Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-05-13
The Washington Flood.

Tie correspondent of the Burlington.
lows, Uwhpye thus described the Hood
in the Potomac which not long ago
deluged tue Capital:
4 big rise in the river WAS reported
and expected Friday. Owners of prop
Dirty III Georgetown and along the river
front were bnsy making everything
secure. bat no one else expected to BIZ
| disturbed. The rise in the river reached
Grorgetown and carried with it inn
,atnse blocks of ice, which, however,
were 30 rotten that they did compare.
lively little damage until Long bridge
was reached, which, with Its low and
narrow spans and its solid causeway in
the ceuter, formed most .tfectual bar
to the passage of the ice. To m.ke
mstters seem worse, there was almost
Al impenetrable fog all night. Before
suurise the water was rushing in be-
tween the Washington Monument and
the grounds south of the White House,
aud soon reached the foot of the C,pi-
toI, covering the lower portions of the
Smithsonian and agricultural grounds.
from there north to Pennsylvania
avenue. The botanical garden seemed
=, very respectable sized lake; it is
feared that much damage has been done
10 plants and lighthouses. By six
o'clock In the evening, PeLnsy lvania
avenue was sight to behold. From
Tenth to the Capitol, the water was
from one to three feet deep, running
over the sidewalks. Cellars and base
nents we're soon filed. Tae street cars
on Ninth street had to stop running
scl"ss the avenue. In other cats the
seats to keep their feet dry, and did not
always succeed III doing so. Row boats
RATS, wagons, and all sorts of convey
ances were used to carry passengers
scross the angry flood. The Washing
ten market hsd to be abandoned early
in the day, dealers reecuing such of
their commodities as they could, and
ranging them on the north side of the
avenue wherever they could find room.
Their luss is heavy. but ss immense
numbers OF rats we're found drowned,
after the water subeided, they have
something to he thankful for. The
Baltimore and Potomac depot at the
corner of b. aud Sixth streets, had to
be sbapdoned, and trains were made up
on higher ground south Of the depot.
Many who went to bed Friday night
with no disturbing thought of the NOR
row, had to climb out of second story
windows and seek their breakfasts
somewhere else. Considering the sud
dsnness of the rise there we're few
serious accidents. One man was re-
ported drowned, and one died from the
effects of an explosion iu q foundry,
where several men were injured. There
were several fires, ana the fi,emen bad
to stand in water waist deep while fight
ing the flames.
About ten O'Clock the water was at
the highest. About two hundred feet
of the Washington end of Long bridge
yielded to the terrible pressure and
vent down stream. Tho water sub
sided ~ rapidly az it rose, leaving many
very damp houses, and much ruined
furniture. Sunday morning at ten
O'Clock. there was nothing save an &C.
oasional little pool on the avenue. left
to show thxt there had been food.
The dust was lying in clouds before
keen nerth ~ est wind. South Of the
avenue, in spite Ut the cold, houses
were thrown open to dry, carpets were
hung ont, and men we're busy pumping
the water from cellars and easements.
The scene slopg the river front battles
description. From Georgetown ~ far
down the river As the eye could reach
wee SCOPE of desolntion. b ,ats Of all
kinds, tossed on their aides or tipped
on end, frozen in the broken aud ragged
masses of ice, With trees, timbers and
other debris scattered far and wide.
rne broken spans Of the bridge, very
badly twisted out Of shape, we're some
two hundred yards below their former
place. All the steamboats, are badly
damaged. how much is not yet known.
TIE total damage ID said to be near
million.