Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-10-06
were drowned in the flood at Lynch burg
FearfM Scenes at Hwpcr's Fery.

In a short space of time th food swept
over the whole island, submerging it to a
depth of several feet A number of
~sons were rescued while the trcstle
pei thc Winchester and Potomac rail
VOL VI Eats on the western side
road on the 20 of the maddoned
withstood the fu, Y. u. s -. oS0 "ar5s
waters but about ;nidnig. W irbe soene
of the trestle work gave way v5s;hlf
of the catastrophe was no longer !,
from the main land, though the lights
the mill and some of the dwellings could
still be seen. So great was the noise
occasioned by the rushing waters that the
cries of those whose houses, one by one,
| with their occupants, were swept down
the stream could not be heard. The
| cottages, which are mostly one and two
| story frame buildings, hoated from their
| foundations and we're dashed against
each other in the stream.
The next morning Saturday a terri
bic spectacle met the eye. Only few of
the most substantial houses, together with
the large brick Touring mill, were left
standing. With the houses many of the
inmates had gone down the stream In a
number of the dwellings remaining there
were seen men, women and children
pleading Tor assistance, that could not at
that time be given them. After daylight
a few of the houses that had stood the
fury of the storm were seen to yield to the
violence of the current, in some instances
carrying the occupants with them.
The total number of the lost is vari-
ously estimated at from twenty to fifty.
Several of those believed to have been
! drowned were afterwards found to have
escaped Amid the confusion attending
SO fearful disaster the names Of the IN
fortunates we're not sscertained, though
it is known that an old lady, Mrs. Carroll,
was among those who persisted.
The water rose to within q few feet of
the large iron bridge connecting Mary
| laud and Virginia, over the Potomac at
Harper's Ferry, inundating tie lower
floors of the hotel and Adams Express
building, but causing 10 serious loss OF
property.
| Il
We are having the greatest frcshet
since the memorable and most destructive
one of 1852 There is no telling the loss
of property that has been sustained along
the river within The last twenty four hours.
! It was not dreamed of yesterday morning,
when the river was forded, but this morn
ing at 5 o'clock it was higher than any
time since the spring of so. The rise
has been from the Shenandoah, aud not
the Upper Potomac. The Chesapeake
and Ohio canal and river are together for
miles above and below US, and there is
10 telling yet the extent Of the damage
to the canal. We are boating throuqh h
the streets and fats Of our village. Hun
dreds Of people are coming in from the
country to see the awful though grand,
river as i; appears to them, but hard tc
those who are losing their all. as many
are. The corn on the bottoms of the riv,
er has been all destroyed, when jus
ready for the crib.
2 All the buildings on the south side O.
Shenandoah street are injured, and about
nine washed away Only q few building
remain on the island. Here was tn
e-4~l--.-I~ life The wster
was first noticed to be dangerously higI
about 8 o'clock P. NJ, on the 30th
t The river then rose so rapidly that in
= few minutes it was a wild, dashing, fear
S ful torrent, and being night, no human
e aid could render the slightest assistance
S The trestlework and bridges on tn
f Winchester and Potomac railroad, through
Harper's Ferry, are completely washet
away. The bent and broken rails tel
: the power and force Of tie food. Ever
the stone abutments Of the old Shenan-
doah bridge have been washed away.
Tie Flood an Georyetown
The constant and rapid current of tn
terrible waters soon began the work Q
destruction. The Chain bridge. locate,
above Georgetown. at an early hour par
! ted, and that portion between the cana
of the river sank down, the timhers float
ing Oh down the river, which were soor
recognized by those spectators who ha(
assembled along its banks.
A drove of sheep, which had been pas
!, turing on the low grounds in the vicini
: fy of the Chain bridge, were unable t.
/ resist the strong current, and passe(
down the river with it.
At present writing no idea can b.
formed Of the total loss In many in
stances individuals have suffered to al
alarming eZtent, which have not been re
ported. 1t is safe to presume that the
food will have occasioned loss in walls,
nearly S100, 900. The loss further al
the river will also foot up heavy.
large quantity of mill gearing and bar
rels Of -four passed down early ia tn,
morning, which is supposed to have come
: from the Seneca Touring mills. Al
manner and descriptions of household
furniture has been borne down the river
which gives evidences that the inhabitant
near the river in Maryland have suffered
to great extent. 1t is reported that OF
the fats above the Little Falls the rivel
and canals are all one, the towpath being
completely submerged. Several cana
locks passed down during the day, which
bctokens that the canal is damaged to an
extent which can only be definitely as
certained after the elements shall have
subsidized
The Flood at Washington.
About 2o'clock the Easements Of many
of the residences on the south side Of
Pennsy lvania avenue, between Four-and
a-half and Seventh streets, were over
flowed, but those living therin had taken
time by the forelock and removed their
goods to more convenient quarters.