The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-02-19
The Flood at Port Deposit.

It is impossible to depict the seenese
destruction and distress caused by this
last and greatest of the periodic, ice
foods which scourge the town of Port
Deposit. A special correspondent to the
Baltimore american who was an eye wit
ness to the scene, sent there to watch
and report an account of the anticipated
doodfor that paper is probably the truest
description of the horrors of Saturday
night that has been written.
HOW THE FLOOD CAME.
The citizens of the place, particularly
on the water front, had expected the
gorge which ls an almost annual oc-
currence, and had removed their fur
niture to the upper floors. About one
O'Clock Saturday afternoon the ice was
seen to be gradually gorging along the
abutments of the New Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad bridge. The ice still
continued 10 gorge. piling up to height
of ten or fifteen feet, and made q con-
tinuous pack for fully five miles. The
citizens had taken in the situation, and
stood watching the scene for some time,
being in constant dead that every
moment they must witness the breaking
up of the ice and flooding of their
homes. Their expectations came true,
for about four O'Clock the ice broke
with a rush and noise of thunder.
aud then followed the greatest excite
ment ever witnessed among people
People were panic stricken and bewi;.
dered and full of CONSERVATION, not
knowing where to run nor how to save
their property. In the meantime the
water which was prevented from pass
ing OUT of the proper channel and could
find no other outlet, came rushing to-
ward the shore, bringing with it huge
cakes of ice, which went crushing to-
ward the back buildings, fences and thu
lumber yards aud warehouses which
lined the shore, smashing everything
of weak character and hurling it
against the dwellings and washing 1t
up into the main street. The water rose
rapidly, and in all the dwelling-houses
wnere the occupants decided to remain
to watch their effects, ti.ey were COM
pelled to rush to the top floors to saw
their lives. The water continued in its
fury and backed across the street into
the houses on the east side of the street.
causing these people to flee to the Sec
ond floors for safety. The noise made
by the rush of water and ice was deaf
ening. This caused the people to become
more frightened and totally helpless.
By this time the water had risen to a
depth of nine feet on the west side of
the street and six feet on the east side
which was two feet higher than the
great freshet and gorge of 1875. All the
warehous $, lumber yards, the depot of
the Columbia and Port Deposit Rail-
road, had been deiuged by the water,
aud as the zee was hurled against them
many of the large frame buildings gave
way and found a resting place on the
main street or against the back of some
dwelling. BY eleven o'clock the water
stopped and gradually receded, having
forced its way through the gorge at the
b. & o. bridge, ad by one O'Clock peo
pie. could walk the street and view the
disastrous situation.
SAVING PEOPLE FROM DROWNING.
When the water was at its greatest
height, which is said to have been from
fourteen to eighteen feet above the US
ual mark of the yer. wild, piercing
cries Of "Help!" came from all direc-
tions, and many of the citizens risked
their lives in rowboats to assist the oc-
capants of the shore houses, and rescue
them from their pelilous p sitiOns.
The boats could be rowed up to the sec
ond-story windows, and as fast as the
men, women and children coJld be got
ten out they were carried to place of
safety. Many lost nearly all they had,
and were compelled to build fires on
the mountain, in order to prevent suf-
fering through exposure. n number of
miraculous escapes were reported. some
of them by cutting holes in the roofs Of
the houses and clinging to the chin
neys until removed by the army Of