Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-08-04
The Recent Flood in Maryland.

Our exchanges come to us filled with ac-
counts of the recent disastrous flood in Mary
land. From the Baltimore Gazette of the
2Sth, we copy the annexed graphic ,descrip>
ton of the devastation at Ellicottt City:
The calamity at Ellicott City is described
by Miss Ell. G. Adams, of this city, with great
clearness. Miss Adams was sitting with
child in the house of Mr.. Gibbons, and look
ing up the river, called the attention of the
child to the water, which was coming down
in wild manner, but, which she supposed
was not unusual in shower, although no rain
had then fallen at EllicOtt City, except few
pattering drops, since day-break! Within
ten minutes of her first notice of the coming
water the houses on the.tongue of made land
between the race and the river we're cut. off
from all communication on either side
Trees, logs, debris of every Kind. and the
bridge above, swept down the river on one
side and through the race on the other with
fearful, velocity, cutting off all communication
with the main land. DIR. Owings, whose
house was on the tongue of land, bad but a
few minutes before LETT his family, much
against the remonstrauces of his wife, who had
become alarmed at the threatening aspect of
the sky; and only after three messages were
sent he left-to return to it no more. He
had barely reached thu, bridge on his return
when, looking forward, be saw the food COM
ing down, aud all, the houses on the small
breadth of land between the raceway and the
river not only surrounded with water, but
that the flood had. already driven them into
a second story. Dr.. Owings took refuge in
the house of Mr.. Gibbons, not hundred feet
from his own dwelling, and called to his wife,
abusing her how to act for the safety of her
self and the six children by her side. Speed
lily the=water drove, her aud the children to
the roof where, cGnging to the chimney, they
seemed somewhat secure, but the rocking of
the house, three-story frame, soon. caused
the chimney to fall. Meanwhile, Mrs. Mar
schane, being in the house above, reached up
to Mrs. Owings baby but three weeks old,
supposing it would be safer there than in her
own maternal arms. Mrs. Owings was seen
to hold it as long as she lived.
DR.. Ovings,, calling across the race, as his
house hOated from its foundation and lodged
against the next below, directed that the
walls of the adjoining houses should be cut
through. This was done by Mr.. Fountain,
and thus, as one house after another fell,
working most heroically, this nabIe man cut
through the walls Of seven houses, until they
came 10 the laSC III the TOW. L MS IlOuSe WAS
occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Partridge, who
had sold it very recently, and were to leave
it on the following day for new home in
Virginia.
In this house all the &C c1spants of the six
houses above were assembled. All the other
houses had fallen and drifted away, but this,
for time, stood firm against the torrent, and
there VAS slight hope that it might be saved.
Suddenly it was seen to waver, and in a mo-
ment more, with all its precious burden of
children, women and men-men powerless
against that flood, although within hun
bred feet Of solid :ground-it fell with ter
rifle crash, and not one soul was saved.
BODIES RECOVERED.
Throughout yesterday a great crowd Of
persons were congregated in the vicinity Of
the Long Bridge, foot Of. Light street, Sc
curing floating property and hu0ting for
bodies Of those drowned at Elicott City
The two bodies found on Saturday were re-
cOgnized as those ofMrs. Duvall and W. Part
ridge. Those found yesterday were Geo.
Byden and p. Hawk, drowned on Winans,
farm Mrs. DR.. Owings, and child fifteen
months old Mrs. Caroline Reese and daugh
ter and Mrs. Patterson. After holding in,
quests upon the bodies found on Saturday,
DR.. II. w. Carr, Coroners determined that
the cause of death was so apparent that it
was unnecessary to hold further in4uests, and
as the bodies were recovered secured their
removal to the dead house, removed from. the
public gaze, and awaited recognition by
friends. The body Of Mrs. Owings WAS iden-
tised by ring upon her finger, and her body
was taken in charge by Mcssrs j. Ii. I4ishear,
CT. r. Gambrill and j. w. Mccormick
n,Lo boil 70 Elliontt
removed thither by friends. In this. connec-
ton it should be remarked that Capt. Jacob
Frey and his officers haze been untiriDg in
their efforts for the finding and rescue of
bodies of the victims of the fearful disaster.
Up to three o'clock last evening the bodies
of the following named parties drowned at
Ellicott City have been recovered and identi-
fed Mrs Gabriel and child, w. Ii. Foun-
tain and wife, W. Partridge and wife, Will
liam, cOlored servant of DR.. Owings, Mrs.
Owings and infant, Katie QWings, Tommy
Owings, Smith Murphy Mrs Stansbury, NJ.
Macauley, child Of Mr.. Murphy, John Reese,
Mrs Patterson, Bette Patterson, Fannie Du-
vail, Mrs. Duvall, Maggie Patterson.
In regard to tho immense destruction of
valuable property at Ellicol's, We copy the
following -
THE GRANITE COTTON MILLS.
The Granite cotton mill, belonging to BENZ.
Deford, of Baltimore, an immense structure,
ezected in the most substantial manner, at
cost of $50 1000, was among the most valuable
buildings destroyed, especially when taken
into consideration the fact that the machinery
contained therein was placed there at cost
of $4,000. The building situated at the
bend of the Baltimore county side of the
town, and just above where the Frederick
turnpike bridge formerly stood, resisted the
torrent for a while, but finally even its solid
Gnnndntinr Lnnnn To crnmhle and the strnctura