Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-11-27

during tnc latter naII OF last Week cauScu au
unprecedented rise in the Shenandoah and
Potomac rivers. The Shenandoah below
Front Royal had raised torty-four feet on
Saturday-four feet higher than the memora-
BILE and fatally destructive food of 1870
and news was promptly dispatched to Har>
pers Ferry of tho danger imminent Both
rivers began to rise rapidly at Harper's Ferry
on Saturday afternoon, and in q short time
the water had Invaded the buildings on the
lower ground Being warned by the ezpe-
renced Of seven years ago; the occupants OF
tie most exposed buildings abandoned their
homes in time TO avoid loss Of life by drown
ing. On Sunday both rivers had reached
heighth never before known. The Shenan>
dOah was very turbulent and rapid, but the
great fullncss of the Potomac prevented
greater damage than was really done. The
entire track of the Valley Branch was SUBJ
merged from Harper'S Ferry far up
could be seen from the heights at Jefferson's
Rock, and all the bridges in that locality,
save one, destroyed. All the railroad trcssling
from Harpers Ferry to the Island of Virgin
ius was destroyed.
The Potomac swept along just under the
floor of the immense iron bridge which spans
it, all day, and large force of men were con-
stantly engaged in preventing the passing
debris from finding Judgement against it
Just before noon q large canal boat was seen
coming down the river, and everybody clans
bered for the heights, fearful for the result
when it should come in contact with the
bridge On it came, and suddcnly-crash
it went against the immense structure. The
bridge is gone ~ the cry was raised-but the
alarm was false. The boat had been smashed
into thousand fragments, but the noble
bridge stood the test of the strain unframed.
All the lower part of Harpcrs Ferry, the
Island of Virginus and South BOliver was
invaded by the water, and well nigh hun
dred buildings wholly or partially submerged.
Twenty-Five or thirty families were compelled
to abandon their homes entirely, and from one
house on Shenandoah street lady named
Mrs. Miles was taken out in boat on Sun
day morning, with n little infant just born on
Thursday.
The Shenandoah Ferry boat was swept of
Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning frame
house on Shenandoah street, adjoining Mrs.
Grahan's and continuing q barbcr-shop and
shoe-shop, was washed away. The whole
upper cDO OF the &c StOuc tIOuSt VI CaIH
Williams, near the ferry landing, was washed
out and its entire oblitera;ion was constantly
looked for. Mr.. McCrcGht's kitchen and
rorches, or the Island, were swept away
The damage to household goods, merchan-
disc, &c, at the Ferry, is immense, and at
this writing We have no means of computing
any degree of the losses incurred.
On the Maryland side number of canal
boats were dashed to trees on the mountain
side, and all day long two poor fellows were
seen on two Of the boats beyond reach of aid
should the slender thread on which they de-
pended for safety be sundcrcd. The Chcsa-
pcakc and Ohio Canal was completely OBJ
liberated as far the eye could reach for
miles ZIP and down the river, and no conccp-
ton can be had of the enormous damage
which it must sustain.
The damage TO the i. & O. r. r. is i'm
mcnsc, and with an inneGiate subsistence Of
the waters it will be some days before freight
trains arc resumed. Supervisor Avcril is at
the Ferry, and viii arrange as carly as possible
to transfer the mails. passengers and express
goods between lIaIIfown and !larPer's Ferry
The DAMAGE to crops, e., aloag both
rivers is terrible to conceive, and many farm
crs arc no doubt financially ruined
a: We 60 TO press we have no further news
but it is still raining and great fears arc enter
tanned that the worst has not bGcl reached.
The Free Press says: Capt. John G.. Cock
rell's Corn Crib was invaded by two colorcd
thieves few nights ago. spite Of the fact Of
the rolling on OF the silver moon. Mr. Fen
ton CockrelI, son Of the Captain, returning
home late a: night, after putting his horse in
IL,
when a negro jumped from the window Of the
corn house. Fenton tackled the darkey ana
was about to gain the mastery after sharp
struggle, when n second negro came to the
rescue with pistol. Acting upon the con-
vict;on that the provcTb "discrctiOn is the
better part Of valor" was written for just such
cxigcnsics ne let the plundcrcrs 90 for this
time, and retired singing Go down, Moses"
Conn WANTED Farmers wishing to trade
corn for goods eau be accommodated at Geo.
II. IIagley's, where can be found an cle-
CANT stock of Boots, Shoes, Rubbers, Hats,
Caps, Umbrellas, Trunks, SatchcIs, Naliscs,
Gloves, Hosiery, Underwear, Knitting Cot
ton, nandkcrchief<, Collars. Cuffs, Ties,
Scarfs, Jcwclry, Six, Linen and Cotton
Threads, Buttons, Braid, &c, &c, all at bot
tom prices. Call aud see for yourselves.
RHEUMATISM QUICKLY CURED.-"Du>
rang's Rheumatic Remedy" the great IN
TERNAL MEDICINE, will positively cure any
case of rheumatism on the face of the earth.
Price 8 bottle, six bottles, So. Sold by
all Wholesale and Retail Druggists. Don't fail
to send for circular to He!rhcnstine Il Bcntly,
Druggists, Washington, d. c. o lG, Gan.