damage though. The steam saw mill manuiactory
the corner of Fayette and Schroeder streets was
inundated on the lower floors, preventing the
hands from work for some time. The back build
ing of the dwelling occupied by Mr.. St. Ormand,
on Hollins, near Calhoun street, fell down with
crash, while the family were at breakfast They
| barely escaped with their lives The foundation
had been weakened by the continued rain. The
! damage is about $780, The water rushed down
the hills at Lexington, Saratoga, Mulberry, Pleas
ant and other streets, rendering travel on Calvert
| street very difficult operation.
In the northwest portion of the city, the capac-
ty of several of the inadequate to car
| ry off the great body of water, and the masonry
| in some instances was considerably damaged. The
damage to private property in that section of the
city was considerable. Along the line of the North
ern Central Railway, the rain very heavy, and
several of the bridges and cuiverts reported to
have been considerably injured by the water. Near
| the GunpoWder bridge, about 20 miles from Balti
more, n large rock, weighing several tons,
| washed from an embankment and rolled upon the
track, delaying the passenger train, due here yes
| terday at l212 p. NJ, about one hour. 1t is sup
posed that no serious damage is done to the road.
Reports reached here yesterday that the Susque-
| hanna and Juniata rivers had risen to great
| height, and that several towns in Pennsylvania
| had suffered seriously by the overflow. Tyrone,
| place situated few miles from Harrisburg, is said
to have been completely inundated, several houses
washed away, and that the inhabitants sustained
great loss.
In Baltimore county the rain was very heavy.
At Lake Roland (alias Swami Lake) Jones' Falls,
where the dam is being constructed for the new
Water Works, considerable damage and loss has
occurred The farmers in that vicinity have suffer-
ed considerably by the great washing of the land.
Many of the fields on the hill slopes washed
into great gullies. The water in Gwynn's Falls
also rose very high, and considerable damage has
been done along its banks.
No news has been received of any serious dam