The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-11-05
GREAT FRESHET IN THE ALLECSANY
MOUNTAINS.
Overflow OF the Valley of the Potomac
Great Damage to the Chesapeake and Ohio
CanaI-The Railroad i'm Danger.

CUMBERLAND, Nd, Nov. H. p. M.-Durng Fri
day and Friday night, the Aleganies, particu-
lary on their Eastern slopes, in Western Maryland
and Virginia. We're visited by rains of extraordi-
ing the sources OF the Potomac, as well as those
emptying into it, near this place and Piedmont
rose to great height on Saturday.
During the day. yesterday, the rain ceased, and
the skies became clear, but the quantity of water
that had fallen was SO great, as to swell the Poto-
mac, for brief period, to a height almost unpre-
cedented. The south branch Of that river, which
unites with the principal stream some twelve miles
cast of this place, seems to have swollen more ra-
pidly and to greater height than the other fork.
Great quantities of drift wood, including fences,
etc, were foated down ali night on Saturday; and
1t Is feared that considerable damage may be done
in Hampshire and Harding counties Virginia
through which the south branch flows.
1t is across the mouth OF this river that the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad is now erecting one of its
new and substantial iron bridges, to replace the
large wooden bridge at that point. This work has
made considerable advancement towards compile
tion; and the bed of the river was occupied by
some ct the temporary props required for the use
OF the workmen in putting up the new bridge.
These offered some obstruction to the great volume
of water and drift wood borne down by the freshet
and at one time on Saturday night, it was feared
that part of the superstrueture of the uucomple-
ted bridge might be destroyed, and thus cause
considerable interruption to the movement of
trains upon the road. Mr.. Wilson, however
master of the road, and his Eastern assistant Mr.
Quincy, repaired to the spot with large additional
force of laborers, and, by their extraordinary eff
forts, gave such direction and control to the drift
wood as to prevent any serious damage. The Wa
ters continued to rise fearluy during the afternoon
and night OF Saturday, and until two o o'clock in the
Sunday morning, when they began to fall
By O'Clock they had fallen off some eight feet
thus relieving the officers of the road from all an
xiety about the threatened serious difficulties to
the bridge. With the view of receiving and con.
veylng definite Information and orders at the scene
of danger, MIR. Diffey, one of the supervisors of
trains, also proceeded there, and established a
temporary telegraph station, by means of instru-
ments placed in his car. No interruption of the
tonnage trains of the road (Which are now unsuu
ally large) was suffered during the period of alarm
The night express trains, however, as a measure
OF prudence, not allowed to attempt the cross
ing of the bridge until this morning The passen-
gers arriving East stopping here and those going
Vest at Hancock. The bridge is reported to have
escaped without any injury whatever and with the
exception already stated, no arrangement to the
business of the road will occur from it.
Some fifty miles east of this point, between Sir
Johns Run and North Mountain, the railroad is
located along the river at above 10 feet above ord
nary water mark, for distance embracing some
ten or fifteen miles. Here, for the greater part of
this distance the track was more or less overfown
by the great rise in the waters, which came down
rapidly that the broad bed of the river
could not crrry them off fast enough. At Sir
Johns Run, the water rose above the floor of the
railroad companys telegraph office, more than
IL,
site the old Fort Frederick, 1l2 miles from Balti-
more, and about II miles east of Sir Johns Run
water was also fully high above the railroad
track. This is the point at which the railroad was
so much threatened last spring. at the heavy fresh
ct of April. Since that, however, most substan-
tal masonry work has been put in, which has safe
y wthstood the violent action of the waters in their
present extraordinary rise.
These are all the difficulties and Interruptions
which the railroad seems to have suffered from this
sudden and powerful storm. 1t should be men
toned as another evidence of the solidity of the
construction of the road, that in no part of it,
where the waters have washed the river banks on
which it is built or where they have so greatly
submerged the track for miles in length is there
the least injury done to the road bed or the super
structure The heavy tonnage trains of the road
moved, for a greater part of the distance where
the water covered the track, with perfect ease and
safety.
The most serious consequences of the freshet ap-
pear to have fallen upon the coal-minng interests
in the vicinity of this place and Piedmont The
Wills Creek, emptying into the Potomac at Cum
berland, and Georges Creek, at Piedmont, both
seem to have risen to an unprecedented height, at
tended with serious damageto the lateral railroads,
which bring coal from the mines to the Baltimore
and OHIO Railroad and to the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal. One of the engines of the Mount Savage
Railroad is reported to have fallen through a
BRIDGE on its waT to this city, the foundations hav
ing been impaired by the waters. 1t was thought
that but little coal can be brought to Cumberland
for several days. At Piedmont the damage to the
Georges Creek road is reported to be probably
greater, and like interruption to the large coal
trade concentrating at that point.
We have been unable to gather further details of
damage by the freshet, which, on account of its
steadness, may have occasioned much loss to pri-
Tate property along some of the streams. On the
western slope of the mountains there was also much
rain, but it does not seem to have been attended
with any very unusual damage in any quarters.
Information has been received from the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal one of whose officers is un-
derstood to have reported that the grand bank at
dam No. is entirely washed away, and further Sc
rious injuries apprehended. There being no
telegraph stations there, the line of the canal,
at its principal DAMS fuller information can be
had as yet. During yesterday the waters generally
abated very much, and further damage at any
point seems to be apprehended. We have not heard
oany lives being lost, or any personal injuries