Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-12
THE THREATENED FLOOD.
Signal Men Patr0llfng the River-Ice
Boats at Work on the GORGE.
THE THRI

The news received from the upper Potomac
this morning was not of reassuring character
The efforts to clear the ice from the harbor. SO
as to give a clear passage to the flood expected
rom the mountain district, was renewed. The
tugs E. D. Hartley and Mary Lewis, employed by
the citizens committee, went down last evening
as far as Fort Foote, where the ice is packed and
gorged. The tug men reported that the gorge
extended as far as they could see. This morn
ing the tugs, after breaking the ice for some
distance in the Washington channel, went
down below Alexandria and attacked the
gorge. They were working there this afternoon.
River men and wharf owners thought it would
be folly to start the ice out of the harbor before
an oulet mad been made below Alexandria, as
the broken ice would only make the gorge
worse.
Mr. Browning, of the citizens committee,
mad conference this morning with Manager
Ridley, of the Washington Steamboat COM
Pany, with the view OF securing the services of
Inc two ferry boats Of the company to aid in
andria this afternoon to look over the ground,
Win the intention of going out from
there with boat, if it appeared practicable.
Inc steamer John Gibson came up this after
noon from Alexandria, and will start tomorrow
morning for New York. II the gorge Is not
to ram her way through. The ice in the river
above Alexandria is very soft, and boats plough
through it without much trouble.
THE UPPER POTOMAC.
telegram was received at the signal office
the water in the Shenandoah rose four feet
during the night, and the ice had broken up in
that river and was running out rapidly. This.
1t Is said, is owing to the rain having ex tended
70 the mountains, and caused large flow from
the snow into the river. A signal service report
from ohoin bridge announced rise during the
nleht Oh Two 1eet nine inches.
PATROLLING THE RIVER
Two men from Fort Myer patrolIed the river
from Chain bridge to Cabin John bridge during
the entire night. Early this morning Lieut.,
Thompson, the commandant of Fort Myer.
sent out detachment of meu from Fort Myer
TO establish a telegraph line to the Chain bridge
TO be connected direct with the signal office
and hourly reports sent in. The patrol Of the
river above Chain bridge was continued
Signal service officers were 10th to state
onlclally what the situation portended, but it
could not be denied that a freshet is very prob
able. II the ice gorge at the Aqueduct bridge
has not been magnified it will block the rising
water until 1t gives way, and then the water on
the river front will be likely to reach far be-
yond the banks. The ice gorge reported further
down the river, near the forts may also be in
strumental in causing flood:
STILL RISING IN THE SHENANDOAH
A report from Harper's Ferry at IL a. m. re-
ported q further rise Of twelve inches in the
Shenandoah with the ice running fast and q
slight movement of ice in the Potomac A sue-
gestion has been made to THE STAR that in
case Il damaging flood is threatened, making It
necessary to secure property from destruction
signal be sounded on the fire alarm bells.