The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-27
THE FLOOD IN BALTIMORE.

THE FLOOD IN BALTIMORE.
LOSS OF LIFE AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
BRIDGES SWEPT AWAY AND STORES AND Dwell
1INes suBMERaED-soENEs AND INCIDENTS.
The following account of the great food is
condensed from the fine and graphic report
published in the Baltimore Gazette OF Satur-
day:
Yesterday morning, at an early hour, the
rain commenced to fall, and gradually increas-
ed in violence until between the hours Of eight
and nine o'clock A. NJ. when it fell in torrents,
and was accompanied by considerable thunder
and lightning. About twelve O'Clock NJ. the
waters in Jones' Falls commenced to overflow,
and in very short time the whole OF the lower
portion Of the city was covered in many places
to the depth Of from eight to twelve feet. The
submerged portion of west Baltimore extend
ed from Lombard-street, in south Baltimore,
along Harrison to Baltimore street. Holiday
street was covered as far as Farette, and on
South and Calvert streets the water reached
Lexington. Along Calvert the water extended
to Pleasant-street, and in North beyond Cen
tre- street:
Beyond Centre-street only a small portion of
the ground bordering on the Falls was sub
merged, extending to the Eager.street bridge.
The portion Of East Baltimore which was COW
cred was comparatively small. The whole OF
the bridges from the Eager-street bridge to
the bridge over Baltimore-street, we're carried
away ~ the water. Eager-street bridge, how
ever, remained standing, but 80 great was the
force Of water at that point that it was thought
to be in very unsafe condition, although quite
substantial stone structure. The immense
pressure Of the water against it's sides bank
ed back the water above into huge waves
six or seven feet in height, which passed
taract. From thence to Charles-street the
overflow was slight. Above the Charles-street
bridge q considerable extent OF ground was
covered and the bridge was swept away: The
whole extent Of the stream was filled with all
kinds Of debris, presenting everywhere o
frightful spectacle. All available points OF OBJ
servation throughout the city were lined with
noted, Of which detailed report will be found
below. The total losses caused by this most
disastrous occurrence must be immense, but
at this time no certain estimate can be given.
The damage Of the Northern Central Road is
said to be very extensive, and all trains Will be
stopped for some days to come. The trains on
the Philadelphia and on the Washington
branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Road, came
in regularly on time, and no damage was re-
ported. There ie no news from the main
stem ofthe Baltimore and Ohio Road, west Of
Ellicott's Mills, as the telegraph line beyond
that place is not is working order.
During the morning, two young men, James
and George Briden, brothers, and young man
named Hawks, all Of them employed upon one
of the farms Of Ross Winans, ESQ.,, went out
to an island in the Patapsco, about six miles
from the city, for the purpose OF securely FAST
ening small steamer belonging to Mr. Wi
mans, and finding the water rapidly gaining
upon them, they doubted their ability to re-
turn To the main land, and sought refuge IN
large sycamore tree on the island. Here the
water rapidly rose upon them, and they were
continually beset by floating, timber and debris
from above, but they fought this of as best
they could, until it came with suoh force as to
sweep the tree up by it's roots, AID the three
unfortunate young men were scattered upon
the rushing waters.
Hawks WAS thrown upon higher point upon
the island, and at last accounts was still there,
and MIR. Winans had ordered tug to be sent
to his relief. George Briden was not seen
again after the fall Of the tree, but his brother
James was 80 fortunate as TO get astride
large piece OF lumber, upon which he was hur-
ried down the torrent, beset on every side by
floating trees and lumber In this singular
position he foated to the Long Bridge, at the
foot of Light-street, and as the log upon which
he rode passed under the bridge, he caught
hold of the structure and climbed upon it,
bruised and bleeding on every part OF his body
He fell into the hands OF kind friends and as
soon as his situation became known, the car
riage Of Mr.. Wineas was furnished for trans
portion to his home. The distance which he
rode was nearly seven miles.
colt City also exceeded anything ever before
known IN that vicinity, the water rising fully
eight feet higher than during any Of the de-
structive freshets which have at various times
occurred there.
Telegraphic information from that vicinity,
as we'll as the statements OF individuals resid-
ing in the neighborhood, Indicate the almost
total destruction Of the Granite Factory, a
manufactory of cotton goods, which has been
rebuilt during the past year, and which was de-
stroyed over o year ago by flood. Avery
heavy loss Of life, as much as sixty persons, ls
tumored.
The extensive buildings Of the Avalon Nail
and Iron Works, located in close proximity to
the Baltimore and OHIO Railroad, q short dis
tance beyond the Relay House, it is stated have
been 30 thoroughly demolished that scarcely
brick is left to marE the spot on which they
stood.
more and Ohio Railroad no damage was done,
though the streams were very high. On the
main stem the telegraph line was. down at an
early hour OF the day, and no communication
by That means was had with any point beyond
the Relay House after eight o'clock in the
morning, and no trains were sent out after
8.45 A. M. The train which left at that hour
was met in the vicinity Of Union Dam, east OF
Elhcott's Mills, by high and rapidly rising
water, and the passengers were finally COM
PEELED to leave the cars and seek shelter in the
houses in the vicinity, because Of the water
rushing through the cars. The new iron
bridge at Leicester vas struck by the floating
turnpike bridge from Ellicott's Mills and car
ried away, and the road was badly washed. at
other points, doubtless, but no more definite
information could be obtained.
The engine-house near the viaduct, used for
pumping water into the water-station at the
Relay House, was carried away by the flood dur
ins the morning.
Last evening it was reported that great va-
riety and an immense quantity Of goods, val
ued at several thousand dollars, we're accumu-
latipg in the vicinity Of Long Bridge and Har-
mans Bridge supposed to have come from the
stores and dwellings, at Ellicotts Mills, and
CAPTAIN Frey detailed officers to guard it until
it could be otherwise cared for.
MURDEa.-A foul murder was perpetrated on
Wednaadnv nipht Last ahOr1f nine o'clock near