Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-07-30

THE CITY FLooDKp-sEvKRAL LIVES LOST
CITY PASSENGER OAR SWEPT AwAY-Loss
OVER TIIRRR MlI.LloNs--rLooD AT RLLicoTTs
Mills. Mai
Baltimore has just been visited by the
most terrible calamity which ii has suffered
since the great flood of 1887. On Friday
morning rain storm accompanied by thun-
der and lightning commenced. The fall OF
rain was not heavy until s o'clock, when ii
commenced 10 come down in torrents.
The stream known MS Jones Falls, running
entirely through the city commenced rapidly
rising and the banks We're soon overlooked
and people living or owning property inthat
part Of the city were soon busy removing
furniture and other property. From the
San and american we gather the following
details:
AT twelve o'clock the cellars of perhaps
two thousand houses in The section of the
city near the creek were filled, and the water
was steadily rising on the first floors, but as
storm had commenced TO abate, hopes were
still entertained that the flood was at its
height. About hali-past twelve o'clock,
however, the flood commenced to rise more
'Pfs'il hhfh tftisu IA u ilhlt muir lcuCltu
ceilings where it had previously only invaded
floors, and the greatest CONSERVATION pre-
vailed. SO rapid was this rise, and so wild
and furious the rushing torrent, that the
lives OF many persons were jeopqrdized, and
several lives were lost. Had ii occurred at
night, us in the case of the great food OF
1887, the loss of life could not but have
been immense.
With its sudden rise of nearly twenty feet
the water poured into the streets at one time
covering space Of ground on the west side
OF the tails, extending westwardly to the in
tersection of Lexington and Calvert streets !;
thence norlherly to the Calvert station, the
interior of which was converted into large
lake. AL communication between the east
ern and western sections of the city was cut
OIL for the time, except by the Eager street
bridge, at q high point on the north, il being
too dangerous to attempt to cross the torrent
in boats.
The scene from the bridge at Eager street
when the water was at its greatest height
was very striking Its yellow food came
down with u turbulent roar like some noun
tain torrent, bringing in its hcadlong rush
fragments of bridges and buildings, uproo,ed
trees. drift wood, fences, sheds, outhouses,
oil tanks, barrels, merchandise, &c.
Seven Of the city bridges, those at Charles,
Madison, Monument, Centre, Bath llillen,
and Fayette streets, were swept away. The
bridges at Gay, Baltimore, Lombard, and
Pratt streets were all damaged some of
them greatly. The lofty Bclvidere and
Eager street bridges alone escaping unin-
injured
All the manufactures aud stores along
Jones falls were more or less damaged. x
three story dwelling of d. J. McWiliams on
Fayettc street was entirely washed away
the family had been removed.
The water extended through Holiday st.
to the corner of Fayette, entirely submerg-
Ing all the houses from Monument, five or
six squares, to that point. The Office of the
police marshal, the police station and all
places of business We're only accessible by
boats,a number Of which were brought from
South Baltimore on drays The Holiday
street Theatre had ten feet OF water in the
patquettc, the basement being filled. Ii will
require weeks to remove the mud and wa
ter.
Harrison street was entirely under water
to the depth of ten TO twelve feet, and being
the street next adjacent to the falls, was, of
course was the last street which the water
left. Nearly all the awning and lamp posts
were carried away by the heavy timber
which passed down.
The water extended from east of Front
street to Gay street, on Baltimore street,
and the destruction of property was heavy
For time, also, the water ran out of lIol-
liday street into Baltimore street. A large
amount of the lumber and debris that was
forced down Harrison street found a lodg-
Inent in 'front.' OF the Maryland Institute,
ana there IL accumulated until II became
piled up to the second story windows, and
extended out 10 the city passenger railway
Track. Among the debris thus accumulated
are portions OF houses, bridges, boxes, and
every description of wrecked lumber.
me Hood rushed down Frederick street
WIN great Jury, nom Gay street TO the ba-
SIN, minimizing all the cellars, and in some
cases reaching up TO the second story win
lows, ana IN many cases families were taken
from the upper storlcs Of dwellings in boats.
every one residing on this street suffered
more or less.
Gay street, from Fayetto street to the
bridge, ana Saratoga street. from Gay to
Calvert, were both completely under water,
and the loss TO those residing or doing bust
ness on both, is very considerable.
In Davis stree, the water rose TO u height
OF u feet.
The water on Calvert street extended
from Calvert Station 10 within n few feet of
Lexington street several squares, causing
-. ~ " va. iu' ht.'ic vi peT-
MI, ~, - ~ W. p'ihls.
snarns wnrn ,oro, H. I's INV w iii'lMc'
| Ing heavy losses
The thick brick wall surrounding the yard
y. Wy GERMAN HA9h '..hlitch, on North Gay
rnye wav and f.ll with h"au,, crSs, S''gT re,
rear wall of the church is also said TO he
damaged.
All railroad travel through the city was
suspended; through passengers being sent
around through the high parts Of the city in
carriages from station to station.
A city railway car was swept away by the
flood and two of the passengers were
drowned.
Several persons were drowned, the exact
number not having been ascertained this
morning
The loss will he immense and is variously
estimated from three to six millions dollars.
The damage is also heavy in the country
around the city and along the line of the
Western Maryland and Northern Central
Railroads.
AT Ellcotis Mills large amount of prop-
crty was destroyed AND a number of lives
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