The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-06-21
DEsrRucrIvHR4rsaND FLOODS

Mill-Dans and bridges Washed Away
Destruction of CrOps-sheep and Cattle
Swept Away-NarrOw Escape from
Drowning-A House Struck by Light
%igF&e9 . I2 q 81 IH L
ION Friday afternoon of last week heav,
Awind and rain storm, accompanied by viviC
pightning and loud peals Of thunder, passed
over the southwestern section of Carroll
causing the most destructive floods known fol-
many years. From 2 to 4 O'Clock rain fel
in torrents, and Sans Creek and Morgan:
| Run in that short time from insignificant
streams became surging rivers. About !
o'clock the large mill dam of Jesse I. Wilson
| one mile above Sans Creek postoffice, was
swept away, setting adrift thousands of rails,
| logs and trees. The great volume of water
and drift-wood went rushing down the valley
and half mile further on swept out the dam
at Jesse l.. Devilbiss' mill. On the mao
waters rushed, and at SANS Creek the dan
at Geo. W. Devilbiss' mill was considerably
damaged All along the creek the fields were
| badly washed, and fences, bridges and crop:
| were swept away. AT the headwaters of the
creek it is supposed there was q cloud-burst
No estimates have been made of the losses,
but in the aggregate they will amount to a con
siderable sum The mill owners lose several
hundred dollars each, and every farmer on
the stream has suffered to greater or les!
extent. Il ia IL ~ e ttEE
At the headquarters of Sans Creek on the
farm of Augustus Brown and out Parr Ridge
as far as Taylorsville several clouds are re-
ported to have met and bursted, pouring
down such volume of water as to flood the
tributaries of four different streams which
have their source in or about that locality
Besides the bursting Of the dams, writes oul
Sans Creek correspondent, where were once
rich bottom lands there is now nothing but
bare beds of clay All the fences in the
meadow of Hamilton Nic0demus and the
post fence of Benjamin Hooper along the
county road were swept away. js .it3
Mr. Jesse 7. Wilson will not repair his dam
until after harvest, when hands will be more
plentiful His loss is estimated at $1,000.
Mr.. j. l.. Develbiss commenced to repair his
dam on Monday, and will finish and be ready
for work today. Mr.. Geo. W. Deyilbisg'
damage amounted to about 500, and has
been repaired.
The two large bridges built in 1880 by NJ.
L. Devilbiss, about the strength of which there
was so much discussion in the ADVOCATE at
the time, withstood' the food, though the
heavy logs damagedthe abutments somewhat.
The water was two feet above one.of the
bridges. At SANS Creek the water was within
three inches of running into ID. E. Stem S
store, while it was seven inches in his iron
warehouse, doing considerable damage to iron,
nails, &c. His cellar was also flooded.
Near Denning's postofiice Augustus Zusche
and his little boy was swept away with the
stream whilst attempting to cross bridge in
a carriage. The carriage was demolished.
The horse managed to get out, and by extraor-
binary exertion Zusche saved himself and son.
Morgan's Run was higher than since the
great flood of 1868, and had more drift
wood in it than ever before known. All along
the stream great destruction to fields, crops
and fences was wrought by the rushing waters.
At the Washington road the water was esti-
mated to be II feet deep and $50 yards wide.
The bridge at that point was swept from its
foundation and carried out on the meadow of
Grove A. Shipley, $50 yards away. The
abutments were wrecked, and it is estimated
that it will cost the county about Sl25 to re-
build the abutments and replace the bridge.
About mile above Blooms mill it is said
there was water-spout. The run rose so
rapidly that the water was three feet above
the breast of the dam, and in few minutes
about twenty-five feet of the dam was washed
out. The flood also caused break in the
bank of the race. The damage Mr.. Bloom
sustained will amount to about $500. Peter
Megin estimates his loss at $3.50.
The lands of Frank Shipley, Francis Ship
ley, John C. Shipley and Grove A. Shipley
we're badly washed and their fences broken
and washed away, the total damage being
reckoned at 5000. A $50 cow belonging to
Grove A. Shipley was swept into the current
and drowned and two ricks of hay were
washed down short distance. At Francis
l.. Shipley's about so feet of stone fence was
washed away.
At Sebastian Bowers the destruction was
great The floating trees, driven by the hur-
ryiug waters, ploughed up a wheat field and
tore away his fences. The water rose so fast
that a flock of sixteen sheep were caught up
and swept away, but all but one were rescued
by his son James a short time after The
sheep were found swimming around in a
meadow, James stripping off his clothing and
going in the water after them. Mr. Bowers
lost about $500 worth of growing wheat, in
addition to other losses. Before getting the
sheep out, James Bowers ran a mile down the
valley to warn Mr.. Jarrett N. Shauck of the ap-
preaching danger. The water rose to waist
deep in Mr.. Shank mill, but the damage done
to his property will not exceed SIS. .y
At VIM. Stubbens paper mill formerly Du-
shane's) the water was six feet deep in the
mill. One half of the breast of the dam was
torn out. Watts, tubs, &C., in the mill were
damaged, and the loss there will be between
$500 and $500. -...
Joshua Beasman's land and fences were
damaged to some extent, as were those OF
every farmer on the Run. The fields of Con
rad Bowers, not near any stream were flooded
and washed. At John b. 7. Sellman's, near
the headquarters of the Run, the water was
eight feet deep at his gate and his cellar
flooded. Everywhere, writes our Shipley cor.
respondent, great volumes Of rain fell, and
wheat was beaten down fiat and corn fields
more or less washed.
Conrad Schnavels house, on the Deer
Park road, about five miles from Westminster,
was struck by lightning during the storm and
damaged to some extent. The chimney was
demolished and the foundation wall injured.
Mr.. Schnavel and family were stunned by the
lightning, all being home at the time. Their
escape is miraculous.
The storm passed over into Frederick county,
beating down wheat and washing corn-fields.
At Frederick City the water in the stream
there rose out of its banks and flooded some
portions of the place.