Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-27

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
During residence of a quarter of century
in the District of Columbia do not remember
to have ever seen the Potomac river the last of
February portentous of great and damag-
ing flood as at the present time. Nothing but a
week or ten days of warm weather, without
rain, which will enable the river steamers to
break through the ice below and allow it to go
snow Ia gradually melt in the mountains above
can save Washington from the grea test calamity
by flood II has ever experienced. The great
flood of 81 reached the city on the morning of
February 1.-two weeks earlier than the pres
ent time. The ice in the river is thicker, the
snow in the mountains deeper, and the obstruc-
tlons In the river greater than at that time be-
sides the lateneSs of the season adds to the
probability of a rapid breaking up OF the ice in
the upper Potomac $4,000 would be mild
estimate of the damage to private citizens by
the Hood OF four years ago. besides the damage
TO government and railroad property. $4,000
would, no doubt. be amply sufficient to pay the
cost of ice boats to break the ice below George
town, If taken in hand at once, to cause it to be
that. in case OF q warm rain, Will come thun-
dering down upon US. There is said to be n foot
many miles below Alexandria. Long bridge
the north end OF which is solid embankment,
and the south end q huge framework, against
which the ice lodges, acts as a dam, which,
during an ice blockade and flood turns the
great Potomac river through the business por-
ton of the city. With a warm southeast storm.
and consequent high tides, the mad rushing of
water and ice from above. meeting tide water,
and bridge of ice right in front of the city, it
needs 10 prophet to foretell the result. What q
ludicrous as well as calamitous, spectacle it
would be. if on inauguration morning we were
10 awake to see Penn>ylyania avenue-the
water. IL such an emergency the procession
would Eavc TO take to the back streets or escort
the President 20 the Capitol in gondolas. What
are the Commissioners doing to avert this
calamity? Nothing, FAR as the public are in
formed They are so hampered BY laws for
n nd MOI 11r1o
fically appropriated that there doesn't seem to
be much they can do except to appeal to Con-
gf6Ss but they are not even doing that. Will
the Inauguration committee act or will they
take the risk Of seeing the procession Il failure?
1t would be well for US if we had little of the
spirit OF Napoleon here at this time. He would
say "bretk the ice, and 1t would be done, ap-
prorrlatlon or no appropriation. All that is
needed is Il little common sense with courage to
act, 10 avert great calamity. The ice boals of
Baltimore should be chartered at-Once which,
with all the river steamers and such govern
work al once to break up and clear the river of
ice. at whatever cost, and without hours
delay VIII the Commissioners Congress
act. or will they trust to luck and take the risk
of witnessing the disgraceful spectacle of four
years dgo?
MERCHANT WHO HAS SUFFERED BY FLOODS.
DEATH OF AN ESTEEMED LADY.-Nlrs. Sallie
Finn Ancona. wife of John f. AncoHa. chief
OF Representatives, died suddenly Of paralysis
of the heart on the morning Ofthe 25th inst, at
10 O'Clock. Mrs. Ancona was greatly beloved
By all who knew her. She leaves three children,
and was a good. kind and a1fectiOnate mother.
She was popular III muscal circles of Washing
ton, and led rs singer in many of the principal
concerts. She was pupil of Prof Fairlamb.
The funeral will take place from the residence
OF her father, VIM Finn, No. sol ed street
northwest on Saturday at l o'clock pm.
MISSIONARY REcEPTIoN.-The grand recep-
Missionary society at Masonic Hail, Saturday
evening, promises 20 be crowded. Bishop Z. 6.
andrews 4 VIII make short address, Madame
nous Iahommedan sword Exercise" as given
in the lecture Of the Arbeehy brothers, OF Da-
mascus, Syria, are leading features of the pro-
gram. The FL Nahdi s mode of warfare las given
by the natives, is interesting. The tickets sold
spective churches Miss Clara Cushman. Of
China, will exhibit six Chinese costumes and
take part in the confession OF Tongues
HELD on SUspICIoN.-The southwestern por-
ton OF the city has been infested with gang of
thieves the past winter who make speciality
OF scaling backyard fences, cutting tine Stats of
Kitchen and dining-rOOm window shutters and
thus gti! Ing an entrance 10 the houses. About
l;3O O'Clock this morning Officer Burns dis
covered negro fully six feet tall in back yard
on lGth street, opposite Ryland chapel, and
took him into custody. He had in his pocket
an immense navy knife which, it is thought he
used for cutting Stats. He gave the name of
Geo. Johnson. but he is also known IS Gordon
Sheets. He was sent to jail for hearing.
RrN OVER By A CARr.-Yesterday morning
on massachusetts, avenue between 18th and
l;iti. streets northwest, slipped and fell under
the WiIccis, breaking his right arm and leg. He
was carried into house near by where DR. d.
W0lhaupter rendered medical aid and the in
juced boy was removed TO the Freedman's hos
pitai.
THE NATIONAL LIFE AND MATURITY Asso-
C!ATIcS--At the annual meeting Of The Ma
tional Life and Maturity Association of Wash
ingtun- II. G. held February 20, 1855, at the
Principal office OF the association, No 1915 +
street, the Following officers and directors were
elcctcts 40 serve for the ensuing year: Officers
II. Browning. PRESIDENT: John j. Johnson vice
president; samuel Normenl, treasurer: p. S.
Riddeiie, secretary; John Il. Larner counsel:
and John III. Heller. general agent. Directors
II. Browning, John j. johnson, Samuel Nor.
ment William T.. Clark, James L. Barbour
Robert Royd, Frank Hume, Levi Woodbury.,
Seymour W. Unlock, Robert o. HoltZman. and
X. +. Baker. This association was chartered on
the I'd day of February, 1SS4, and has issued
about 1000 certificates OF membership. the
gross receipts being in the neighborhood OF
s6o.oon. Applications for membership are be-
my received from Maryland, North Carolina,
Louisiana, and many other states. The success
OF this institution has been unprecedented, and
the management has great cause for congratu.
la