The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-26
THE DEUCE.
Particulars of the Terrible
Floods in Baltimore.
The Calamity of 1887
Eclipsed.
The Most Disastrous Flood That
Ever Visited That City.
Large Part OF the City Sub
merged.
~~e~-~~--~~->~--~--~-~-
Lamentable Effects at Ellicott
City.
Sixty Lives Lost and Three Millions
Of Property Destroyed.
--,>-~----~--~>-------
The Rain Storm Here and
elise where
Sixty Lives Lost and Three Millions
Of Property Destroyed.
The Rain Storm Here and
ELSE where.
FEE FLOOD AT ELLICOTT CITY, MD.

FEE FLOOD AT ELLICOTT CITY, MD.
~~>>~~~~-N-oD>>~>~~.~o~~oo
Great Destruction Of Lives and Property
Nearly Half the Town Swept Away-The
PatapscO Forty Feet Above itS Mean Level.
EIJIcoTT CITY, July rs, 1863.
The destruction caused by the food yesterday to
This town s far greater than it has been on any
vfous occasion-greater than represented In the
accounts first published, and even greater than the
residents themselves believed until the light OF to-day
gave them an opportunity to take fuller account Of
the losses Almost one-half OF the town has been
swept away and IN places where noble mansions
ana rows OF granite houses stood scarcely stick or
stone remains to mark the spot. Nearly all OF the
extensive mills which supplied work TO the inhabi-
tants have been washed entirely out OF existence
and the two or three left standing are so utterly
ruined as to be unfit Tor repairing.
About hah-past nine O'Clock yesterday morn
ing the alarm was given by persons who
came from the country adjacent to Ellicott City
MAT the Patapsco river was rapidly rising and in
Few minutes the water began rise at the mills BY
ten O'Clock the river had swollen 10 such an extent
~ to create general alarm to those persons who
were absent from their homes, who FASTENED thther
70 save what they could OF their property and
everywhere people who dwelt close to the banks OF
we river were seen making preparations TO guard
against the impending inundation. From this time
until the flood began subsde the scenes that pre-
scented themselves on every hand were hearirending
indeed.
Never before had the hood descended SO rapidly or
rose TO so great height at this place. The river
rose forty feet above its ordinary level ana il had
reached nearly ten feet before drop OF rain fell In
this neghborhood
Skirting along tho rivers back the Baltimore and
Wheeling turnpike stood a row OF large stone houses
The occupants were frequently warned of the dan
Eerous appearance Of the freshet, but trusting 10
their former experience they chose 10 remain yet
suie longer, thinking there would be time escape
when the worst Within few minutes the
GOOD rapidly that all communication was cut
OF and the current rushed 30 swiftly that it was
Sound impossible to render them any aid.
AT this time the water had only reached above The
lower story OF the houses and no danger apprc-
hended II the occupants could reach the roofs This
they at once proceeded do, but the water stu rose
higher and higher and sped its frightful course
with immense velocity and 10 add the terrors OF
She hour huge OF drift rubbish came rushing
upon the doomed dwellings.
The family OF Dr. +. h. Owings, consisting OF Mrs.
ewngs Elk children and three servants, had gathered
IN the third story or their dwelling when the house
which was frame, lifted from its foundations
and carried across the street against house
occupied by a Mr.. Fountain. Mrs. Owngs and her
children clambered upon the roof OF Fountains
house where they thought they would be safe.
few moments after this DR.. Owings, who mad re-
turned from visiting patient arrived at the river
bank, and was Just in time 10 behold the crumbling
away OF the house and the terrible death OF his wife
and children, who sunk amid the wreck, holding
The aide wall Of Mr., partrdges house, fell and ex
posed TO the aqonized spectators about fifteen per-
sons, who had sought refuge there, all standing In
group and embrading each other. This heartbreak-
ing scene was beheld for moment or two, when
The house fell with crash into the boiling surge
carrying with IL every soul.
Such scenes have attempted BREEZY TO describe
TO be seen along the entire front OF the town
within these terrible two hours-from eleven til one
O'Clock.
Every effort made by the horrihed citizens TO
rescue those who were In peru and quite number
were saved: but owing 10 the speedy work made by
the food In ITS fearful velocity many persisted within
n dozen yards Of the shore.
The whole of the lower part OF the town
hooded and to-day presents truly deplorable spec
tacle-Qoods washed out OF stores into the streets
and furniture out OF house all lying in tangled heaps
with here and there trees logs, stones and the debris
of houses and bridges. The principal hotel. the Pa
tapsco House, is filed to OVERCOMING with the house
less citizens who escaped the food. Every MIL on
the river - destroyed aud every bridge ~ washed
away.
sunk in several places.
Parties OF citizens have been engaged all dsy along
ihe uver IN dragging for ne bodies OF victims and
thus far bat eight have been recovered 1hiry-seNen
persons are known 10 nave been drowned and SIX
Others are missing. Tue names OF those lost are AS
Mrs 4. Is. owings six children and three SER
wants.
wunam Patterson. his wife and i've children.
Mhnam Partridge. vile and niece.
Mrs. narrow and two nIccCs.
Mi. Mat. ctaulel, cloth Inspector 40 Granite
MIL
John Reese, ami Carue Reese ms daughter
Mr. Murphy, wife ami child. The BODY oi MI
Murphy still ties below the Baltimore ana Ohio Rail.
road bridge lmbeided among me fon rods oi the
bridge.
Mr. Carrie. wife and chid.
Mr.. Joseph Stee.
Mr.. Fountain, wife and daughter anu VI. shy Ger.
Those bodies which were recovered were loud 10
he Mrs Patterson. Mr. Fountain, Mr. Reese one
chd not yet identified, one child OF Mr. Patterson.
Mr.. Gabriel and John Murphy.
Forty-three houses and mills nave been DESTROYED
IN the town aud between II and the Relay House;
one Old stone house, which left unframed 10y
mood while all those around II carried away,
wa bult IN the year l7g2
The Old inhabitants say that the water yes
terday fifteen feet higher than IL ever reached before.
The lose IN Elcott CITY II estimated ~ over mi.
lion dollar.