Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-08-18
LOCAL NEW $.
VIOLENT STORM.

.rts washed Awny---Dnmage to
rrnuprty- OF the Flood,
IIt., Nc.
Tb, heaviest rain which has fallen in the
,,wo of Alexandria for thirty years past, de-
,o,,l oar streets yesterday afternoon, between
r,nr and six O'Clock. The rain fell in torrents:
IL continued to fall thus heavily during an
h,nr and half, doing considerable damage.
The town has four main water sheds, the
first with the waters flowing directly into the
p,,omac by the usual cutters; the second flow
N, into the Potomac through drains that wash
;o,,,he old gut near the Alexandra, Loudoun \
l,mpShire depot; the third emptying into
Hunting Greek by means Of what is known as
M. Tan Yard drain, and the fourth pouring
i. waters into Hoott run, west of the city
All Of these water sheds were heavily flooded
Yesterday, the three last suffering most nota
biz.
The water shed emptying directly into the
river was flooded, the water rising at the lower
end of most of the streets to a level with the
doors but only entering such houses as were
unusually low Union street and all east OF
lrron street was under water throughout the
whole extent Of the river front. The passen-
yers arriving by the Washington steamers dur
;ur the storm were unable, for a considerab' ,
time TO leave the boats. But the water here
soon ran off
\ portion of the foundation wall for the back
bulldog of the Marshall House was washed
down and the foundation filled with water,
The water was up to the door sills of the stores
on King street, and many Of the cellars were
flooded, and in several places the pavcnenls
have caved in.
The watershed drained by Pitt street and
1.-The gut iuto the river has been suffering
from every rain fall since the extension ol Fit
street Yesterday, at four clock, Pitt street
began to flood at King Street, running Into the
wall of the Marshall House, and showing some
signs Of undermining it. The whole street thence
north to Princess was flood, the water run
mig higher than 1t has been known tor years
before. The iuhabitauts OF petersburg
mishborhood, forcwarned by their recent ex-
prrence in floods, were not III position So
dangerous as few weeks ago. but the old marsh
from Pit street northeast to the river was hiled
witb 4 torrent OF water which passed over the
dams made by Princess and Oronoco and Fair
fax streets aud carried away the old culvert
a,ro,, Fairfax stree, which has stood the
storms aud floods Of half i century. While the
Hood here was In progress one vi Latham 5
umuibuscS, carrying sixteen colUred people, at
,,mp,ed to drive over the embankmcnt OF
Eva street extended across the Spring bottom,
u,rth Of Princess street. The horses missed
their toothold, and the whole party were III
treat DAGGER Of being swept into ten feet water
The horses we're cut loose aud gotten out with
difficulty, and the omnibus afterwards drawn to
The hillside.
Mr. Grey store was again swept through by
the food twU feet Of water standing on his
front floor.
The water shed emptying into Hunting Greek
comprises awlde area, much OF the water reach
Iny il By clrcuitous route. For instance, the
water falling at the old Court House runs West
inlo ditch near the railroad on Henry street,
anu passing under King, Prince and Duke
streets in sewer debouches into and forms
the head Of Tan Yard Drain, which runs
through bottom extending in a SOutheastcrly
direction from the o. j. A depot to Jones
Point where it empties into Hunting Creek.
Even IN the upper portion OF this water shed
The food did no little damage, for damned up
~ The >malness of the sewer, 1t flooded many
1.-THE houses on Henry street, uorth OF Came
ron the bridges being swept OFT.
After passing the cuivert the waters were
CONSTANTLY swelled by drains coming IN from
East and west, and became so large that the
uuuk near Columbus and Wilkes streets be-
caulr rogged. The railroad cW bankment eros
the street here and makes deep narrow
valley, which filled up in less than half an hour
10 the depth of ten or twelve feet. cOlored
lnau saved the family iu the first house, wo
llan uamed Hicks, and her children. In
Suioot 5 tan yard the watts were ovcrtlOwcd, de-
s;roylng the liquid used in the process of tan
mug, luundatug the engine room, and over
flowing other portions the extensive tannery.
from ST. Asaph street across Pitt and Royal
streets, and through Ieates, was filled with
rushing stream from 80 to 200 feet wide, and at
some poiuts fifteen feet i'll depth. Between
I'M and Royal streets a number of houses
We're submerged TO the second hoUrs and In
"ne case woman with two sick children was
taken out OH raft. A colored woman attempt
Ing 10 waite across the bridge near the Bridge
iuMp was carried off iuto the adjacent corn
held, whcuce she was rescued from drowning,
bui With loss Of bonnet and shawl, by colored
luan named Dave Middleton. All the bridges
"ercarr!cd away on Wolfe street near Royal,
and loyal street from the Catholic Church south
an,sLbmerged for half an hour.
The wa'er shed draining into Hoof's Run
sS,mIr''s the high grounds on King Prince and
SSanrron, above Alfred street, running thence
Wve'iy West. On this shed the water accumu-
"'ei RAPIDLY after o'clock. Above Henry
.'ee' Il began to sweep the pavements aud till
nH cellars and above West street it rose into
front floors Of all the houses which were not
S>'r,>Nylatly elevated above the pavement,
, ', Blouse contriving by au ingenious device
az Ills door to keep out the flood. The old brick
n n2n>G opposite the Virginia Houre WINS under
A',ed by the flood and at one time was believed
W, :" Vc IN great danger OF falling. A short dis
~Aec above the Virginia House the food euter-
a. Cd, !ae dwelling houses Of MIR. Tyler and others
-''' swept away the foundations This morn
, ,s women and men were busy there fitting
I1io St Tor new foundations. Just below,
,'"H hun rolled in stream at some points
II1'!y quarter of mile wide VIM. Gray's