Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-04
ON TIE RAPPARANNoCK.
The Destruction at Fredericksburg-
Reports NOS Exaggerated.
[Speclal telegram % Id DIspntch.l


FREDERICKSBURG. VA, June 3-The wetor
here. whi,h was expected TO have receded to its
usual height by o'clock this morning did not
do so until SEQ this evening owing to the break
ago ia tho dam. BY this breakage the entire
curren; Of the river has heen changed from this
siie 10 the low lands o. stafford, and the water
in the dam Is rapidly running out Al this hour
IL is not TWO feot deep As soon "a tho dam could
/ he reached today large crowds could be secu
going 20 and from II viewing the destruction,
which far exceeds anything thought of. About
thirty feet Of The dam on tho SanOrd side has
gone. The entire top q its injured aud the gates
are torn aWsy. The gate keepers house and tho
immense stone wall surrounding 10 IS also gone
and fills the canal at hat point The dam when
built cost s2Ol,g'0, and Until an examination is
made OF The part standing the loss cannot be
stated. The canal % the dam IN several places Is
filled with or5ris 10 the height Of tho bnnks, This
being caused by the tremendous landeides from
/ TaylOr's Cliff. Tho river bank Tor two hundred
yards from the can has also cayei In from
twenty % thirty feet. Noclance IA tho estimate
Of the loss I'm this city from last night has been
announced. a large force OF bands have been
engaged all day IN cleaning the houses Hooded
aud rendering other aid.
EEIIYP COMMITTEE.
The city authorities have inaugurated relief
committee, who are helping those in distress
The houses flooded cannot be occupied for at
LEASE q week. aud n number VIII have 10 be re-
papcr1d ard iastcred.
Information received from stafford county re-
ports ia addition 40 the damage reported last
night the dcn;rJc ion Of bOth OF hchogs saw
and rris-miiis and dams, the grst-miils aud
cam Gt DR. stones, Curtis 81 BROOKE a saW-inlils
az erooKe5 Station aud Mountain View, and tho
entire crop sot the county IS almost completely
destroyed
in Falmouth the stores aud dwellings Of Hef-
lins Brothers. Frank iill Lem. Limerick, Field
ing Burton. Nonr0e keiIcy, Willie Burton, and
Gc orge LghtEer, besides several small dwell
ing- we're carried away, with the stock oil goods
gsf. 4 Il
was not go heavy, eiihOrsh considerable loss
is sustained All tha bridges over the North
Anna and Little rivers, including two railroad
bridges of TO Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac were also swept away
ANCHORED To A POST.
The steamer Mason j. Wccms, Of the Weem5
Limo, between tAis city aud Baltimore. duo here
Saturday morning. arrived 10 day, aud anchofiug
20 a posi- % the wharf unlOa1ed and returned
glmcst immediately. carrying lao pa@senHei-,
who we're delayed here 10y the railroad NtsA-
Oufs The road paid all the cSpensas II board
ana TRANSPORTATION. Tho officers OF She boat re-
ported number Of wharyes ami warehouses
n org the river swept away. tho low lands hlicd
with dsbris and everything mass OF ruins, but
could not estimate the loss,
Busiuess here 10 almost at p stand-still, as no
trade whatever from the surrounding country
can come In. The iOes to business in az way "a
great Neither Of the newspaper oince5 hero
viii be able o. publish paper before Friday,
and ths cry Tor news - marvellous. lhe out
LOOK for a water famine is increased and the city
is dcienseless In case OF fire. This causes no 1T
Tie fear and anxiety
The Superintendent of tho water-works to-day
issued the following circular:
70 the Citizens:
We are threatened with a water famine The
dams ge 10 The canal 10y the recent flood cannot
be repaired for some time. and until that Is dOle
we are unable to pump water. The supply on
hand ls limited and We appeal 20 the public
Tine uss o. hose. baths. Gul motors must be dis
pensed with until further notice.
Nothing has yet been seen OF tho body Of
young Hunter. and his father has ouerci
ward Of go for It's finding.
When drowned fIuntcNwore two diamond
rings, a handsome gold watch and chain, and
had a considerable amount Of money upon his
gcrsOu.