Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-10-04
TERRIBLE FLOOD INV VIRGINIA
Great Loss of Life.
NUMBERS HOMELESS AND DESTITUTE.
millions OF propcrtr Destroyed.

lions of Eastern Virginia have been visited
with one Of the most terrible and destructive
floods ever known in modern times. Ealu-
able lives have been lost, houses, barns and
manufacturing establishments swept away and
damaged, bridges and railroads destroyed, and
the country adjacent to the angry streams
devastated for miles. In some localities the
scene is truly appalling. Where once the
eye was greeted with happy homes and the
busy hum of industry, naught but devasta-
ton and ruin now appears. In number of
cases, not stone is left to mark the sites of
former abodcs.
Early on Thursday morning gcDeralirain
commenced falling, which in the Upper Val
ley and on towards Lynchburg, poured down
in torrents. y dispatch from Greenwood
Depot, dated Thursday evening, says that all
modes of travel in that section, and as far as
heard from in the State, has been interrupted.
The eastern bound train on the Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad from the White Sulphur
Springs, was unable to proceed, any further
than Alton Station on account Of wash on
the road and five land slides between Alton
and Gordinsvillc. The train commenced to
return back to Staunton, but after passing Blue
Ridge tunnel it became unable to proceed
further, the water on the tack being nearly
up to the fires in the engine. The special
train containing President Wickham, Director
Fisk and party had barely passed the Waynes>
boro' bridge when it was swept away by
the fovl !. The Eastern bound train contain
ing lnr-c number of passengers, returning
from IL c Virginia Springs, is weather bound
at the west end of the Blue Ridge tunnel
No lives were lost as far as heard from. Con.
siderable damage has been done near Staun~
ton.
Although extending over the largest por-
ton of the State of Virginia, the principal
destruction by these waters seem to have been
on the line of the Shenandoah river, aud most
heavily felt in our own county. We are not
able at present to give full particulars, but
will present to our readers as far as possible
the details of this sad calamity. After the
announcement of the destruction of the
Waynesboro bridge, given above, the next
damage that VIC hear Of in coming down the
Shenandoah, is the loss oil
LARGE NEW MILL AND BRIDGE NEAR FRONT
ROYAL,
which arc reported to have been entirely
swept away.
TIE RAILROAD BRIDGE BELOW sTRAsDURG
is entirely gone, aud great damage done in
the vicinity.
THENCE DO7vtF,.
Al I'll.
Shoal Mills, and all the houses at Berry's
Ferry, save one, Shepherds Mill, and, we
presume, all the houses, barns, &C., on the
river, from Castleman's Ferry to the head
waters of the Shenandoah.
AT CAsTLEMAN's FERRY,
the destruction is complete. All the houses,
sixteen in number, were driven from their
moorings by the surgDg waves, and the main
building of the hotcr and tn, storc-house
alone left to mark the spot. The ferry boat,
we learn, was saved. Among the sufferers at
this point is Mr. James w. Jones, formerly
of this place, who, with lis family. lost every
thing save the clothing they had on, and
barely escaped with their lives.
The next in order it is our melancholy du-
ty to state, resulted in the drowning of
MR.. JOHN Il. LEWIS,
an estimabls gentleman, with large circle of
relatives and friends. His house, near the
mill at Rock Ford, was swept away, and he,
unfortunately, after removing his family, had
returned to its occupancy, when the fiOod.tidc
came His body was recovered on Saturday,
hol
washed ashore The mill at this point was
considerably damaged. The Steam Saw-Mill
Of Mr. Geo W. EichelberGcr was in opera
ton at point near the Clarke line, but shared
the fate common to all impeding obstacles to
the raging pillows. lie also lost a quantity
of lumber Mr. Joshua Myers barn, and all
his buildings except one, were destroyed
JouNsoN's LARGE WOODEN FACTORY,
at the mouth of the ISuliskin Run, was sub
merged to the second story, and the damage
to stock, machinery, &c, must be considera-
Bile. The old Ferry House at Shannondale
is no more, but acted as escort to its down.
stream neighbors, Walravcn's saw mill and
house, in their transit oceanward. The fine
distillery of Avis & Co, with its stills and
fixtures complete, as also dwelling, was swept
off; and the loss of Mrs. Mary Eanvacter, in
stabling, &c, was very considerable. The
house of Mr.. Joseph. Starry, opposite this
point. went down. The tenant house Of Mr..
Zero Harris, with its household fixtures
shared the same fate. This, so far as We arc
informed, brings US down to the extensive