New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-13
SERIOUS DAMAGE AT WASHINGTON.

SERIOUS DAMAGE AT WASHINGTON.
PENNsYLvASfA-Ayg. UNDER wATER-THE soUrH
rim PARTS OF THE CITY NUNDATED-A pOR.
TIoN OF THE LONG BRIDGE CARRIED AwAY-Nd
COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE soUTH-THE ICE IN
THE POTOMAC-NARRow ESCAPES FROM FATAD
ACCIDENTS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON Feb. 12-Washngton Is partially
submerged, and many people have to-day been en-
periencing 1t Is hardly proper to say enjoying. boa,
rides through the streets, including portion oj
Pennsylvania-aye. The scene was novel one, and
great crowds of people have been standing upon tho
dry portions of the northern sidewalk Of Penpsylva
nia-ave. watching the ingenious maDoeuvres Oh
the hapless people In the submerged sec
tions who were struggling to get themselves
and their chattels into places of safety The Penn
sylvauia station stands In lake. The lower fooro
of the st. James Hotel are covered with water sev
eral inches in depth. and the guests were prone to
make their exit this morning upon the broad backs
of enterprising negro porters Carriages and CARTS
as well as row-boats, have been doing a thriving
business transferring people from shore to shore.
The National and Metropolitan Hotels are more fol-
.unate, but the sidewalks covered, and tho
guests have to get in and out through the back
doors.
South of the avenue the condition Of affairs is
much worse The ridge upon which stands the
Smithsonian Institution, the Agricultural Depart
ment and the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing
is an island. the space between them and
the nam portion Of the city being several
feet under water. During parts OF the day, upon
those lines of street railway running through the
cross streets of that section the water has been up
to the seats of the This portion of tue city
consists chiefly of parks and vacant lots. and tho
damage done is therefore much less in the aggregate
than would otherwise be the case still iti consider
able. The food is forcble commentary upon the
lack of wisdom of Congress in failing to give timely
heed TO the repeated recommendations ct the Pres'
dent that steps be taken to improve the river chau-
mel 40 that occurrences like this shall be lmp0ssibe
II this aa
Ut, alton for the purpose, IS uuder discussion
by the House. As a matter of fact there
ave than in many of the streams. for which large
appropriations are proposed. There are apprehen-
Sons thai the water WIZ nse com th . nshss
| broken I'D at Harpers Ferry and In the shenan-
doah and with the attendant floods IS on it's way TO
other distractions. All last night and oil day to-
DAY merchants and householders IN exposed por-
tons of the city have been busily engaged IN re-
moving their goods.
INCIDENTS AND SCENES.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE water COM.
Long Bridge In which several women, but they
were finally and brought to this city All travel
the Long Brlge was suspended this morDing and
no trains are leaving for the South via Alexandra.
At au early hour the water In Washington Market was
kueehigh The Ice began gather across the channel
nj GlesborO about O'Clock this morning, and at 10
O'clock it had to all appearances become solid gorge
across to the Virginia Shore blocking the river en-.
trey TO the Long Bridge and above It to Gcoree;owp
This had the effect Of raising tho water 10 an
uuprecedented height, most Of the wharves on the
river front beng raised MP 80 that they fcs.ed.
Tho botanical Gardens and the grounds filled with
water aud tins caused q serious aud what came near
beng fatal accident About 1880 ~ the woIknen Of
CRY Noyes's foundry, Nane-aye. between 81 aud
4los g. were engaged In casting with cIpola of heated
"A, IA, when the water rau In ON them, ana supposng
that IL would better to prevent Its reaching tue Gupoa
aud chilli the metal the bottom was orenrd M in.Ie
generated rapidly that with report eAeeeoinH tnao
o. n six pound cannon, an explosion TOOK place slatter-
ing the TWO cupO1s and throwing several or the Sork
men around, two OF tnem Deing oaoy n.i. IL
The lower portion OF the Census once, 10 wDch tne
records stored, began To 90 nooeu tn,s IoIDiIs
but the Fire Department wns called up0i ana succeeded
IN keeuiug the down until the uOcIhents OF inost
i'm ,ortauce we're removed Great damage IS reported
along the wharvcs in Georgetown. -
Ile wires between Washington and Alexandra are al!
uowu. nnG he Western Union COnpnny is aenuing us
southern business TO Alexandra by in ss3ngsr or ho'se
hack who are ob2ed the a luetuct Brtdge 40
eur.etown where the water is almost up to the Drige
amd the Is pounding against tue piers WIN Ie-
The sSnai Service observer at Hsrpers FeEy ats D.
M reuurtcd tha the river at That point bad ialen sx
inches, bur later reported no iurtner ia nc s'aosu @
water mark and both rivers were reported rising
ajve tnere At 7:30 y. he reported rise OF three
ana the water was still rising. AT $50 p NJ three spans
nf tur Long Bridge carried away ani the Ice was
siill running very high