Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-12-01
Tao storm.

The storm was general throughout the coun-
try on Saturday, the reports Of the weather bu-
reau showing that rain aud high easierly winds
prevailed in New England, the Middle Atlantic,
North Carolina, Texas. the Ohio valley, the
lake region, Upper and Lower Missouri valleys.
The rivers throughout the country rose rap
idly, aud freshets aud floods are general. The
Arkansas river rose 60 inches at Little Rock
on Saturday, Tennessee river at Chattanooga
IS inches. Ohio at FiNSburg 20 inches, Ale
gheny at Freeport 20 inches, Monongahea at
New Geneva was above the danger line, Savan-
nah river at Augusta, Ga. rose 48 inches
The Upper Potomac at llarpers Ferry rose
seven feet on Saturday, and 70 p feet on Sun
day at 4 Z. NJ.
On the Main Stem Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad travel was stopped. Ii is reported
that for twenty miles the track was submerged,
in some places being covered with fourteen feet
Of water, beginning IS miles west OF Martins
burg, aud the telegraph wires were down for
the same distance.
The Potomac river swept away the bank OF
.he Chesapeake and Ohio canal seven or eight
miles, on what Is known as the Division Dam
No 1. Two canal boats, one Of them loaded
with coal, were hurled against the Harper's
Ferry railroad bridge, which sustained some
damage, not considered material aud trains
passed over safely after the subsistence Of the
waters.
At Harpor's Ferry on Sunday the waters
had risen twenty-siK feet above low water
mark.
Iu Maryland the Monocacy oyerfowed its
banks 10 al extent almost unprecedented the
water rising far above the abutments and piers
OF the iron railroad bridge at Monocacy june
ton The food spread cut in broad expanse
over 6clds aud meadows. The flooded district
extends up Carroll creek nearly 10 Frederick
City TIE damage Is very extensive on all
sides and the losses will be very heavy. The
damage is very great along oil ,ho streams Ia
Frederick eUuuyt, especially along the Monoc-
acy valley, Huuting creek, Broad ran and Mid
die creek.
\ special to the Baltimore Sun says;
From Sandy Hook to Harpers Ferry the Po-
tomac river presented remarkably Wild APP
pearance 4 surging, roaring torrent Of wa
tiers. rivaling in their fury as they tore the
rocky bed Of the river the rapids at Niagara.
On reaching Harper's Ferry the scene was
grand iudeed The sunlight Shone through
the broken riffs Of clouds which had so long
yelled its light, shedding splendor on the aw-
ful scene.
Old Inhabitants stated that they bad never
before witnessed coincideni flooding Of both
the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers at their
confluence, nor had they ever before seen the
rivers 50 high Both rivers were from 20 to 80
feet above their ordinary level at this point
The island in the Shenandoah here, known as
Hers Island, is completely inundated, aud the
large Touring mill OF Ae5sTs Childs. Nc
Creisht & Co, situate thereon, appear TO be
in the middle Of the river aud Is about half sub
merged. The island bridge, consisting Of three
spans Of fifty, sixty aud thirty feet respective
Is. was washed away last night. The iron
bridge on tue railroad at Shenandoah City Is
turned completely round. The one known as
the Blue Bridge, 4 short distance below, Is
turned upside down and skill another one ls
split in half The trestle work on the VIM
chester railroad is washed out for distance Of
a quarter Of mile above Harper's Ferry, and
much Of the track destroyed, some Of the rails
being bent and curied up.
All the lover portion Of the town Of HaF-
per's Ferry 10 inundated, the water being feet
deep in Shenandoah street, the business thor
Oughtare Of the place, and about two feet above
the counters in the stores.
The houses in this part Of the town were
evacuated last night, but much valuable pro-
perty hoo 49,. ivS. s-..i l.----'-o~A' o. .
dwellings and stores have been completely de-
molished
Large masses Of debris, consisting Of trees.
logs. sheds aud hay, struck the Cumberland
Valley railroad bridge at Powells Bend and
carried it away with six loaded cars on it
The bridge was destroyed except two spans on
tho Maryland side.
The bridge over the Potomac at Shepherds
town was partially deslroyei-a span On the
Shepherdstown side having been carried away.
Canal boats, small houses, sheds, &c, were
observed passing down the Potomac.
The destruction Of property in Virginia,
along the line Of the james mas been very great.
The loss at OF near Richmond estimated at hmm
drels u thousands Of doI!ers-at Lynohburz,
to private property alone $50 900. The wa-
ter at Richmond was twenty five feet above the
ordinary tide. Bridges on the DanyiIle Road
were washed away. The Roanoke River was
higher than ever known. The Riveuua bid .e
near Charlottesville was carried away. At
IMAM utT5UuII, 4 a, luc tc+ttUsti'H bl HINItl-
t. WIS great. At Piedmont, West Virginia, :
Mrs Hines. aged about 65 years, was drowned
whilst her sou was making an cffort to rescue
her from her house which was surrounded by
water
Jacob Ransberg, m old and highly respect
ed citizen. was drowned Saturday morning in
attempting 10 cross Fishing creek at Humer-
ick's Ford, near the s7wmill, about three miles
west Of L9wjstown, Frederick county, Md.
The losses Of mills, houses, crops, &c, along
the course Of the upper Shen7nloah river and
its branches and tributaries very large. We
only have space 20 mention very few Gen.
Meem 5000 bushels corn, several miles Of
board fencing, rails &c.-27 600; Samuel
Moore 900 shocks Of corn; + W. r Moore
1000 bushels Of corn, fencing. SC; K. G..
Manor saw mill upset. millef's house washed
away and piano and furniture 10 residence in
iurel,-S2. 500; William BHck lost grist mill
s1w mill, planios mill loss to Riverton Mill
50 5000 to 5000.