The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-29
DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD.
BRIDGES, HOUSES AND cRopsswBpr Aw

BRIDGES, HOUSES AND CROPS SWEPT AWAY
HEAVY LossEs-IMMENsE DEsTRUc-
TIoN OF PROPERTY.
Not since the memorable fall OF 1870 has
this section been visited by flood SO wide
spread and destructive rs that of last week.
On Thursday morning. the rain commenced
falling slowly and all day long the skies
we're heavy, and the wind, at times. cold
and disagreeablc. 1t continued drizzling
Thursday night aud Friday, until about
noon, when a stiff north-easter commenced
blowing and the rain began to descend ra-
pidly. From four o'clock until ten it rained
incessantly, but the severest fall occurred
during Friday night.
Daring this time about Al inches of water
fell, not one-half of the quantity which pro-
duced the great flood Of 10: Lewis Greek,
the immediate guage by which Stauntonans
estimate foods, was considerably swollen,
hut confined itself to its legitimate channel
and caused no damage worth recording in
and about the town. Other sections of the
county, however, were not so fortunate, the
rain having been unprecedently heavy in
the mountain regions: where in many in
stances the rise in the streams exceeded that
of 20, producing a corresponding destruc-
ton.
The headwaters of both Middle and South
branches of the Shenandoah were perfect
torrents.
| MIDDLE RIVER.
At Buffalo Gap the streams from the
mountain sides carried every thing before
them, sweeping houses, fences and stock
like leaves before simeon. The stables of
the Buffalo Gap Iron, aud Steel Company
Invent down with the flood. and but for the
remarkable energy and foresight of DR.. Bo-
roum, the stock would also have been swept
away. Jennings branch and all of its
neighbors were higher than in 1870. The
Parkersburg turnpike was damaged very
heavily and all roads badly washed. All
along the course Of the streams, fences and
crops were borne away and lands terribly
washed and damaged.
At Churchvlle the gardens were ruined,
Fences demolished, and stable belonging
to W. A. Reed of this place, and part OF
Licklter's paint shop, succumbed to the
fury OF the waves. just below Churchville
Mr.. Jno. Roudaboush, in addition to other
damage, lost pen of II very large hogs,
and, all along the water courses the land
owners suffered. The dam at Dulley's
Grist Mill was washed away, as was also the
bridge at .Hundley's Mill. Hundley's Mill
had its wheels carried off, foundations under
mined, and altogether was damaged to the
extent Of about $4,000. Schutterle's Mill,
just below, escaped uninjured. The bottom
lands below were submerged, together with
their crops, and every vestige of fencing dis
appeared.
In the vicinity of Spring Hill the damage
will reach far up into the thousands, ex-
ceeding in some instances that OF 20.
At Cline's Mill on the Valley Pike, the
bridge was left standing, but the northern
approach was entirely demolished. A guam
tlty of flour belonging to MIR. Boiling, lessee
of the Mill, and his customers, was badly
damaged. Much Of the grain and offal was
saved by timely energy.
| Below, the stable of Jno. Kinney went
down the stream, together with crops, fem
ces, &C., and from there on down the farms
bordering on the river were laid waste, and
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of
property destroyed. Christians Creek was
also very high, and after its confluence with
| tine river the work of destruction was aug
mentcd.
/ &c tp to han Of
damage sustained, or to give the names of
parties. Suffice 1t to say that every one liv-
| ing along the water courses was more or
less damaged, in most cases fully equaling
in extent the destruction of seven years ago.
| Strange to say fhe streams IN some places
were higher than in 1870, whilst in others
they were three or four feet lower.
| SOUTH RIVER,
from its source to its mouth marks Il line of
destruction. At Midway and Greenville the
water reached an unprecedented height,
sweeping everything before 1t and wiping
out in few hours, thousands upon thou
sands of dollars. From there on down to
Waynesboro the damage was immense. At
| Waynesboro the bridge was swept away.
More minute particulars Of the injury at this
point will be found in the communication of
our intelligent correspondent, in another
column. Thence, the stream, gaining force
| from every little stream, swollen into tor
| rents, swent ON like bosom of destruction.
In two or three hours splendid farms were
stripped even of their soil. Out-houses of
6acpriptinn fIlal with tohaaon
the result Of years toll were swept away
like thistle down, and everywhere the waste
of water was desolating.
We cannot now give the names of those
who suffered most, nor the extent of their
loss. The list embraces all who live near
damage will rival that. Of 20. The loss to
individuals is about proportional.
NORTH RIVER,
from its mountain source in Augusta county,
to where it's waters empty into Middle
RIVER. was more destructive than ever
known. At Mt. Scion, Messy Creek and all
along its course, the destruction was COM
plete, the fury of the flood sweeping crops,
soil. fences, houses, and every thing before
it. The large bridge at Bridgewater was
swept away, and four or five houses in the
lower part of the town went down in the
seething current. The most herculean eff
forts were put forth to save life and proper
ty in this little town. After the confusion
had abated and the waters somewhat sub
sided,
FOUR MEN WERE MISSING.
Two of them, Mr.. Van Pelt and his son,
after rescuing the family from tottering
house, re-entered it for the purpose of say
ing some property, and were seen no more.
Two others, whose names we could not get,
were also missing. Their fate has not been
learned, but hopes of their deliverance are
entertained.
The bridge sped oil down the current, and
colliding with the bridge at Mt. Crawford
carried it away, and pushing on struck the
iron structure on the Valley r. r., knock
ing one of the spans from position. 1t pass
ed on and the span sprang back. At the