Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-12-03
ny valued at S25O,OO0 was swept of

The bridge at Powells Bend was
destroyed except two spans on the Ma
rylaud side. Several persons were on
the bridge at the time, among others
L. ]. Mill, agent of the railroad there,
who was returning from the Virginia
side and barely escaped going down
with the bridge. After the structure
was carried away one man was missed,
but his name could not be learned.
AT Sandy Hook Mr.. J. ]. Moore, a
superintendent: of the Chesapeake and
Ohio canal, who has charge OF the COM
pany's orkshop, &c, there, stated that
the company had sustained a loss of
over five thousand dollars in lumber
washed away. The company's carpen-
ter shops, Sc, at Sandy Hook are a
complete wreck, except one of their
buildings, which is fastened with haw'
sers to the railroad track. About eight
thousand dollars worth of lock gates
which were in the shops at that place
were chained together by direction Of
Mr.. Moore, and fastened to the shore,
where it is hoped they were saved.
Through this superintendent activity
and energy much valuable property has
been saved to the company and many
canal boats saved from loss. Mr.. Moore
also stated that the river was by actual
measurement higher than in 1852, and
the highest ever known.
FROM Sandy Hook 10 Harper's Ferry
the Potomac river presented remarka-
bly, wild appearance, A surging, roar
ing torrent of waters, rivalling in their
fury as they tore over the rocky bed Of
the river, the rapids at Niagara.
Old inhabitants stated that they had
never before witnessed a coincident
flooding of both the Shenandoah and
Potomac rivers at their confluence, nor
had they ever before seen the rivers so
high. Both rivers were from "a to 80
feet above their ordinary level at this
point. The island in the Shenandoah
known as Hers Island, was COM
rletely inundated, and the large -four
ing mills of Messrs. Childs, McCreight
& Co., situated thereon, appeared to be
in the middle of the river and were
about half submerged, The island
bridge, consisting Of three spans Of fifty,
sixty and thirty feet respectively, was
washed away. The iron bridge on
the railroad at Shenandoah City is turn
ed completely round. The one known
as the Rlue bridge. short distance
above, is turned upside down, and still
another one further up is split in halt.
The trestle work on the Winchester
railroad is washed out for distance of
q quarter of mile above Harper's Fer
ry, and much of the track destroyed,
some Of the rails being bent and carlea
up.
All the lower portion of the town of
Harper's Ferry was inundated, the wa
ter being feet deep in Shenandoah
street, the business thoroughfare of the
place, and about two feet above the
counters in the stores.
The houses in that part of the town
were evacuated, but much valuable prop
erty has been lost and damaged. Sew
eral dwellings and stores have been
completely demolished.
The river washed the floor of the
Virginia end of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Compauy's splendid iron bridge
at that place, and was within foot of
it on the Maryland side, AT about II
o'clock this morning a canal boat, load
ed with 120 tons of coal, drifted down
the Potomac, threatening the bridge
with destruction, but fortunately the
boat being loaded went under the
bridge, having the cabin, &c, torn off
of it. Nearly one half of the third span
of the bridge from the Maryland end
was, however, broken out and large
hole made in the bridge.
A family by the name Of Brown was
this afternoon rescued from the island
in the river near there, on which they
resided, They were taken off in skitf.
We well know that the late foods
has excited considerable solicitude as to
other places along the Potomac and
Shenandoah rivers. But few days
ago these rivers were az clear as crystal,
musical sounds, wearing
delicate snowy frills upon their edges,
sunbeams falling athwart the beautiful
pillows, the scenery seemed glorifed,
tempered by the soft light from the
heavens, turning the foliage near by to
messy carpets of grantest gold. The
grandure of this scene far surpassed
many we have witnessed before, aud the
blue clouds of heaven was in part the
chant or symphony of these waters.
No later than Sunday the inhabitants
of our town and community were gath
ering at the river to witness some ofthe
mighty works and wonders of nature.
The wild waters of the Potomac dash
ing with madening fury against every
thing within it's reach and plunging
with thunderous roar down towards the
bay. The river was torrent, turbid
and angry, carrying with them untold
wealth. Property Of corporatives, pro-
perty of rich individuals and property
OF the poor.
The most of the houses along these
rivers are generally very poorly built or
rather temporarily, and four fifths of
them inhabited by the poorer class of
people, these habitations are surrounded
with gardens or rather patches of ground,
which the high waters often deposit
sediment that enriches them, and ena-
bles these people to raise quantities of
vegetables, but floods like the recent
one often carries away their honses and