New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-20
ACCOUNT or TIE FLOOD.

Trustworthy citizens Of Port Deposit give the fol-
loving description Of the food: We had no fears OF
trouble at dark last night, though the ice was run
nlng down the river very rapidly. The ice grew
thicker and thicker and its velocity and momentum
seemed t. increase every moment. There had been
no 90. here this year there was in 1873 and the
river was clear except little floating ice. About
CSOp H. a schooner began to drag, and in spite OF
strenuous exertions, carried down the river
until she grounded. The town was then believed to
be in no danger; but the awful roar of the ice
filed many with considerable apprehension. AT
80 il was noticed that the velocity of the ice was
decreasing while the masses that kept coming down
grew larger and larger. Then we knew that mass
OF the ice had grounded.
There is long sLoa seven miles below Port
Depost. called Penny Shoal. Ii upon this shoal
that the advancing glacier had lodged. The ice
MI ii m i'm front of the town, and the water began
10 rise with great rapidly. The word was passed
from door to door, aud the scene that followed Is
almost indescribabie. The loud roar and booming
Of the masses of ice as they were piled upon each
other with great force was mingled with the crash-
ing and fan of lumber and the smashing Of ice cakes
against wharves and buildings. the whole
making an uproar whose sound rsyerber-
ated through the hills for miles. IL was
Ike a thunder storm at Niagara Strong
men with palld races run Hoih tuen
dwellings with their children in their arms Women
nearly fainting with terror plunged knee-deep IN
tho raging ncod and hurried toward higher ground
Confusion and disorder regned. After the children,
the sick and feeble We're taken to places of safety.
the men thought of their yaluabes exposed to de-
siruction Many waded waist-deep through the
lev waters and chilled to their bones. were COM
PEELED to give up the attempted rescue. Others Sc
cured boards on which they saved their books and
papers. Men cool under ordinary difficulties grasped
and wrung each others hands in silence more elo-
quent than words.
TELEGRAPHc AND RAILWAY COMMUNICATION
CUT OFF.
The water continued to rise. The operator In the
telegraph office obliged to jump from his office
window into boat, leaving his instruments sub
merged The railroad from Perryville to Port De-
po.,t was flooded and covered with piles of Ice,
enectually cutting off all communication. There
was no way Of going from one part OF the town to
another except over the steep bluff. No could
form any conception OF the result, OF say how great
would be the loss of life and property. Luckily.
the inhabitants were warned early In the
evening IL tho crash had come after
the people had retired no one can predict how great
the loss of life would have been. Two houses near
the upper end Of the town were overturned and
broken in pieces 1t is reported that one man lost
his life. having been knocked down by the ice and
drowned, but his name has not been ascertained
The post office was partly submerged, and the post
master forced to throw what mail matter he could
into boat and escape. Not a person slept last
night, and knots Of men gathered on the mgher
ground watching the progress OF the Hood ana INC
light OF lanterns that marked the Hitting boats'
Port Deposit never before saw such devastation
THE SITUATION LAST NIGHT.
The river for a mile above the town was clear at
o'clock this evening The ice stretches down the
river filing the water far out into the bay. Fears
were entertained that the splendid railroad bridge
ct Hayre de- Grace would be swept away. The ice
~ one time reached nearly to the top of the piers,
hot the sorgias u Penny Rhoal relieved the pros