Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-13
THE RIVER RECEDING
OUR NOBLE JANIS RETIRING WITHIN
ITS BANKS.
The Earth Greatly Freshened and M
Great Damage Done here by
the Rainy Spell.

and the great orb, which had been hid
from view OF the people OF this vicinity
Tor almost the whole Of the last twelve
days, once more bathed the wet and
dripping universe in its light and mellow
rays. The clouds which had lowered
over the city and State for well nigh two
weeks, having poured forth their SEEM
ingly almost inexhaustible supply of
ram, had vanished. The earth and
things generally wore fresh, clean ap-
pearance. Occasional pools Of water
left standing on the streets, and the
rushing, roaring, and rising waters Of
the muddy James, were the very
iorclble reminders OF the fact that
we had just passed through a spell
which promised destruction OF and great
damage to property in low and exposed
places, or along the banks OF the rising
stream. Those whose goods were most
liable to damage in case OF a great
freshet, such as at one time seemed i'm
minent, were greatly relieved to see
another clear day for they then realized
the force OF the Disp0tch's prediction
that no great harm would result from the
high water.
AT IT'S HIGHEST.
The river continued TO rise slowly all
OF Tuesday night and yesterday until
about 8 T. NJ, when it reached its zenith,
and soon afterward it begun to recede
slowly. At that time the water was
about three feet deep on Main street at
Gillies creek, in Rockets, and the resi-
dents Of that immediate section.
who are few in number. had
been compelled to vacate. The
rise at that point seemed TO be still
IN slow progress, but this was due more
10 the accumulation of water in the creek
than to any increase in the volume of the
river; for at Dunlop a McCance's mill,
in Manchester, and at the Old Dominion
wharves it was at a stand. The greatest
height reached must have been about
thirteen feet above common tide, which
is quite considerable "fresh." In fact
Richmond cannot stand many more feet
than this without loss TO her citizens.
At 6 p. NJ. the water marked seven feet
on the measured pier of the Petersburg
railroad bridge.
AT COLUMBIA.
The river reached its highest at Colum-
bia soon after o'clock Tuesday night,
when it measured 22l feet above common
level. At T A. M. yesterday it WAS II
feet 10 inches and as the day wore on the
receding became more rapid.
To sum the matter up in few words,
the water is falling rapidly everywhere
west Of Richmond and Will be within the
usual bounds 10y tonight.
THE DAMAGE.
So far as can be learned little or no
damage has been done here by the
frcshet beyond causing the suspension
Of operations in out-of-door work and in
the mills and factories on the water line.
The water became too deep in the base
ments OF ali such establishments in Man
chester, and they were forced to shut
down. If the fall is as fast as is eX-
pected they Will be able to start up again
by Friday evening.
In the basement of some Of the stores
south of Main street Immediately ada
cent to Shockoe creek water is standing
about three feet deep. More of this
ran IN from the street during the heavy
rains than can be attributed to the rise
in the creek. There are some other
places not near the creek where the
same trouble has been experienced.
TO WORK.
Operations were resumed with vim
yesterday in the brick-yards, house
building. and other out-of-door busi-
nesses. The material WAS all exceedingly
wet and worked badly, but neither
mechanic nor contractor could afford 10
lose such a bright, nice day in the fall.
VIEWING THE STREAM.
Hundreds Of persons visited the bridges
spanning the river and other eminences
Yesterday to view the freshet The sight
was really an imposing one. On either
side of the Free bridge, where the river
is very shoaly, the stream presents very
angry, rough, and picturesque appear
lnce, while below Rockets it resembles
1 lake about mile wide. There has
been very little drifting dcJris during
this freshet. as the one of two years ago
pretty thoroughly cleaned the river banks.
The river was particularly pretty last
night under the light OF the moon.