The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-03-23
THE FLOOD ON THE sUsQUEHANNA

The FLUID ON IdE ESUSUUEdANNA q.
Parts of Harrisburg .Submerged.- Va
ter, Gas, Rolling Nlls and Aanutac-
tories Stopped 400 Families deprired
of House and Home.-Great dcstr,,c-
ton Of Property-The Rtcer Higher
than eccr 6etore.-Bridges and Houses
sacept a,coy.-Rai1road and Telegraph
Communication ,Stopped- Canal Orer-
fo,Oed.
HARRISBURG, March Is, 1865.
The Susquehanna is a stream of roman
tic beauty in placidity, and with its ad-
junct of the "Blue Juniata'' it may be
said to traverse country almost unsur-
passed in grandeur and magnifcence of
scenery. But when its currents are swollen
by rains, and its elements vexed by lash
ing winds, the placid winding river" be
comes terrible in its impetuosity.
1t sweeps by vale and woodland, By
town and hamlet, past valley gorge and
mountain cliff, like one mad, rushing to
eternity, as besom Of destruction.
Tie Flood Of 1916
Such a food there was in 1916, to
which those who can recolect it refer as
the "Great Flood" which swept trees,
boats, housns and almost every conceiva-
bic article of property in its onward
course. According to the register at the
Harrisburg water-house, the water had
then attained point twenty two feet above
low water mark. In the long years since
then not another food like that has oc
CURED until now.
Tile food Of 1865.
For several days past the river had
been in swollen state, owing to the
thaw of ice and snow on its bosom, in its
tributaries, its banks, the late heavy rains
contributing much to its volume But
the ice, so much dreaded, had passed
down without doing much material dam
age, and it was thought the worst was O.
yer. Muchanxiety had been manifested,
but now people congratulated themselves
on their probable escape from another
"great food"
Rate Of Risiag-We Great Volume.
But the river, fickle maid, alas! vas in
deed most.yiciously disposed. Early night
before last, contrary to the usual state
of things, she rose, and commenced ris-
ing in very bad humor. At seven o.
clock yesterday morning the water had
reached nineteen feet above low water,
and at seven in the evening it had reach
ed twenty-four feet eight inches, eighteen
inches higher than in 1916. Some idea
Of the rapidity of increase in volume, may
be gathered from the fact that during the
space Of eleven minutes by the watch,
the river had risen three inches From
nine to four o'clock night before last, it
rose two feet, and continued to rise at
the rate of seven inches per hour
Between two and SIX o'clock yesterday
afternoon there was rise of 20 inches,
being decrease of rate as to height at
tanned, but not as to volume.
The city Water Works Stepped.
Early in the morning the engine room
of the City Water Works was submerged,
the fires cxtinguished, and the engines
stopped working. The Mayor deemed it
necessary to issue his proclamation to the
citizens, requesting them to abstain from
unnecessary use of water as the supply
in the reservoirs was very low. The wa
ter was afterwards shut off, except be-
tween the hours Of six and eight AN
The Railroad Bridge.
Fears were entertained for the safety
of the bridges across the Susquehanna
here. The Cumberland Valley Railroad
bridge was deemed in imminent danger.
This bridge is somewhat lower than the
road bridge, having a descending grade
from the western to the eastern shore of
about nine feet to the mile. The water
was rapidly approaching the woodwork
until at about twelve o'clock NJ, it was
kissed BY the spray at the eastern ter
minus. Increasing in volume, the wa
ter soon rose higher against the structure.
Logs, trees aud timber in all shapes
came rushing down with the rolling tor
rent at the rate of about eight miles per
hour 1t was curions to see, as they APP
preached the bridge, how they appeared
ike so many battering rams, bent on
var OF determination. They seemed to
prepare themselves for the OCCASION
Now and then sleek, fat "boom log"
would come sailing along like a clipper
hip, and, nearing the bridge, would Il
oise itself for the attack, and 90 crash. {
ng through the weather-boarding and Il
mbers much to the delight of the urchins i
ssembled; or, failing in that, would grace G
llly rebound, and then dive under, to 7
sappear on the other side, on its voyage
the Chesapeake. But the bridge stood a
lese damaging attacks most manfully.