Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-02
A RAGING RIVER.
MAIN STREET BELOW THE ST. CHARLES
HOTEL FLOODED LAST NIGHT.
Operations at the City Gas-Works sus-
Iended-street-Ca Travel Inter-
rupted-Mails Delayed.

lONtItu ONtf Us IOI lOuf vi uNc uol
had exhausted themselves and vanished.
and the day was balmy and beautiful.
as beftted the spring season. The
roaring OF the river and the stead!
rising Of its muddy waters we're the
only, but quite sufficient, reminders Of
the fact that Virginia had so recently
received upon her bosom mighty rain
From nearly all quarters OF the State
came news Of washouts on railroads, Of
trains delayed. of mails behindhand.
while here in Richmond were anticipa-
tions Of an inundation of the lower parts
Of the city on a scale comparable only
with the fresbets Of 1870 and 1871.
which were the greatest in the history
Of the State-not excepting that Of III.
which was so wholly unprecedented
that in various sections Of the Com.
monwealth lat Turkey Island in particu-
lar monuments were erected to mark
the high-water line.
Our folks living or doing business
in exposed localities, such as the Dock
front and on the banks Of Shockoe and
Gillie's creeks, luckily began night be-
fore last to prepare for the worst, and
they have every reason to congratulate
themselves upon their forethought.
The loss here will therefore be
small-nothiDg to what it would have
been had the water caught the tobacco
in the Planters Warehouse. the groce-
ries in Davenport & Morris's, the ma
terial in Talbott's foundry, and the
other sorts Of merchandise in the var-
GUS cellars and first floors in the lower
sections in the city.
Over half a million dollars worth Of
property was within twenty-four hours
put out Of danger-eilher removed 10
other localities or hoisted into upper
stories.
The incursion Of the river upon Will
liamsbuIg avenue caused the drown
ing Of q man. The lower Gas-Works
were submerged to considerable ex-
tent, and the city will be put on short
supply for a little while. Later in the
evening, by ordinary methods, there
was no crossing Dock, Cary, Main,
and Franklin streets in the near vicinity
Of the line Of Shockoe creek-the low
est depression Of the city east Of
Rockets.
The streot,railwsy company were
forced to draw off most of their cars
about 9! p. NJ. Gangs Of workmen
were kept in waiting last night at the
TIedegar, Danville, and Mayo's bridges
to render any services possible to save
the structures in case the river got up
to them.
Wherever danger threatened the
night was one Of anxiety and dis
quietude. People who had property
that could he injured by the food
watched the water-line as nurse
watches her patients pulse.
THE SWOLLEN STREAM.
The river continued to rise here after
midnight Of Wednesday at the rate Of
four inches per hour until not long be-
fore noon yesterday, when the rate in
creased to six inches, which was main
tanned all the afternoon.
The river would have risen here more
rapidly and have attained a greater
height perhaps but for the fact that since
Dutch Gap was widened, about two
years ago, the water passes of more
rapidly and does not have the same
opportunity TO accumulate. Had the
appropriations for the James.r river i'm
proyement been larger other such points
might have been opened and the freshet
would not have reached its present
height.
VIEWING THE STREAM.
Early yesterday morning people COM
menced to flock to the Free bridge.
Mayo's bridge, Libby Hill, and other
points from which a good view of the
raging and roaring waters might be
had. As the day wore on this increased.
and in the afternoon untold thousands
visited these prominent points-ROck-
ettS, most Of which is submerged
lower Main and Cary streets, where the
damage Of high water is always felt
first. Among these curious and inter-
ested people every grade Of society
was represented-from the lowest yaga-
bond to some among the handsomest,
wealthiest, and most influential ladies
Of the city.
RICHMOND AND ALLEGHANY.
All Of the telegraph-wires on this
road were down west of Maiden's Ad.
venture, and the company could neither
hear the condition Of the water or its
road. At | P. NJ. they succeeded in
hearing from Columbia. The water at
that point was then thirty.four feet and
rising slowly.
ROCKETS FLOODED.
All of Rockets for three squares
either side of Gillie's creek which flow
ing south empties into theriyer just below
the lower gas-works) is flooded. People
from the other side can only pass up
town and return by using boats.
A representative Of the Dispatch
visited the flooded districts in the after.
noon. When this point was reached
one Of our worthy German citizens,
Mr.. Schwartz, kindly offered the SER
vices Of himself and the use Of nice
and comfortable row-boat. For an
hour these two gentlemen, in company
with one other, rowed around and
viewed the situation. All Of the
dwellings in the neighborhood had been
deserted or their occupants had moved
to the upper apartments. Fences and
other Improvements were floating IN
PLANTERS WAREHOUSE.
Early yesterday morning the iu-
surance agents in whose companies the
tobacco in the Planters and Merchants
Warehouse was insured went down
and looked into the situation, but being
satisfied that there was no imminent
danger they did not order the tobacco
to be moved. Many persons, how
ever, who were interested in lots OF to-
tacco stored there secured drays and
wagons and carried the same to more
secure places.
Later in the afternoon, when the indi-
cations were by no means nromising.