Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-10-01
EFFECTS OF THE GREAT STORM.
Terribly Destructive Freshet in the
Potomac.


Bridge Badly Damoged-The Canal Badly Dana
aged-HoGses, Furniture, Animals, Lock-ga,es,
and Bridges Floating Down the River-Rep ported
Loss Of Life.
One OF the most sudden and destructive fresh
cts ever known on the Potomac river set in
here about dark yesterday evening; has been
steadily incre since; and, up to the present
writing, the water is still rising. Great destruc-
ton OF property along the Potomac has been
the consequence, all the way mp as far as heard
from.
DESTRUCTION OF THE CHAIN BRIDGE.
About six O'Clock this morning, heavy timbers
joined togette fioated down past Georgetown.
They were soon recognised as portions Of the
confirmed the fact that the two spans OF til at
bridge over the rapids tell in this morning, cut
ting off all travel in that direction.
MILLS AND HOUSES SWEPT OFF.
A large quantity of heavy mill gearing aud
flour IN barrels has been passing down Al the
morning, which IS supposed to come nom .'as Ca
bedding, &c, are also constantly passing, jndi-
eating serious damage above, and possibly loss
Of lite: bureau washed ashore just above the
Aqueduct bridge on the flats, which " $ found
to contain female clothing and some money.
5000 DAMAGE IN GEORGETOWN.
In Georgetown the damage has been heavy
in cons, luence of the hasty removal Of good !.
sSot 10, 1t is o'timated would not cover the
damage in Georgetowl alone, which might have
been saved if the precautton had been tax, to
telegraph from above OF the coming danger.
This is regarded as a great oversight by thos .
interested.
THE CANAL SUBMERGED.
News of damage to the canal IS hourly ex-
peo.ed. 1t is reported that On the flats aooye
the Lnde Falls the river and canal are all one
the towpath being completely submerg ed. whicn
mrst result in great damage ID the cana.
BOATS ON WATER STREET IN GEORGE row y.
The scene along the river front in e. or yet pwn
Is OF the most lively descriptOn-a'l ere at work
removing goods, or engaged in citching timber
and such articles of value as p9ss down. Wst,r
street, from Potomac street to Cherry alley, is
completely submerged; the str 1t full of foaliug
boxes of goo =, with persons in bolts reco yeriny
them. Teams are employed in ENJOYING barrels,
reach or the wat5r to places of So ETY.. Ga
Water street, from Mr.. +. ID. Sheen .kers s ore
TO the X street bridge over Rock C:eek, is one
sheet OF water, boats plying constantly aero 8 the
street filled with goods. Hsrses and teams that
attempt to ford through ere almo't lost sight Of
at fhe lowest points. Messrs. Dougall anu Bur
roughs have been heavy losers.
wHARvE3 SWEPT OFF.
Marbutys wharf, Georgetown, went by the
board at about eleven O'Clock, aud it - thou hit
being very swift, and all of them being sat !
merged under water.
MIR. Evan Lyons hes lost heavily from damage
to wheat stored in bis warehouse. The Guano
Company's Losses VII be heavy from tie sans
cause.
CANAL LOCKS CARRIED AWAY
several canal locks nave been plSsinu l0Wl
this morning, indicating heavy damage to the
canal. The wreckers are having harvest, and
much valuable property will be saved bv them
The river is dotted with yellow pumpkins, and
cabbages among other things.
NEWS FROM ABOVE.
Mr.. George Waters received a letter this
morning from Shepherds OWN, stating that the
rairs there yesterday mo ming were very hely !;
1t is thought BY business men here that most of
the damage to the canal will be this side OF Har-
peI's Ferry, from the fact that the Shenandoah
is the most swollen by the rains.
Mr.. 5. II. Sherw God received dispatch dated
this morning, from SANDY Hook stating that the
water was very high-abOut tive feet over the
tow path, but the extent Of dana ,e could not be
ascertained until the " alter falls.
MEN rRoWNED.
Two colortd Aen ems ICED in c. tching drifC
wood are reported to have been drowned near
the Aqueduct Bridge in Georgetown this MOI n
Ing, but nothing positive is known avout them.
HALF THE CHAIN BRIDGE GONE.
Ii IS ascertained that about half the Chain
Bridge, between the canal and the channe, OF
The Iiyer, sank down, and the timbers fioated
of this morning.
BOATS CARRIED OFF.
MT. fasano, in george town, lost some fit .een
pleasure boats. Other private boats have been
swept away, some 80 or 90 altogether, including
several fishermens' boats between the Chain
Bridge and Georgetown.
SHEEP CARRIED OPP.
Large quantities of sfeep p3sturing on the
low grounds ne 1T Chain Bridge have been swept
OFF.
THE SUDDEN RISE.
The rise was extraord r1rily sudden, 50 much
so that The water in the river last evening was
clear and calm as usual in mid summer.
A great oversight WIS committed in not hav-
ing the news by telegraph from HP-per's Ferry
yesterday morning. Years ago, before tele-
graphs were in existence, horses With riders
were Immediately dispatched to Gc orgetown
from Harper's Ferry to convey news Of flood
in the river.
THE FLOOD IN THE CITY.
The water in the canal commenced to rise
early this morning, and it was not long before
the dealers in che Iish market and little Ia. IT
in the middle portion Of the market, had to
move 70 other quarters. AL along the line ID
Sd street the walls were overfi0wed, and in och
and wes getting uncomtOrtably near the Ave
nue.. AT that hour there was in the basement
Of the Fountain Hotel southeast corner OF
four ieet Of Wster snI the Sas ss as0o of
several of the houses on the south side
Of the Aver ue, between AZ and 9Th ST. Gets,
was oSefnowed, 6gt me otGeupsns, IN most T.
Of their goods. The fcor of Dubant's restau-
rant was covered about noon, causing q CT sa-
OF rd .ee or Of the
stones were somewhat damaged, but the mos
Of them were removed to place OF So ety. The
water in 10th to 18th streets by O'Clock had
crossed Z street, cutting OFF McClela nd's foun-
dry and the four gun battery.
Between 9Th and 10th streets, south OF tho
avenue, the cellars were all flooded At Rus
avenue, the water rose SO rapidly that il was not
possible to remove the goods. At O'Clock tbs
AFTERNOON, when our reporter looked in at the
window, the water was up 10 within about foot
OF the top OF the counters, and a dismal line OF
bar keepers, oyster-openers and thirsty and
hungry customers were perched upon the tops of
counters, waiting patiently for the i.de ID fall.
Tumbiers, wine glasses, whisky boz, es, golden
seal, demiJohns, etc., etc., were sitting gaily
around TIE room, on the top of the eddy ing flood
but alH avs just out OF the reach Of the saheii :
customers on their ro0st. With them it WI
literally
Water, water, everywhere, but not d. % to
drink
The cellars Of the plumbing and gas ftii-y
establishment OF A. X. Shepherd s. Bros. were
flooded and some damage done to wares stored
there. On 10th and 18th streets, from to the
canal, the boys were having rare sport rigging
up floats, RATS, boats, &c, and conveying pas
sengers from one dwelling house to another. Ac-
cordng TO the reports OF the old iuh lbit Iu's
hereabouts the water is higher than 1t has been
for 80 years.
At Up. IN. the water began to fall with the
tide, and the main danger is probably over as
the Hood up country will doubtless exhaust IT.
self measurably before the returning tide,
The loss, OF course, at this writing cannot he
estimated, but II is believed that most of the
goods in easements, which would be affected nv
water, having been moved, the loss will not be
heavy. ~
DAMAGE ALONG THE RIVER FRONT IN WASH