The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-10-20
tilr &y FOR Inc flTglRiah.
Terrible Results Of the Flood

Terrible Results Of the Flood
Thinking you would like to have graphic
description of the disasters and losses sustain
ed by the people of the Valey-I write what
I know of the food from Front Royal to Ber-
ry's Ferry eI s
The flood came as a terrible volcano Of
wrath. 1t swept off the R. R bridge at Riv-
erton with such force that no power on earth
could have prevented. Mr.. Thos. Blakemore,
wife. three children, and Mrs. Ridgway, a
lady visiting Mr.. B.akemores, were drowned
The family had ample time to make their es-
cape, but Mr. Blakemore would not let them,
thinking that the food could not carry off
the house. But how fatal his error, two Of
five children escaped alive, one Of them now
at the point Of death, the other after swim
ming three miles was rescued Mr. Blake
more's house, mill saw.mill and barn, were
all swept away. Thomas Hill, living opposite
Mr.. Blakemore's, lost his house and contents
Gen. Carson and Capt. Gardner, livinga mile
below, lost their barns, containing hay, wheat
&c Dr.. Buck and Mr.. Wheatly lost heavi
ly also. fp4
The loss of property at Riverton was i'm.
mense The house of Mr. fIotchkiss was
carried of-Himself. wife and child were in
it at the time. He alone. escaped death His
wife was found miles below The Island
Ford Mill was swept off with a large lot of
wheat and -four. and was seen many miles
below in an upright position, apparently as
sound as ever. Mr.. Daniel Olevier who is
81 years old. had his dwelling washed away,
(the house in which he was born) and all his
furniture &c All of his wheat. corn and
oats suffered the same fate In fact, all the
wheat, hay, oats and corn on the right bank
OF the Shenandoah to the foot OF the Blue
Ridge was carried off and on the left bank.
to the hills. Chas B Russ was heavy
looser IN corn and fencing Col w. H
lrlpett lost his fencing. All the houses
about townsville were swept off except three
or four Col. T. B: Massie lost all his grain
that was upon his bottom laud. J. Ii. Bart
lett suffered considerable loss. Col. Jas w
Courad is damaged eonsderable-he owns
the Islands between louisville aud Berrys
Ferry, which is the best land on the river
they were planted in corn, all Of which is
total loss ia fact the best part Of the islands
were seeded in wheat, aud the soil
was com pletey washed away. leaving
nothing but beached rocks. Rewbcn Grubbs
lost his house and furniture, besides all, Of.
his valuable papers and important books. The
river at tins polut was filled with wheat, hay
and oat stacks. houses, mills, barns, bridges
and everything else that the surging waters
could keep afoat; even dead bodies of per-
sons and animals who were caught above.
Mr Rt. ltttl. ri Anoto6 rho
river for II miles on drift, sitting upright
with her little hands before her eys as
though she were trying to hide the terrible
reality Of her approaching doom, while
along the river banks. numbers of horror
stricken persons were unable to rescue her
from her impending danger. When she had
COTTON to the head of the first Island on Col
Conrad place, the drift on which she sat
collded with some large trees and with one
piercing aud heart rendtng shrink the DRIFT
parted and that beautiful, Enough fated child
was sucked beneath the treacherous waters
She was found after the waters had subsidized,
standing upon her head. but, stranger to say,
not III the least dis6gured. But let US on iu
the path of obstruction. Berry's Ferry was
completely carried away except two houses.
the old Berry house and Winston's. JAS. B.
Lindsey lost all Of his property Including
house and furniture Mr.. Crtz went off on
the top of Jno 7. Lindsey store house smok-
ing his pipe. and was found dead miles below.
Robins, ii negro, was drowned trying to save
j. L. Liudseys property. MIR. Editor,
you need not think this is an exagger
atea tale, have not revealed half of its hor-
rorS. have in my description travelled over
distance Of fifteen or twenty miles and only
meat oned the names of parties known perso-
naily to me. You will please remember also,
that for three successive years the people
within the distance | have mentioned. have
made entire failures in corn crops on account
of the drouth and now that they had their
corn in the bottoms, you can conceive the
terrible and unfortunate condition they are in
Knowing you to be human and generous
spirit. just beginning to battle with the stern
realities of life successfully appeal to you
to lay this humble state of things before the
people OF the country, thereby, directing the
generous hearts of the North and South,
where they can help these unfortunate people
by sending money and provisions. Winter is
upon them, and they will so N be beneath an
ice clad mountain. Shall they suffer and
perish without a helping hand being extend
ed to them from people who reve in wealth
[ would suggest the names of Colonel J. W.
Conrad; &. Il. Rust and Col. T. B. Massie,
as persons eminently fitted to send contribu-
tious to, for the sufferers from Front Royal to
Berry's Ferry. Hoping that you VIII use the
columns Of your paper for this glorious pur
pose,
am your friend,