Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-10-04

ley & Sheerer, at the mouth of the Charles
town Run. Their loss by damage to mill,
injury to machinery, washing away OF im-
meuse quantities of.lumber, &C., is very heavy
Ono of the two new dwellings recently ercct-
ed by this firm, just below the mill, was
swept away, its inmates barely escaping with
life. This house was in the occupancy of
Mr.. Ainsworth, who is quite poor, has large
and helpless family, and saved not one dol
lars worth of furniture or clothing from the
common wreck. The Dye House, and other
out, houses
AT wATsow's FACTORY,
were swept off, and his mill, stock and ma
ohinery very considerably damaged. The
large brick mill of Thos. Fl. Willis, Esq,
withstood the raging waters, but is doubtless
considerably injured. The destruction at
KEYEs' FERRY
was complete The old mansion house was
in the occupancy of Mr.. Daniel Allstadt, who
had scarcely succeeded in removing his fam,
lily before the house, stabling, farming inn
plements, &c, became common food for the
raging waters. In this connection we regret
to learn that Mr.. John G. Cockrill, who is the
father-in>law of Mr. Allstadt, lost 81 900 in
bonds, which he had spread out on table in
the house to dry, having been wet the day
previous This house was long and familiar
" known as the homo of Gershon Keyes,
and had withstood the storm and the tempest
q Il. rEL- rl,on IF
our venerable fellow-citizen, Humphrey
Keyes, Esq, and had furnished shelter and
food to many way Garer in past generations,
particularly among the itinerancy of the Meth
oiist Church, to whom it always home
of welcome.
AT HARPER's FERRY
the scene is truly appalling, and entirely be-
yond description, but we will cndcavor to
make up summary of the terrible incidents
of Friday night and Saturday morning, and
the immense loss of life and property at this
point. Leaving Baltimore on the accommo-
dation train Friday afternoon, where we had
been on business for several days, we reached
Woverton little before eight o'clock at night,
WHpTO We IculuCO bhC bISooIlhS HuA
bridges on the w. e. p r. r. above the Ferry
had been swept away, and several houses had
gone down the surging stream. Moving on
cautiously towards the Ferry, we found the
river one angry sea of rolling waves, the tow
path on the canal entirely oblitcrated, the
waters coming up to the very railroad track.
In a short time we arrived at the Potomac
bridge, and although not entirely sure of its
safety, veutured across and gained the Har-
per's Ferry side. Here we were in dilemma.
The angry torrent had flooded Shenandoah
street and cut off communication with the
mainland, and was rising rapidly every minute.
But no time was to lie lost, and so we plunged
into the stream aud wadcd across, which would
have been an impossibility an hour later
We remained in the Ferry until about
o'clock in the morning, and the sights and
sounds we saw aud heard there VIC shall never
forget. Poor women and children were on
the streets who had just escaped a watery
grave, aud every few minutes low rumble
would be heard, the startling signal THAI one
of their once happy homes had sunk beneath
the waters together with all their earthly pos
sessions, or perhaps containing loved kindred
and friends, whose dying wails'could be heard
On the midnight air. At intervals all through
the night buildings were being swept away
At one time we heard four fall in less than
five minutes.
THE LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY
at this point and vicinity was greater than
anywhere else within the scope of the flood
ABOUT FORTY LIVES HAVE EEE;% LOST,
which, as far as We can learn, arc as follows /:
Mrs. Ovcrton and family, three in number;
Mrs. James Shipcs Jere Harris, (colored,)
and family, four in number; Bateman family
of negroes, eighteenth number Mrs. Bran
droff aud family, three in number Mrs. Mar
garet Carroll, and a negro child Of colored
woman who was rescued. There were sew
eral others whose names we have not OBJ
tanned The body of one man was seen pas
sing under the Potomac bridge, fastened in
some manner to TIE stump of trco; on Sat-
urday.
Latcr.-the body of Mrs. Carroll, We
learn, has been recovered on the opposite
shore.
OF TIE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
no accurate idea can be formed, but suffice it
to say that it is immense.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal has been
considerably injured between Wevcrton and
the IIarper's Ferry lock.
With all the energy with which the Com
pany now repairs damfgcs, some weeks must
elapse before complete navigation can be re-
sumed.
THE i. L o. II. II. COMPANY
lose heavily, the whole Of the trcssling and