The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-01-24
The Great Flood in the SusQuelanla.
Port Deposit and Lapidum Submerged.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY
HUMAN LIVES ENDANGERED.
IL Gallant Rescue.

One of the most disastrous freshets that
has occurred for years in the Sus4uehanna
river, was caused since our last issue, by the
breaking up of the ice and its subsequent
gorging at several points along the river.
On Friday last considerable uneasiness was
felt in Port Deposit, and at other points,
but it was hoped that the ice would move out
into the Chesapeake without doing any dam
age.
This hope, however was doomed to an car
ly disappointment, as the partial freez Of
Saturday only temporarily relieved the dan
ger, and on Sunday morning the waters from
above came savagely down upon the little
city of Port Deposit, Maryland, and at last
accounts had driven forth tue population in
all the chief and lower sections to the sur
rounding hills, the river having risen sud-
denly during the previous night, causing the
ice to break up, and pouring portion of the
flood into the streets of the town, submerg-
ing wharves, lumber-yards, stores and dwell
ings later the inmates had to escape rs best
they could.
A report for the Baltimore Sun gives the
following details:
THE TOWN OF PORT DEPOSIT.
The town of Port Deposit is situated on
the east bank of the Susquehanna about ten
miles from its mouth and six miles above the
towns of Perryville and Havre de Grace, on
either side of the river, where the Phladel-
phia, Wilmington and Baltimore railroad
crosses its great bridge. 1t is very old
town, built upon the very edge Of the river,
within bend making off to the west, contains
between 400 and 500 dwellings and stores,
nearly all of frame, and has population of
about 1000. The principal trade ofthe place
is in lumber, q railroad to Philadelphia, the
Maryland Central railroad, in addition to the
connection with the Wilmington and Balti-
more road and the vessels by river, affording
ready transportation facilities, and the oper-
ations annually are very large in the lumber
traffic. as also in granite which is quarried
in large quantities from the hills near the
town. 1t has been several times badly dam
aged by the river freshets, but the trade at
fractions have always kept together q fair
population despite the dangers. In 1867 the
lower town was nearly destroyed, there
being both less oflife and ofproperty Since
that time no such destructive freshet has oc
Cured until now, when similar scenes of des-
truction are presented.
BEGINNING OF THE BREAK
For month past the river, from point
near Havre de Grace up to and above Port
Deposit, has been tightly frozen over, the
ice reaching thickness of over a foot, and
the prospects ola freshet when the January
thaw came were discussed with apprehension
by the residents. 1t continued solid above
the railroad bridge and even below it, until
Friday last, when the ice first moved out to
the mouth of the river past Spesutia Island
and the river cleared nearly back to IIavre
de Grace. At the same time advices from
the upper Susquehanna indicated q break
above, but for distance of ten miles above
the railroad bridge it still continued solid
On Friday night came the first notes of warn
ing to the people the town in the shape of
repeated shocks and reverberations in the
ice-bound river, sounding at first like pistols,
then rolls of musketry, and finally the ice
parted and passed over and under, gorging
itself toward either shore. The solid ice near
shore, however, was still strong, and beyond
slight alarm nothing further occurred, and
on Saturday the fresh freezing spell gave
relief.
THE FIRST OVERFLOW.
During Saturday afternoon the river was
noticed to I've slowly rising, and it was appar-
ent that the flood above was making its way
down. The population still felt no general
fear though, rs the rise was gradual. About
) A. NJ Sunday morning an alarm was given,
which spread like wildtire, and before the
atfrightcd populacc could scarce realize the
cause the water and ice came over the Slight
ly elevated banks and passed down Main
street." the principal thoroughfare of the
town, in rushing torrent, flooding the low
or stories of about twenty five houses, and for
the time imprisoning the alarmed inmates in
their bed chambers. The water after an
hour or two seemed to fall again, and the
male population turned out for the relief of
the unfortunate The women and children
in the submerged dwellings were got out and
removed to houses on the hills, and during
the quiet Sabbath sad and gloomy scene
was presented in the inundated town.
TEMPORARY RELIEF.
During the afternoon of Sunday the ice
on the west side of Watson's Island, in the
middle ofthe river below Port Deposit, gave
way and great fields went rolling and crack
ing down, and beneath the railway bridge,
opening up current and relieving the heavy
overflow at the town so much so that many
returned to their houses and began to pre-
pare for the removal oftheir household goods,
but about o'clock p. M. another sudden rise
took place, and again q slight inundation,
which drove the people hurriedly out Du-
ring Sunday night the ice from above came
down in great masses, lodging on either side
at the upper end of Watson's Island, and
forming new gorge which piled up to
height of ten to fifteen feet, stretching entire
ly across. This rapidly backed the water
again and produced
SECOND OVERFLOW.
About 10 o'clock Monday morning the
river chohed up, and overrun its banks and
again did the torrent pour into the town,
this time with more volume and force than
before. The railway track Of the Maryland
Central road was quickly submerged for
distance of mile, as also the Port Deposit
branch of the Philadelphia and Wilmington
railroad TO Perryville Great masses of ice
came into the main street. Door-steps, porch
es aud fences were carried away. Great piles
of lumber tumbed into the torrent and were
tloated about. The river rose within an hour
to the height of ten feet above the ordinary
level, and within about two feet of the great
est height attained in 1857 The water in
the street quickly arose TO depth Of from
five to seven feet, and over fifty dwellings
were inundated, the inmates being driven to
the upper stories. The male population turn
ed out en- masse. Row-boats were procured,
and very soon stout arms were willingly Ia.
boring to succor and relieve those in distress.
House after house was visited, and the occu
pants taken from the second-story windows,
until over 200 persons were assisted to high