Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-10

High Ttde-Fish-Tow Submerged
Wharyes lnundated-Streets Flooded W
tha piuar-Damage TO PROPERTY.

The North !.usterIy wind which has pre-,
vailed for some ~zty hours pa3t, produced
its USUAL effect up3n Tic waters OF the river
Potomac, backing the Hood up and prevent
inr free erress Of the waters Of the river
into Chesancake Bay, and OF the Bay into
the A:nntic Ocean The flood tides ol Mon
day afternoon aud Tuesday morning were
more than ordinarily high, and accompanied
as they were by IN extremely high wind
and Il driving rain, were not without dam"
are TO PROPERTY. Some timber was Heated
oil, and Il small vessel, the ''Ellinor,' belong
ing to Mr.. P:,1getr OF the Alexandria Sail
Lott, was broken 10 pieces by the wind and
waves driving her upon some logs, near the
Ferry Slip.
The food tide Of yesterday afternoon rose.
however, to Il much greater height, and
worked much greater damage to property
along the wharyes. The tide began It's
flood about two o'clock, and continued to
rise until halE-p;lst seven. During the al
ternoon and evening, the keporIorlal corps
of the Gazette visited the different localities
along the river, front Of the city. They
compile the following statement Of the ap-
paaruuces at various poi.;S during the HOOD:
The uJ,oer Coal Wharves were c1erho"ed.
The American Coal Wharf was also in great
part under the wafer, hut we heard OF no
damage to vessels AT any Of these wharves.
The lew grounds crossed by the embank-
mcnt Of the Alexandria. LoudOun and
IIamnshire Railroad. were six or seven ieet
under water, while the whole valley OF \ ca
tons Marsh became for awhile Il Drumming
lake. The waves washed the cmhankmenL
considerably, and must do it great injury.
Fish Town was threatened in the morn
ing by the advancing waves, and even at
noon. the lowest point of the tide, the water
washed ,lpun the wharf The swelling OF
the river became very pcrceptable about -
o'clock The water Soon gained the wharf,
and ovcrnnwing it, rolled towards the booths
;uG fisll-houses, aud BY five o'clock, tne en-
tire town was Submerged. The few vessels
in the ne;i,hborhcol were kept OF the wharf
with difficulty: wood. wharf timhers, and
tish-tubs were scattered about in wild con
fusion by the rolling waves. 4 hsh-house,
BELONGING 10 Mr.. iIorseman, was taken up
by the rising tide and tioated off some dis
lance. The waves finally invaded the booths,
whose LIGHT timbers seemed likely to yield
10 the joint assaults OF wind and water
The occupants III some Of the houses lett III
boats. while some OF the boarders at lob
inson's Hotel" made their way TO terra
f,7na over the roof; Of adjacent houses. At
nigh.fa!l, Fish Eowa was Il ''wastc OF wa
ters," the Potomac iashing as freely through
it as though it were the bed OF the river.
The Queen street dock oreT1owed into
| Union street. and WAS much trequcnted by
ca;chers Of drift wood The waves freely
swept tie foot Of Queen street, which Is
marked as two feet above high water.
The wharf OF the New York and Virgin
ia Screw Steamship Company was covered,
and much Of the planking Of the adjoining
wharf disturbed by the tide. The steamer
| Monticello was too carefully mOored, and
guarded with TOO much skill and care 70 be
in serious danger.
The intersection of Cameron and Queen
streets, three feet above high water mark,
was like the remainder Of that section OF
Union street and the Strand, the bed OF
SURFING stream. Boats were III requIsltion
in this section t. move from one warehouse
TO aurther. for the transaction ot such bust
ness rs VII. absolutely necessary, as wei!
;s to convey the occupants OF The Counting
ronms to drv-land. Che Lumber Wharvcs
in this vicinity we're sufferers To IL limited
extent.
Thr lower end Of King street was narl-
gable Tor good sized boats rs far ~ inIoi'
street, white AZ one time, light can"e m!gi!t
have safely reached the establishment o;
Mr.. +. r. Sny,irr Tie water stood some
three feet deep al the intersections OF King
ALI! Union streets, which in tw" ta.:! above
hirh water mark, making the tide five feet
above eli ordinary nigh tde.
The lower rud II Prince street was sub
merged, and one Of the hclortorinI corps OF
the Gazette did excellent service IN his beat
by furnishing some Of lla dealers with oak
ara Ia ..,ulk the board dams which had been
thrnvu acr,,s, the door" 20 keep ont the Tide.
The foot OF pnke street was but slightly
ov.rtlcwnd, hut the waves threatened She old
IL NC Wharf, with destruction.
rh.. loot Of Wolfe street was submerged
10 4 considerable extent. H. we're both The
shin vnrd: au,l Davis Point, The |. ). Light
House, n the end OF tie latter, rising like
Venice nnt II the waters and shedding AFTER
aiyhl ,nliuh i,f+.tcd light over III" waves
The " hart and Union street merchant"
suffered seine, hal !rr.n the 'uundation, but
the ri> lnk ing place Il: Daylight, ti'"y vera
| euaha,i IL u .,:c#t extent IN .1:cct1>iu'ly
GUARD AGAINST it, Articles Likely t. hr Ill
jurp,i were pt!t ont Il the reach Of til" water
board- were set tightly III dnorwava aud
clu!knl So ~ IL he mperlnuA tn water. and
by these aud other means. little dain"!,c was
duu" 10 the intnriur 81; stores, although the
wafer was qu!tr deep i'll n'"ny oi !hrln.~-
Tn, wood dealers however suffered considers
ably. Much wood oa:ed oil and Of that
which ;.,ae a$!.Arn $50 little was carried I'll
hy partirs who determined Ia verify The