Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-12-03
5bspberastawn Reeister.
TasE FRESHET,

", VIZ, the NasuiuS anu o@i s'"S """!
of one span of our bridge, which cross
rs the Potomac River at this place. AS
was anticipated from the constant rain,
beginning here on Thursday morning,
and continuing until Sunday the river
woald rise, but no one was expecting
such high and destructive water as
has Just been witnessed. Not since the
year 1852, has such destruction of prop
.r,y by freshet in the Potomac river
occurred. The river commenced rising
on Saturday and continued all day Sat
urday aud Sunday. All day Sunday the
cliffs along the river were thronged
with people watching the rapid rising
Of the river, and the rushing down with
the water the mountains OF debris.
Houses, fences, cross ties, parts OF
bridges, stock, poultry, fodder, hay,
straw, boats aud everything that could
be thought of almost, came floating
down the river at-the rate of thirty OF
forty miles per hour. About 2 O'Clock,
i. NJ, the first canal boat was seen 10
be coming around the bend above the
bridge, With the rapidity almost Of light
ming, the most intense anxiety aud ex-
citement now prevailed, the breaking
away of the bridge was now anticipated.
The boat continued TO come and as it
neared the bridge it was drawn by the
current 10 the Virginia side, it came
over along side the shore, and stopped
a little above what is familliarly known
as the "Flat Rock" and we believe,
could have been caught had some one
been there to have fastened it, but un-
fortunately such was not the case, AT
ter lying there for about 5 or 10 mill
utes the current again struck it, and
brought it stern foremost on towards
the bridge at a terrible speed. 1t struck
the bridge as with the crash OF thunder
and was completely stripped of all its
cabins, the water at this time not being
high enough to let the hull Of the boat
strike the bridge, or the damage at this
time may have been worse. The force
of the stroke broke one OF the span tim
bers of the bridge between the abut-
ment of this side and the first pier, and
also breaking some the weatherboard-
ing. 1t finally was forced under the
bridge and went on down the river.
The name of the boat was the "Chas.
Wheatly," and belonged to Mr.. Loss
Pofeuberger. who lives just across the
river opposite this place. The boat had
been occupied as dwelling by fami-
" near dam No. 4, and it broke loose,
the people themselves escaping only,
all else being carried away with the boat
The river still rising, current was to-
wards the Virginia side at this point,
aud consequently all the drift came this
way, huge limbers aud matted drift
came rushing along, striking and tear
ing the bridge as they forced their way
under it, bu, no, yet able to force 1t
down.
After dark Sunday night, the river
was within foot OF being in the bridge,
that is abou. half past o'clock, the
DRIFT was running very rapidly, por-
lion of the Cumberland Valley, or Mar
,insburg and Potomac Railroad bridge
across the Potomac at Powells Bend,
near Wilfamsport, came rushing down,
taking with it portion OF the fence
and smoke house of the toll house at the
bridge, four canal boats in succession
came along, the one that came down
before the boat that carried the bridge
away with it, was loaded and had fire
burning in the cooking stove, as could
be seen through the cabin window, they
all passed under the bridge, tearing
it, and they being demolished as
they went. The boat that took the
bridge away with it was an empty one,
it struck the bridge at 10 minutes
past eight o'clock 2. NJ, knocking and
breaking the span OF the Virginia side
completely of, and sending it down the
river, and strange to say did not even
break cabin on the boat or in any wise
as could be seen iujure it The crash
of the falling Of the bridge was heard
UP town, and many went running down
to see the great catastrophe. The bridge
was insured tor $4,000 in the Peabody
Insurance Company, at Wheeling, and
will fully cover the damage done.
INCIDENTS AND CASUALTIES
On Sunday morning between 0 and
10 o'clock A. NJ, Mr.. Geo. McChan, of
this place, whose Loaf was lying in the
lift lock, which locks the boats out OF
the canal into the river, (Which was
loaded with coal &c., was raised out of
the lock by the rising OF the water, and
although tied with fSe tow-lines, could
,ot w;,bs,snd the rapid current, and