The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-06-28
A DEVASTATING FLOOD.
THE ELI<S TRANSFORMED
INTO NIAGARAS.

Thousands of Dollars Worth of
Property Swept Away-Ets
Destruction and Scenes
Along the Route.
The most destructive food or freshet
ever known here occurred on Thursday
last, when the two streams, the Big and
Little Elk, usually little moIe than gen
tie murmuring brooks, were transformed
into raging, roaring torrents, sweeping
everything before them. The long and
disasreeable drouth that had prevailed
for Il mcnth or NOR came to an end,
turc to all nature on Wednesday evening
and no one then dreamed, while welcom-
ing the rain fall, Of the unprecedented
deluge shat was soon to follow. Kahn
fell here in moderate quantity during
Wednesday night, but farther up towards
the head of the creeks the fall was much
heavier. About half-past two or thlee
o'clock on Thursday morning the flood
gates of heaven were opened, and the
water descended not in rain drops but in
torrents. The streets were flooded; boats
could have been navigated upon some OF
them; cellars were dcluged, and things
looked as if it would be necessary to hunt
up another Noah and launch another ark.
Even with all this rain fall no one anti
cipated any great rise in the streams, the
ground being SO thirsty and the springs
so dry it was supposed that it would
drink it in as fast as it fell.
Between nine and ten O'Clock, however,
the creeks began to rise and confined to
swell until after noon. The owners of
stock in stables and pens on the south
side of town had their first intimation OF
a flood only when the animals were in
imminent danger of drowning, and many
had to be made to swim through the
rapid current to escape. All the dwell
ing houses on Water street and on the
gas house Hat were II ,oded nearly up to
the second story. The fires a. the gas
house house were cXtinguished before u
o lCck. The wharf front OF Messrs. ID.
Scott 4 Bro. was forced out of place, but
the water did not reach their stock. W.
NJ. Slngerly lost largely of poplar wood,
the old railroad south of town where it
was piled. Owners of boat houses which
are built close upon the creek feared for
their property, but though some of them
were nearly submerged they stood the
pressure; that of Mr.. Il. G.. Reese being
the only one injured. and it but slightly.
Crowds OF people stood watching the
roaring torrent and the numerous articles
carried on it's bosom. /Buckets, tubs,
boxes, wheelbNrowS, cnopS, outbuildings.
sheafS of wheat, wagons, carriages, and
work shop and railroad contractors camp.
An old hen passed by sailing on a lo.;
she looked wistfully at the crowd but
they could do nothing for her. Another
log went down upon which sat two large
rats; another with several snakes and
terripins upon it went byJ
The grandest sight in this ueisLbor-
hood WAS at the Far Crcci, crossing
where the new iron bridge, bending and
grooming managed to stand up against
the flood At this point the water spread
ont half IA, thn nat T !, al hin IN
the far side and to the mill race ON the
town side, carrying away fences, trees
and everything before it. The long
causeway (approach to the bridge was
carried away, its foundations even being
washed ont, and where it stood is now
deep canal. as much below level as it was
above it. The bridge stood but the Gen.
tire has sunk about nine inches
The largest crowd gathered here, and
while they stood gazing upon the flood IA
crash was heard. and without any PIE
vious warning, the northern half OF the
eastern wall of the race feeder gave way,
carrying the bank with it, and u torrent
of water GU Il new outlet through which
it rushed like niagara. Befote the fresh
ct subsidized this cave in extended across
the entire road, save about three feet on
the south side, making a fearful chasm.
This property belongs to DR.. II. ii.
Mitchell.
Ten or twelve head of cattle belonging
70 Meyers Kitchens, tenant on the old
Mercy farm, were III perilouS coudi-
ton, but fortunately escaped. They
were swept down by the hDoi, and all
but one lodged in clump of bushes and
trees where they held Oh until the water
fell. This one, il youu. hcifer was car
ried down and thrown against the wing
wall of the bridge where the water chanc
ed to be an eddy sweeping landwards, and
the animal managed to get upon the
bird sc where it remained until its way
was clear. All the surrounding mead
ows were swept ovart Howard planted
in corn by Mr.. II. Ninsinger, is u wreck.
b both 5 truck patch is The same, though
they think they can save their celery.
Their loss will be heavy, as all their
dams, pond, entertainments and great
many implements are gone. Meyers
Kitchens meadow Of corn was devastated.
From the meadow o. Rev. James McIn-
tire Il quantity of cut wheat in sheafs was
swept away. Henry Warner of the
West Amwell farm lost his wheat crop.
Mr.. |. Dean on the Bremen farm near
town is in the same Fix, and SO on all
along both creeks. The number of ind-
viduals damag ed is so great that We can
not pretend to attempt to name them.
The open bridge at Head of Elk mills was
carried away, and persons living cast of
town now being unable to cross at Far
Creek or there are compelled t. drive all
the way round to the Chesapeake road,
and come into town by way of the cause
way and iron bridge,;i route number of
miles gre alter than the closed ones
There was busy time along the south
side of town. Furniture had to be boate,.
ont, and horses cattle and hogs led or
ridden from stables with three or four
feet of water in them already. John
Wilkinson was late in removing his
horses, and got them out with great diff
Guilty. The marsh meadow of William
Eder, in which he had corn, is a scene
of destruction. Mr. George Jackson had
n fine field of timotkv about sixteen