The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-08-01
The FIoo,f.


tory since " the windows Of heaven were open
"cd aud the fountains Of the grea, deep broken
up. has there been such a rise in the waters
Of our streams. and never before were our pub. q
lac Jonsna! called upon 10 record such q tcriI
bic. heart rending calamity. from such a cause
There are sections of our county and Of the city
where the ruin aud destruction is appalling
where the work and labor and saving OF years
have been totally demolished in an hour or two
where death aud danger stared the people in
the face on every hand. No wonder that a,
witnessing such scene as that ut Ellico,t's
Mills strong men bowed in agony and grief and
quailed and trcmblcd before the strange aud
awful visitation that had come upon them, or
that the cries Of women aud children filled the
air when husbands, fathers. brothers. sons aud
friends were there, before their eyes. being ear
ricd 10 certain death upon that snrging sccth
ing mass vi water. Twas a fearful day. ter
rible scene, and has been horribly disastrous ia
It's consequence Miss Adams. young lady
Of Ellicou's City. has gwen the following vivid
description ri what she saw at that point:
Miss Adams was sitting with child in the
house Of Mr.. Gibbons, and looking up the river
called the attention of the child 10 the water
which was coming down in wild manner. hut
which she supposed was not unusual in
shower. although no -ain had then fdiisn AZ ~
iie0n City. except "a few Watering drops, since
daybreak. within ten minutes 81 her first no
tiec Of the coming water, the houses on the
tongue Of made land between the race and the
river were cut oil from all communication ON
either side. Trees, logs. debris Of every kind.
aud the bridge above. swept down the river on
one side and through the race an the other with
fearful velocity. cutting oil all communication
with the main land. Dir. Owings. whose house
was on this tongue If land. had but a few min
ute= before left his family. much against the
remonstranrcs 1T his wife. who had become
alarmed at the threatening aspect "i the sky.
and only after three message were scnt he lett
tn return Ia II no mare lie had barely reach
cd the bridge. On his return. when looking fnr
ward. he saw the huod coming down. and 70
the houses on the small breadth Of land between
the rarcway aud the river not only surrounded
with water. but that the n"od had already dri
ven their inmates intn the second story. br
Owings took refuge in the house ui Mr. Gibbons.
not hundred feet from his own dwelling. and
called To- his wife. advising her of how she
should act f'r the safety II herself and the TX
children b. her side. speedily the water drove
her aud the children 10 the root. where. cling
ing to the chi mncy. they seemed somewhat So
cure bot the rocking 81 the house q three
tory fame -s"nn caused tho chimney 10 fall
Meanwhile. Mrs Marschan" being ia the house
-
but three weeks old supposinc iha' j, would be-
safer there than in her own maternal arms
Mrs owines was seen I" hold IL rs long she
lived.
hr. OwingE. calling across the race. Us his
house Hoated from q foundation and lodged
against the next below. directed that the walls
Of the adjoining houses should be- ru, through.
This WAS done by Mr. Fountain. and thus. q.
ono house after another fell. this noble man.
working most hcrnically. cut through the walls
u Il. ~.
the row. This house was occupied by Mr.. ard
Mrs. Partridge. who had -n'l il very recently
and were To leave II on the following day tor a
new home in Virginia.
In this house all the occupants Of the six
houses above were assembled Al the other
houses had fallen aud drifird away. bu, this.
for a time. stood iirm against the torrent, and
there was slight hope that il nigh; br saved.
Suddenly IL was seen 10 waver. and in . mo.
nent more. with all its precious burden Of chill
dren. women and men mon powcrless against
the hood. although within hundred feet of
solid ground it fell with terrific crash. and
mot one soul was saved
That DR.. Owings los, his reason and cndca
vorcd 70 throw himself into the current. and
was only held back By strong arm. tina, men
put their hands before their faces and could not
look upon ia" terrible seen" a. house after house
fell-ihat the last Shrek of despair was too
much for their living loving friends. and tina,
they forced to close their eyes and stop their
ears. To shu, ou, the horrible sight. ani s"uul-
is not t. Ice wondered at. Mis-, Adams ,"c4 hot
refer I" anything bu, what she saw. and the
above. II mas: be remembered. j. only me 90
the incidentsoi the Destruction At Ellco,ts city
Our people have duty I" perform in Thu.
| matter. There is distress among our own ci,i
s.tt L l. 4
less and pennilcss. They are to be cared for !:
they are 10 be aided and assisted in this hour
Of their need. Will nn, the generous people
Of Baltimore county respond promptly. cheer
fully. literally,
Prompt action is also necessary upon the part
Of our county authorities. There i hardly q
county bridge within twenty miles Of the city
standing. nor public road tina; can Dee travel
ed These bridges must be- rebuilt these roads
repaired the interest. convenience the actual
need ofthc people require it. W. earnestly hope
that our county commissioners may No, hcsi
tate single instant. but act bravcly and ciTc,.-
lively, AZ oaee. Let them look AZ the matter
squarely. and realize that the loss is immense
and that extraordinary measures must be rcsor
ted to in this emergency. They have already
levied for $4,000 as contingent bridge aud
road fund for the current year. and the whole
of this amour, will probably be applied At once
to rebuilding bridges. II this is no, enough for
the purpose and i, will no; be we doub, not
that the commissioners can barrow any amount
they may need. We are aware that this loan
would not be- strictly legal withou, being an
thoriEel by the Legislature but the credit ct
the county i, good. aud we are sure tina, our
moneyed ciitens would readily advance any
amount Of money needed. relying GA thu next
L~gisla,ur" ilegalizc tn" Loan. whsi-y"r "i.-
is lali aside the necessary WORK "i rebuild tx
tended e..