Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1868-06-04
Unprecedented Freshet.

unprecedented Fre6neC.
That portion of this county lying between
Stony Creek and Toms Brook was visited by
one of the, most extensive and destructive
freshets that has occurred within the memory
OF The Oldest citizen On Wednesday evening
the 9th ult., about 4 O'clock, dark cloud APP
preached from the west, but its appearance did
not indicate anything more than an ordinary
thunder gust such as we frequently have at
this season. The rair fell in torrents for four
consecutive hours. The heavens and the earth
seemed to be heavily charged with electricity,
which flashed wildly every moment. followed
by successive loud peals of thunder. Indeed.
every drop of water seemed to reflect the cleo
tric sparks as they filled the surrounding at
mosphere. During the height of the storm
one the chmneys Of Mr.. Reuben Walton's
residence was struck by the lightning and the
top knocked off. So great was the conclusion
that some qfethe family and several persons in
the adjoining houses We're severely shocked
Had not the ear4h been SO heavily charged
with electricity, no doubt considerable dana ge
would have been done by the lightning. About
clock The waters began to pour through
our streets from every direction, submerging
almost every part Of the tow.l, OVERLOOKING the
gardens and lots, and carrying away fences,
foot bridges anu all others distractions in its
course. The most extensive and irreparabe
damages were done in that portion a. the
town lying in Spring Hollow. This hollow
drains an extensive region. and the body of
water soon accumulated to The depth of s to
10 feet and had ii not been for the heavy and
substantial masonry and fill on the railroad
b. which the force Of the water was broken,
the destruction of property must have been
very great. Mr.. Hollingsworth, who lives in
the property once occupied by DR.. Schmil,
had, his hen house, &C., and portion of the
fencing taken away, with all the chickens in
it. large portion of the fence around Mr.
Daniel Burners lot was swept away On the
opposite side Of tn. street. below the Turnpike,
he gardens and 10 IS Of Messrs. Joseph Fecker
John Il. Fravel, A. Fitzpatrick, Abraham
Baus erman, John Bauserman, and Mrs Rob
inson, were overlooked to the depth of several
feet; and TIE lower floors Of their houses were
covered with water and mud to the depth OF
from one to TWO feet mir. Fitzpatrick and
Mir. Gravel came near being drowned in :@ss
tempting to escape from their houses, nd
would Lave persisted had it not been for a ro
taken fron, MIR Burners shop and thrown IL
them, while struggling in he foaming waters
NJ
all the soil being washed away; and those of
the other parties named were damaged almost
beyond recovery. The newly planted fields
corn were greatly damaged the burrows were
washed out, and In some cases tas GQrn washed
out, so that it will have to be replan:ed.
The damages on Stony Greek, from Colum-
bia Furnace to Edinburg, was extensive. The
mills of Messrs. Fadely, Lantz, and Allen,
with considerable quantity, etflumber, were
carried away, and the destruction of fences
and damage to the wheat and ,orn crops on
the bottom lands was general. One span of
the RAILROAD bridge at Edinhurg was destroy
sdA and the mill dams, trunkng, &C., more or
less injured.
On, Narrow, Passage considerable damage
was done to the fen ling and crops, but the
most important item was ths. destruction of d.
span of the RAILROAD bridge, which is one of
lhe highest on the road
On Pughs Run the damage is also earsissr
able. a portion of Cook S mill dam and trunk
ing was carried away, but the damage is not
SO great as in some other localities. The sec
ton astween this Run 2;4l hs B ook did not
sufferso ext gnsiv ely as the fury Of the storm
seems TO have been spent before reaching that
region.