The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-28
THE GREAT FLOOD.
The FEsshst Near Baltimore : The Ga
Iamity at EIIicott Oity, Md.


The Baltimore american of this morning says:
The calamity at Ellicott City is described by
hiss Fl. Q. Adams, Principal OF Western Female
High School No. l of this city, with great clear
ness. Miss Adams was sitting with chlld In
the house OF Mr.. Gibnons, and looking up the
river, called the attention of the child to the
water, which was coming down in wild man.
ner, but which she supposed was not unusual in
u shower, although no rain had then fallen
at Elltcott City, exceDt few
pattering drops, since day-break. Within
ten minutes of her first notice of the
coming water, the houses on the tongue OF made
land between the race and the river we're cut off
from all communication on either side. Trees,
logs, debris of every kind, aud the bridge ABOVE,
swept down The river on one side and through
the race on the other with fearful velocity, cut
ting off all commun cation with the man land.
DIR. Owtngs. whose house was on this tongue OF
the land, bad but few minutes before lett his
iamIy, much against The circumstances OF his
wife, who had become alarmed at the
threatening as ect of the sky; aud only
after three messages were sent, he LETT
to return to 1t no more, He had barely
reached the bridge on his return, then looking
forward, he saw the flood coming down, and all
the houses on the small breadth OF land bet Ween
the raceway and the river, lot only surro 1nded
with water but tnat the flood lad already driven
them into the second story. DIR. OWing5 took
refuge in the house of Mr.. Gibbons not hun
drcd teet from his own dwelling, and called to
bis wife, advising her how she should act for the
safety of herself and children bv her side.
Speedily the water drove her and the children
10 the root, where, clinging TO the chimney, they
seemed some what secure, but the rocking OF
the house-a three story trame-soon caused
the chimney to fall. Meanwhile, Mrs. Mars
Chane being in the house abe We, reached up TO
Mrs. Owiugs baby three weeks old, supposing
il would be safer there than in her own mater
nal arms Mrs. Owings was seen TO hold 1t as
long as she lived.
Dr. Owings calling across the race, as his
house floated from its foundation and lodged
against the next below, direC ed that the walls
OF the adjoining houses should be cut through.
This was done by MIR. Fountain, and thus, as
one house after another fell, working most
herocally this noble man cut through the walls
of seven houses, until they came to the last in
the row. This house was occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs. Partridge, who had sold it very recently,
and were TO leave it on the following day for a
new home in Virginia.
In this house all the occupants of the six
houses above were assembled. All the other
houses had fallen and drifted away, but this, for
q time stood firm against the torrent, and there
was q slight hope that it might be saved. Sud.
denly il Was seen 10 wayer, aud in moment
more, With all its precious burden OF children,
women, aud men-men poweress against that
fool. although within hundred feet of solid
ground-it fell with terrific crash, and not one
soul was saved.
That Dr. Owings lost his reason and endea-
vored to throw himself into the current and
was only helo back by strong men, that men
put their hands over their eyes as house after
house fell, and could not look upon the terrible
| sight; that the last shrek OF despair was too
much for the loving, living friends, aud they
| we're forced to stop their ears, will give our
readers but faint idea of the horrors OF this
terrible calamity.
| Miss Adams does not refer to anything except
| what she saw and the above, 1t must be re-
| membered, is only one of the incidents of the
| destruction of Elhcott City.