The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-08-06
THE BALTIMORE FLOOD.
Graphic Description Of the Work Of
the Waters-Inoidents OF the Great
Calamity.

the waters-Incidents OF the Great
Calamity.
From the baltimore papers of Saturday. July 25.l
Our city was yesterday visited with one Of
the most appalling and destructive calamities
that has overtaken II since 1887, which swept
away all the old stone and brick bridges that
previously spanned Jones Falls. II was
/ thought that the elevated and broad span
iron bridges that have since been constructed
would prove an %effectual bar to a similar vis-
~itation, but even these have proved inefiectu-
al, aud we have now to record a food the
most disastrous that has ever visited Balti-
more. The amount Of destruction TO proper
ty no doubt far exceeds that Of 1887.
About two O'Clock on Friday morning q rain
storm, accompanied by thunder and light
ming, commenced, but the fall OF rain was
not serious until eight o'clock, when 1t com
menced to pour down in such volumes that
fears OF once were entertained as to a Hood
in Jones' Falls, which passes through the
heart Of the city, dividing East from West
Baltimore. This heavy fall Of rain continued,
without intermission, until after one o'clock,
flooding the streets and rendering pedestrian
ism next to an impossibuity.
Accompanying The rain was a strong wind
from the southeast, and persons owning prop
erty of any kind in the vicinity OF Jones Falls
were instantly apprised upon arising yester-
day morning that their old enemies, n heavy
rain and a south wind, were again at work
and that they must move quickly If they
would save their goode and chattels from
damage or destruction. The water in Jones'
Falls commenced rising very rapidly about 8
| o'clock, and gradually creeping upwards fret
overlooked ia banks and filed the cast side
Of Centre Market Space and Swan and Hawk
streets. Another hour and IL had backed up
sufficiently to overflow Harrison street, and
in a few moments II was in Holiday, Freder-
ick and Saratoga streets. Persons living In
these streotsin the depressed sections OF the
city, had been hard at work all the morning
removing their furniture aud goods to a place
Of safety.
AZ twelve o'clock the cellars ofperhaps two
thousand houses in this section Of the city
were filed, and tho water was steadily rising
on their first floors, but as the storm had
commenced TO abato hopes were still enter
tanned that the flood was at its height. About
12l o'clock, however, the flood commenced TO
rise more rapidly than ever, and in half au
hour reached ceilings whore 1t had previously
Ouly invaded floors, and the greatest cOnster-
nation prevailed. So rapid was this rise, and
so wild and furious the rushing torrent, that
the lives of many persons We're jeopardizcd,
and we regret &C. add that several lives were
lost. Had II occurred at night, ma in the
great food Of 1897, the LOGS Of live could not
but have been immense.
About half-past u o'clock one Of the city
passenger cars of the Gay street line crossed
The bridge, coming towards Baltimore street,
with about q dozen passengers, including
one lady. Immediately after crossing the
bridge the car proceeded on as far a. Sara
toga street, dow which the water was run
ming az a. furious rate, reaching the floor OF
the car. The horses d%oundered in the water
and the front wheels left the track. The
driver unhitched his horses and cndcayored
to attach them to the other end Of tho car
and draw It back to the bridge, but his efforts
were not successful. The car was overturned
and two Of the passengers were drowned.
Standing at the corner Of Frederick and
Baltimore streets, about half-past one
. .f.I..fs Az a..v. 4ns N4sfIw lfgNVoagtVw fIh.
food had now swollen into an angry torrent
that rushed down the beds Of Harrison and
Frederick streets In volume and swiftnCss
resembling the rapids Of Niagara. At the
corner OF Harrison street, in front Of La
rouue's drug store, the water was within one
Ever and anon masses Of timber and
wood, boxes, barrels, railroad ties, articles OF
household furnitur fencing, trees, wagons,
~outhouscs, and, in short, all manner OF de-
bris from the wreck and ruin along the line
OF the Falls came sweeping down the fearful
current, aud piling up in front Of the Mary
land Institute, whore, in this way, a sort Of
broakwatcr was formed, protecting that
building against the beating Of the pillows
for, in truth, nothing less than pillows they
were that swept down both Harrison and
Frederick streets. Tho water, soon after this,
was seen TO dash over the bed OF Baltimore
street bridge, driving the people assembled
there IN wild confusion toward High street.
About this time word came that Gay street
bridge was seriously threatened, and in at
testation Of this report there was soon q Hood
Of water pouring down Gay street, and short
IL thereafter the backwater came down HOl-
lday street also. Language is almost made
quate to describe the scene that was now
witnessed. The surface Of the angry Hood
was fairly covered with every description OF
material, telling sadly and painfully Of the
immense loss, destruction and distress that
this disaster was occasioning. Now the porch
Of a house, now the contents Of some store,
now the timbers Of bridges and warehouses,
would come dashing along with fearful rapid
ity, driving up against buildings, crushing
window glass IN the FIRST door, and bursting
in d~Oorways. At one time we noticed o child's
crib drifting down Harrison St, and severa!
bodies Of animals, COWS and horses, were al
30 seen. while not a few Of the lOoEers-on
were Of the opinion that more than one or
two dead bodies Of human beings were seen.
How this mas havO been, II ~ impossible a.
this moment to say; but serious and SEEM
ingly woll-grounded app%rehensions are enter
tained hat serious loss Of life has been occo-
stoned.
The effects Of the food were very severely
felt on North street, and II II almost impossi-
bic 10 estimate tho extent OF the loss sus-
tanned in this portion OF the Hooded district.
From the high ground near the City Han eN-
c~ayation, Just south Of Lexington street, the
water covered the whole extent OF the street
northward towards Eager street, flooding oy-
cry building. IN some places, say from Pleas
ant street northwurd, the water was fully ten
10 twelve feet deep. The residents Of tho
small dwellings in tho neighborhood were
obliged to take refuge in the upper stories Of
their dwellings, and some mado very narrow
escapes,
Holiday street also came in for a large
share of the overwhelming flood. The water
extended tho whole length OF this street,
even across the elevated portion of it at Fay
gfta Atp1Et and fhanpn n0 agluH nnWm into
Baltimore street.
In front of the theatre the water rose
above the ellis of the doors, and hence ex-
tended in a broad sheet across the street to
the new City Hall excavation, which was
quickly GSed, the water rushing into II with
great volume, presenting the appearance Of
u mill dam. NUrthward the whole length
Of the street was like All angry river, aud the
occupants Of the small houses above Saratoga
street wcSc in no small peril. Some OF them
were rescued from drowning only by the hui
name efforts OF others. Smith q Curlett's
soap and candle factory was entirely sur
rounded by the food, and the water dashed
and boat against its walls on oil sides up to
the second nOor. The whole appearance Of
this region was so changed by the action Of
tho water that one even tOler0bly familiar
with the locality could scarcely recognize 1t.
On the opposite or eastern bank Of the Falls
many of tho small dwellings had completely
disappeared, aid on this side, those that
were lou blhlulnBJ hb inc water subsidized,
were in ruins, as though an earthquake had
shattered them. Just above Bath street
bridge, which had disappeared at an earl
stage of he flood, a frame dwelling on the
west side of the Falls was lifted bodily from
its foundation and carried ont into the
stream, with al its contents, and soon he
came a wreck, its shattered fragments joining
tho mass of madly rushing timbers, boxes
and household goods continually passing
down tho current. What became OF the in
habitants we did not learn, but presume thoy
escaped.
Near whore the above mentioned house
stood was located Crichton's whisky distil-
lery, which was also entirely destroyed, moth
ing being left of the establishment but n