Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-06-04
A Terrible Flood !!
a Large Area Delayed With
Waterl
Haper's Ferry Agdin Smitteni
Immense Destruction Of Property!
The Water Nearly ,Seoen Feet Highe,
Than Ever KnosOn Before, at
Harper's Ferr9I
Immense DeatrnoIion Of Pr0pertyl
Haper's Felry -Again SmittenI


On Friday evening the rivers at
Harper's Ferry began to rise, and
its people experimenting flood began
to prepare for it by moving their
household and store goods to places
of safety, but in the pouring rain and
binding darkness they could do but
little and we're compelled to leave
their possessions to the fury of the
rapidly rising waters.
About 10 P. NJ. Friday the head
gates at Shenandoah City were swept
away, and soon the houses on tie
Island of Virginius and South Bolivar
were surrounded by water and their
occupants rescued in boats.
At very early hour Saturday
morning the streets of Harper's Fer
ry were passable, but owing to the
rising of both rivers, in short
while its streets had the appearance
of Venice, large and small boats being
rowed through them, its railroads
were under water and before the sun
had set two bridges-one at the Island
of Virginius and the Loudoun bridge,
crossing the river almost opposite the
iron bridge-some small houses and
parts of houses on Shenandoah street,
a house and store owned by Mr.. A.
Spencer and several owned by the G..
& o. Canal, in Maryland just opposite
the Harper's Ferry bridge, pavilions.
swings, &C., at Island Park, were car
ried away; the telegraph and pulp
mill offices were swept down the river,
but caught; the houses on Shenandoah
street were vacated and nearly all of
Harper's Ferry was under water, the
water being up High street some feet
above tile footof the stone-steps lead
ing up to Jefferson's Rock.
The water continued to rise until
about 10 P. NJ. Saturday, when it
began falling, and continued to fall,
so that by Sunday afternoon it was
possible for some of those living near
the centre of the town to return to
their homes, where scraping of mud
and cleaning became general, rubber
boots and brooms being at premium.
Shenandoah street Clover part) was
impossible, owing to the accumula-
ton of debris. Father Wilson'S stable
was overturned in the middle of the
street, and was piled up with trees.
driftwood, &c.
The water at Harper's Ferry on
Saturday was six feet eight inches
and aquarter higher than in the flood
of 1877, and at one time on Saturday
it raised one foot in fifteen minutes.
| Some spectators noticed three men
on roof coming down the Potomac
on Sunday about 8 A. A., and when
near the Ferry they attempted to
jump to canal boat but fell and
were lost sight of.
Tho damage to property is very
great. Following are the names of
the heaviest losers of store goods and
property: G.. c. Child, Mrs S. A.
Graham, Mrs. Won Butcher, C. j.
Cavalier, j. L. Daily, VIM. Doran,
James McGraw, Moses Fine, j. H.
Myers, Thos. Geary, j. G. Hurst,
Newton Webb. t. w. BeaIe, Chas.
Doll, c. B. Wentzell, Jas. Conway,
Pulp Co., B. & o. r. R. Co., NJ.
Walsh, R. H. Cavalier, H. v. Dan
iels, Alex. Murphy, T. NJ. Conner,
G. w. Green, E. Cummings, Thos.
BoerIy, Jos. Renner, Thos. Jones'
The B. & O. Shops at Sandy Hook
are badly damaged and sidings are
washed out. Houses belonging to
Mr.. Frank Butler, Rice, Carrot & Co.
are complete wreck.
The Island Park bridge was tied to
trees on the Island side. At about
O'Clock. Saturday morning the three
far spans were moved and swung
around against the Island. A couple
of hours later the remaining five spans
were corrid off. The large refresh
ment stand and eating house of Mr..
Jno. A. Stuart, on the bank at the en-
trance to the bridge, was carried away.
The damage to the B. & o. r. r.
is immense. The track over the Po-
tomac bridge and along the entire
trestIe up to the shops near Island
Park, is washed up and then out of
shape, and the upper part under
mined. On the Shenandoah side the
trestling was saved by being weighted
down with loaded coal hoppers. The
track above, however, is very much
damaged, but we scarcely think as
much as in 1870. Then the road bed
from the Island of virginias to shen-
andoah City was sand-banl1, and was
entirely carried away. This was wise
" replaced by bed of heavy rocks,
and against this the water had not
near so much power. The iron bridge
i