Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-01
THE GREAT RAIN.STORM.
Continued from Second Poqe.

Godsy's and e2,OO0 at johnson 4 Libbey's
There was but little insurance. Hot coffee and
sandwiches were supplied the fremen from the
Morgan house during the night
Rock Creek-woodieyL Lane Bridge G ore
The damage along Rock creek was done dur
ing the night. when the water rose suddenly.
It swept away the old woodley bridge and
did considerable damage in the neighborhood
Of the old Lyons mill.
Prof. Langley, secretary Of the Smithsonian
who as president Of the geological park COM
mission is especially interested in the Rock
Creek valley. made q visit TO the locality this
morning: From his hasty survey the only por-
ton OF the intended park that was flooded to
any serious extent was part of the land Of
Pacincus Ord which lies almost in the bed of
the creek.
Prot. Langley is having a more detailed ex-
animation made Of the valley near the CITY to
determine the heights to which the water has
risen at different points and the damage done.
Above the Long Bridge.
The scene on the city sid. Of Rock creek and
down the river front to the Long bridge was
an exciting one. The usually placid
little creek boiled and surged through
it's widely extended channel carving
with 1t everything that was not chained down
to solid rock. Telegraph poles were under
old soap factory, carrying with it sixty wires.
Dynamite could hardly have done more
thoroughly destructive work than did the
brown Potomac on the property Of the Mere
dith and Winship coal company. 1t
r ~as as near ~, total wreck as it
were gone, the muddy water stopped into and
out OF their Offices and made the engine-house
Mt only for the occupation Of the amphibious
Their tug, the Gilmor Meredith, was
hard at work doing its best to succor
the imperilled property OF the firm, and
its efforts were, in the main, very
successful. Three large scows, each containing
Ia tons OF coal, were moored just outside of
the gas company's Dock their position was not
a safe one and the breaking of their cables was
looked for at any moment.
THE GAS COMPANY
has not suffered to any considerable extent. A
little coal was washed off their wharf ION which
at noon there was feet of water). The house
in which the company's hosting engine is sit
uated had in it nearly four feet of the insinus-
ting liquid.
Fortune seemed to smile on J. Maury Dove.
10 be sure, his huge coal yard was flooded knee
deep, but that would not damage the compar-
atlvely small stock of coal he had
therein. The most interesting and, to
In which the current took cordwood off the up
per piles and foated them back into the yard
few feet lower down. The yard was the CEN
ter OF a hinge and powerful eddy.
THE FATE OF A STEAM LAUNCH.
Yesterday evening, just below Doves wharf,
there was pretty little steam launch, fresh
painted and as attractive as lots Of highly pol
ished brass work could make her.
m nns oa, ang w craft . was securely
beyond harm, but rough old tree trunk came
along and .snagged" her, and now she lies be-
meath the disturbed surface of the river Not
lost, because those interested know where she
is; but not available for immediate service.
John Cumberland's boat-house WAS only one
in name, for all the boats had been foated out
on to the grass of the higher ground on
New Hampshire avenue. Between Cum
berlands place and the Analostan
clubhouse where all is usually
placid sand or speeches. cordwood there was
raging food, and ample promise was given
by the rising waters that before the afternoon
was over the food would extend Its jurisdic-
Analostans pride.
MR.. LIrTLEFIELDs LOSS.
Mr.. Littleieid had removed everything re-
movable last night, but his loss looks as though
1t would foot up to at least 81 900. Out in the
turbulent stream, and right in the worst
part of it, was the schooner Fanny. -
"
city. The schooner's cargo of sand was I'M
loaded yesterday. The full force of the cur
rent was straining the vessels cables consider
ably, and no one would have been surprised a,
any time to hear them snap and to see the YES
sci drift down the river.
AT THE LONG BRIDGE.
Greater than the aggregation Of all the other
crowds along the river bank was the multitude
at the Long bridge. 1t was the focal point
of interest. Everything that floated down
had to pass beneath the bridge. and lots O,
people were curious enough to walk or ride
down to the clumsy and dangerous old structure
that they might see all that was to be seen. The
water was up to within foot Of the
stringers Of the bridge so that nothing
very large could pass beneath. A heavy barge
was the first ''foater" that Jared the bridge.
1t swung around and planted itself not far from
the draw in the main channel. Drift
wood rapidly accumulated on the upper
side Of the old craft, and the pressure
exerted by the water was felt appreciably by
those on the bridge. In little while, just be-
fore noon, another runaway couple of them
appeared. The larger Of these was an enormous
and extremely heavy mud-scow, and across its
fat bow was a heavy but more shapely craft
with the name Frank" painted on its bows.
The two were fastened together, and they came
on steadily without shifting their relative posi-
tons. The expectant crowd held its breath
and waited for
THE CRASH.
1t came. The Frank" struck the bridge
first and was crushed like an eggshell by
its massive companion, and then the monster
itself came directly in contact with the
structure and the crowd, with few exceptions:
ran as hard as it could toward the eastern end
The shock was a severe one but the bridge
stood it.
HOUSE AFLoAT.
Shortly before 1890 a small house fioated
down to the bridge and caught on the bottom
of the last arrived scow, and on the foundation
an immense amount of debris was gradually
piled by the water. The resultant pressure
upon the bridge was very great, and fears we're
entertained for the safety of the structure
unless some means could be devised by which
the obstruction can be removed
The crowd was not satisfied with remaining
on the bridge. As many as possible clambered
out on the scows and seemed to enioy the
dangers they were counting.
Three coal barges, which drifted down to the
bridge at an early hour this morning, were
scuttled and suSk, and similar action will
probably be taken with regard to the scows.
The damage to the Potomac flats cannot as
yet be estimated. Col Hams, in charge of
the improvements said to a STAR re-
porter this afternoon, that it would be
impossible for him or anyone else to make an
estimate until the water had subsidized. He
would not be surprised if the destruction
proved to be very great.
People who resided at this end of the Long
bridge say that the coffer-dam at that point has
been almost entirely sWept AWAY