The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-22
The SusQuehanna Floods.


that earlier dispatches did not make an ex-
aggerated estimate of its extent and conse-
quences Special correspondents give
graphic descriptions of the rise of the river
and the incidents of its devastating pro-
gress. The account of the sudden inunda-
ton of the fiourishiBg town of Port Depos-
it, in Maryland, is of special interest. The
most disastrous flood, however, occurred at
Pittston, on the north branch of the Sus-
quehanna. Here the iron bridge of the
Lackawanna & Bloomsbury railroad, and
two iron bridges, were swept away.
1t is thought that the freshet will cause
a permanent change in the channel of
part of the river near Wilkesbarre. This
change may leave that city three-quarters
of mile away from the stream, instead of
standing on its banks as heretofore. In
view of the suddenness and wide extent of
the freshets in the Delaware and Susque-
hanna, it is matter of surprise and graft
tude that there has been little if any loss of
life.
THE lNUNDATIoN OF PORT DEPOSIT.
A special from Perrysvile, last night,
says that the lower part of Port Deposit is
still flooded, though the water is falling.
The water ran like mill sluice with a
depth varying from three to seven feet
through the main street. The current is
80 swift that a strong man could not scull
boat against it. The cellars and first
floors of both sides are flooded.
The inhabitants were driven from their
| dwellings to the houses of their neighbors
| who lived upon the hills. Many were
taken oil in boats, and others wadcd waist
deep through the water. A party who had
| given up their rooms to the women are
bivouacking on the side of hill where a
huge fire is built.
The lumber interest, which is the chief
business of Port Deposit is badly crippled.
All the wharves are submerged huge piles
of lumber along the water front have been
tossed about in all directions and q large
| portion drifted down the bay. Some of
the merchants hardly saved their books
and papers.
| Davis & Pugh one of the largest lumber
firms, estimate the losses of those in that
business alone at 100000. The amount of
furniture and other property carries the
loss up over 100000
At eight o'clock IN the evening measure
ments showed fall of from four to twelve
feet along the line from Port Deposit to
Perrysvile. The food at Port Deposit
was ceused by heavy ice catching on Pen
ny Shoal, seven miles below, and thus
forming barrier which increased every
moment.
The water continued to rise and the
operator in the telegraph office was obliged
to jump from his Office window into boa
leaving his telegraph instruments sub
merged. The railroad from Perryville tC
Port Deposit is flooded and covered will
piles of ice, effectually cutting off all com
municaton. There was no way of going
from one part of the town to the othe
except over steep bluff.
II the crash had come after the pcopl
had retired, no one can predict how grea
the loss Of life would have been.
Two houses near the upper end of tn
town were overturned and broken i
pieces. 1t is reported that one man los
his life, having been knocked down by tn
ice and drowned, but his name has not bee
ascertained.
, The postofllce is partly submerged, an
the postmaster was forced to throw wha
mail matter he could into boat and et
cape. The ice at one time reached the to
of the piers of the railroad bridgesat Havr
| de Grace, but the river began to fall befor
, the tide turned, and all danger TO it wa
! oyer. NlHs
THE ICE GORGE Al wILKRsBARRR.
A Wilkesbarre dispatch gives the follow
ing as the situation Friday night. TheI
Is no change in the condition of the io
gorge at this place. The river which ruI
principally over Kingston flats, has falle
three or four feet since Tuesday. The *
remains piled up from twenty to thirt
feet high in some places, touching th
highway bridge, over which none but fo'
{ passengers pass.
Between Kingston and the other end {
! the bridge the principal current of the riv,
is now running SO there is no commune
{ ton with that town. Many houses the