National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-15
NOT A FREsHET.
Scare in Georgetown Yesterday,

Scare in Georgetown Yesterday.
To excite the people OF Georgetown it is only
necessary to announce the demise of one Of the old
residents, or is probability of freshet
The latter particularly starts them up. Yester.
day at dsybreak, when those to the manor born
were taking their usual walk before breakfast,
they noticed that the Potomac river was consider.
ably disturbed but not to such an extent that any
serious results could be apprehended. They
walked along Water street, looked ct the ware
houses, examined the doors, and finding that all
was right, Hended their way up town, when, after
taking an appetizer" they proceeded to their
homes to eat the FIRST meal OF the day. This over,
those oil religious turn prepared Tor church while
the other class reserted to their usual haunts
where they Whiled away the quiet hours of the
The religious portion Of this community, after
dOnning their immaculate collars and giving
respective churches where each took their placsg
some as pillars and others as sleepers and ocou-
pants Of the amen corner. All went we'll with
both classes, the former doing their portion as
Christians and the latter
TAKING DRINK
whenever invited. As . matter Of course some
thing must turn up TO stir these folks up, and Q
bright-eyed boy rushed in among the worldly por.
tioh OF the population Of GeorgetEn and presented
HARpER,s FERRY, W. VAL
March II, 1S5-9:3O a. m,
To Chief Signal Officer. Washington:
The river raised about tour feet during the
night and is still rising. Ice up river It Is ex.
pected, will soon begin TO run.
RAMsBuRe, Observer
In an instant after the telegram was read a
rush was made for the river, and soon the Wharves
were occupied and the scene viewed. The news
furnished by the telegram soon reached the
churches, and shortly thereafter the congrega-
lions began TO thin out until by the time the ser
vice closed there was hardly corporsI's guard
in the church.
ON THE wHARvEs.
With lightning speed the report OF the river
having raised spread over the town. and men
and Children oOuld ha 70.
wards the river until the wharves were black
with human beings. Some became engaged in
to the FLYER 70 places of more security. while
others stood off discussing the probabilities of o
general wash away. Moment alter moment the
crowd Increased, and the element also, until for
while the impression was created that the people
of Georgetown had gone crazy. The excitement
ragged so high that many standing on the wharves
were so overcome that they Wept Such excla-
nations as what have we done that we should
be so iDilicted?" Had we retroceded to Mary
land this would have been avoided" could be
heard, and for a while the scene was desperate.
THE RIVER.
On came the roaring water bringing with it
trees, drift-wOOd, hogpens, &C., until every rip
pie Of the current looked as though It would
reach the tops Of the wharves which were fairly
shaking from the pressure of the angry waters
Those who owned small boats took in the situa-
tiOn at first sight, and amused themselves by COL
lecting the wood and removing the same to their
homes. These people worked with q will seem
ingly not caring how long or how desperate the
river might now, Dut those on the Wharvee bore
on their faces an expression entirely different
from that Of those gathering up the debris on the
river. Log after log and tree after tree came
down and was collected and placed in the hun
dreds of boats but even these masters Of the river
were to receive their share of troubles for on
came tremendous tree which had been torn from
the roots, and striking
ONE OF THE BOATS UPSET
1t and threw its occupants, John Richardson, W.
Small and John Black into the river with cords
Of wood collected by them. The men swan out
Of the way OF the tree and soon as IL passed by
they rIghted the boat and again resumed opera
tions.
INCREASED EXCITEMENT.
The news Of the disturbed condition of George
town brought hundreds of people of Washington
and the counties in Virginia in proximity to that
sEelled the crowd already assembled. Time
wore heavily and much depression was felt. About
5 p. m. the river became less turbulent and those
on the WharVes thinking the danger over major
portion departed for their homes and were soon
with their families relieved Of considerable Of
their depressedDess. This was not to last long
for about O'Clock the following dispatch was
forwarded to Georgetown:
HARPER's FERRY, March Il, 1875, 635 p. m.
To CHIEF Signal Officer, Washington:
down. RiNsBURG, Observer.
This was hastily passed from hand to hand and
the excitement became renewed. The Wharyes
were again crowded, and continued SO until q
respectable hour in the night, when those as
sembled became weary and returned to their
homes determined to trust TO luck The condI-
tion Of the river was bulletined a. the Union
hotel, and during the night they were frequently
consulted by large numbers Of people. AT Q late
hour last night the river was holding its own,
cation that 1t would not rise to o sufficient height
to do any damage in Georgetown.