The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-07-29
THE FLooDINTHE PATAPsCO.
DreAdCaI Scenes ana Incidents.
stllIAnofher Account.

SklA1 AnOIuGE ACCOuHls
ELLEcoTT CITY, July 25, 1858. The
destruction caused by the flood to this
town is far greater than it has been on
any previous occasion-greater than
was represented in the accounts first
published, and even greater than the
residents themselves believed until the
light of to-day gave them an opportun-
nifty TO take further account OF the
losses.
About half-past nine o'clock yester-
day morning the alarm was given that
the Patapsco River was rapidly rising.
By ten O'Clock the river had swollen TO
such an extent as to create general
alarm to those persons who were absent
from their homes, who hastened thither
to save what they could of their prop
erty, and everywhere people who dwelt
close to the banks of the river were
seen making preparations to guard
against the Impending inundation.
Never before had the flood descended
so rapidly or risen to SO great height
at this place. The river rose forty feet
above its ordinary level, and it had
reached nearly ten feet before a drop
of rain fell in this neighborhood.
Skirting along the rivers bank on
the Baltimore and Wheeling turnpike,
stood a row of large stone houses. The
occupants were frequently warned OF
the dangerous appearance OF the freshet,
but trusting to their former experience,
they chose to remain yet little longer,
thinking there would be time to escape
when the worst came. Within few
minutes the flood rose so rapidly that
all communication was cut off and the
current rushed so swiftly that 1t was
found impossible TO render them any
aid.
At this time the water had only
reached above the lower story of the
houses and no danger was apprehend-
ed il the occupants could reach the
root. This they at once proceeded TO
do, but the water still rose higher and
higher and sped on its lfrightful course
with Immense velocity, and to add to
the terrors of the hour huge masses of
drift rubbish came rushing upon the
doomed dwellings.
The family of DR.. T. B. Owings, con-
sisting of Mrs. Owings, six children
and three servants, had gathered in the
house, which was frame, was lifted
from its foundations and carried across
the street against stone house occupi-
ed bya MIR. Fountain. Mrs. Owings
and her children clambered up the roof
OF Fountains house, where they
thought they would be safe. A few
moments after this DIR. Owings, who
had returned from visiting a patient,
arrived at the river bank, and was just
in time to behold the crumbling away
OF the house and the death of his wife
and children. who sunk amid the wreck,
holding their hands toward him vainly
imploring his help.
The side wall of Mr.. Partridge's
house fell and exposed to the spectators
about fifteen persons, who had sought
refuge there, all standing in Il group.
This scene was beheld for moment or
two, when the house fell with crash
into the boiling surge, carrying with it
every soul.
Every effort was made by the citizens
to rescue those who were in peril, and
quite a number were saved; but owing
to the speedy work made by the flood
in its fearful violence, many perished
within dozen yards of the shore.
The whole OF the lower part of the
town was flooded, and to-day presents
deplorable spectacle-goods washed
out OF stores into the streets, and fur
niture out of houses, all lying in tan
Cled heaps, with here and there trees,
logs, stones and the debris of houses
and bridges. The principal hotel, the
Patapsco House, is filled to over1owing
with the houseless citizens who escaped
the flood. Every mill on the river is
destroyed, and every bridge is washed
away.
The track of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad has sunk in several places.
Parties of citizens have been engaged
the bodies of victims, and thus far but
eight have been recovered. Thirty
seven persons are known to have been
drowned, and six others are missing.
The names of those lost are as follows:
Mrs. II. B. OwinRs. six children and
three servants; William Patterson. his
wife and five children; William Part
ridge, his wife and niece; Mrs. Farrow
and two nieces; Mr.. Mat. McCauley,
cloth inspector at Granite Mill; John
Reese and Carrie Reese, his daughter;
Mr. Murphy, wife and child. The body
of Mr.. Murphy still lies below the Bal
Iimore and Ohio Railroad bridge, i'm
beded among the iron rods of the bridge.
Mr.. Gabriel. wife and child; Mr.. Joseph
Steel; Mr.. Fountain, wife and daugh-
ter, and Mr.. Snyder.
Those bodies which were recovered
| were found to be Mrs. Patterson, Mr..
Fountain. Mr.. Reese, one child not yet
Identified, one child of Mrs. Patterson,
MIR. Gabriel and John Murphy.
Forty-three houses and mills have
been destroyed in the town and be-
tween it and the Relay House, one old
stone house, which was left unframed
by the flood while all those around 1t
were carried away, was built in the
year 1892. The old inhabitants say
that the water rose yesterday fifteen
feet higher than IL ever reached before.
The loss in Ellicott City is estimated
at over a million dollars.