Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-02
NEWS FROM I'LL OVER TIE STATE.
A Nan Drownsd-Bridgts swept Away
Scenes and Incidents

James river was an object OF fearful IN
forest TO tens Of thousands OF people yester-
day, snd It had tigerish look aud color.
Instead Of placidly winding its way along
smiling fields and busy wster-iron,s to the
sea. 10 wss in great rage sud was lashing
ITSELF against banks, rolling aud roaring
over rocky impediments. carrying destruc-
ton 10 crops that were expected soon to be
resdy Tor the harvest, and threatening inun'
dstion 10 tie streets and houses OF con-
siderable portion o. Richnond.
From its hcadwsiers IN the mountains OF
West Virginia to this city, where It meets
tide. weeks heavy rains had swollen its
stream and reared it ont Of it, bed.
spring branches, considerable creeks, and
rivers. red with the clay Of Piedmont coun-
ties. all together draining hundreds and
hundreds Of sqliaie miles Of territory, had
contributed 10 Us volume sud added to IT'S
violence. When Il reached the falls st this
CITY II voiced itself in mighty tones, aud
the sound swept over The country as a
mighty rumpenng Of danger and desiruc-
ton.
Many farmer who had tobacco or corn on
bi, best backgrounds; many one who
looked with pleasure upon the promising
Weld OF his fields OF wheat and osts; many q
one who rejoicee IL rich clover lots, yester-
dsy and the day before saw the James, or its
tributaries, rise up ia a yellow hood and
swallow bis possessions.
Nl.pouds that had stemmed and stood
freshsts for ages gave way before the over
1bclmlng onslaught.
Bridges built upon what seemed impregnA-
bic foundations were undermined and weak
ened: while The timbers Of others were float
"a Of 10 Join The Debris upon the surface OF
The waters.
Railroads suffered to the degree that on
Yesterday, saving to a few local points, no
,rains were running. TO mails coming in or
going out, no passengers or freight arriving
81 or departing from this city, except on the
YoIk-Rivcr road end on the Newport News
division Of the Chesapeake aud Ohio.
This suspension Of operations was due IN
part to washouts Of entertainments and tres
lies anu 10 ulAu-t- tuuhubViNA VI tNo'f "hN
m part to the fact that most OF she telegraph
wires were down, and therefore the right
arm OF The traiu-dispAtcher WAS for the time
being psrslyzcd.
steamers and sailing vessels, while they
could ride the torrent. were unable TO stay
~ their wharVes, which were buried bsnealh
The food, and were therefore almost as much
disabled as the railroads for usefulness.
Overhead deep blue skies contracted with
Giving clouds Of white, while the sun strug-
ged for The supremacy denied il through SO
many days Of muddy MAY.
From noon yesterday until . T. h. the
river a. Richmond rose very little. During
All that time the stream seemed TO be only
shout six or seven feet below Msyo's bridge,
which structure lost two Of its spans in the
freshet Of 1877, when the waters OF the
james reached 10 height altogether unpre-
cedenicd IN - history, the rise st Rockets
having been IS. 80 feet.
At ! O'Clock this morning the water
seemed to be about three aud a bali feet be-
low the flooring Of Msyo's bridge, and was
rising about six or eight inches per hour.
At3thiS morning the water was within
three feet OF the bridge.