Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-06-06
THE FLOOD AT HARPER'S FERRY.

The numerous exciting rumors ofthe unpre-
cedented flood of Saturday drew numbers of
spectators to the spot on that and the succeed
ing davs In sharp contrast to the comfortable,
vine-covered dwellings and blooming garden s
that met the eyes of visitors as they drove
through Bolivar and over Camp
were the scenes of desolation as soon as the
traveller came in view Of the usually placid
Shenandoah. Turbid, roaring, swollen,-its
waters dash down to the " meeting place only
10 be Rugged with vicious fury blythe equal
" excited aud angry Potomac Words are
be-nry when an attempt is made u describe
the sghts-ony those who SAW can appreciate
In the principal Observation-Disclosures wa
ter was seven feet higher than on any known
occasion and reached the ewes of some of the
houses. covering much valuable household
property that could not be removed, damag-
ing and devastating once beautiful homes, and
running large stocks of merchandise; out be-
yond rushed the Unsuitable food carrying with
it all the effects of many household and de-
stroying what it could not take, while in some
cases tn houses themselves were aoa;ed away.
From JefIe sons Rock the view was indescri-
bable and surpassed anything the immortal
statesman saw when he pronounced the view
so wonderful
The G. n o. Canal was entirety merged into
the Potomac-the tow-path obiterated. The
pulp mill, newly completed, was almost cover
ell with water and logs and other materia /
carried off The point of intensest interest
for many hours was the great iron bridge of
the B so K across the Potomac. The ra-
sing food did its utmost to sweep away the
heavy structure. and for a time it seemed as
though it would have its way. But locomo-
tive after locomotive to the number of ten or
twelve was run on the bridge to weight it down,
and after long SuSpenseit became evident that
at last the work of destruction was checked
There were some particularly sad features Of
the speciacle families homeless, Others trying
20 gather mp and save the remnant Of their
property. One incident drew almost simulta-
neous smile and tea: rs many leaned over the
railing down Camp Hill and looked to the Po-
tomuc they saw just below two tired sad-loOk-
ing men toiling up the hill with bureau
drawer full of papers-evidently making an eff
fort TO preserve that which was perh APPS of
most value among their effects About half way
up the steep hill the bottom of the DR. wer fell
ont and the papers were scattered peilmell to
the ground. The poor fellow cast his eye up
at the observers with a half-despaiTing smile.
and without a word set to work TO collect his
treasures. Nightfall Saturday found the water
still rising, but it ceased soon after, and the
fall soon commenced as vigorously as the rise
had done.
The serious losses at Harper's Ferry The
Island Park bridge; the Mason bridge; tress-
ling and bridges on w. e. P. r. r. houses {;
store goods and household and other personal
property Of persons along Shenandoah street
principally as follows, in part Maj G. w.
Green. Col. J. Garland Hurst, G. c.. Child, c.
]. Cavalier, 7 W Beale James McGraw, Jas.
Conway. Mrs. S. A Graham. J. l.. Daley, VIM.
Doran. ] II. Myers, C b. Wentzell, NJ. Walsh,
Alex. Murphy, II. V Daniel, Mrs. Van Bluch-
err Thos. Geary, c. B. Wentzell, Joseph Rem
ner. z. H. Cavalier, Thomas Jones, Moses
Fine. Newton +. Webb and others. Across
the river Capt. Spencer lost a dwelling and
store house and stock The b. & o. shops
at Sandy Hook immense damage to r. e O..
i'm trcssling and otherwise. Mr. T. A. Kirwan
lost his stock. and two stables andan ice-house
The Pulp Mill is said not to have been Sc /
ously injured, but the company loses by break
ing Of dams and the drifting away of an i'm
mense number of logs. The great Touring
mill on the island of Virginius doubtless WIS
considerably damaged by the overflow James
Foreman's house on the east side Of the Shen-
andoah was swept away.
AT Shepheristown in addition to the loss of
the bridge over the Potomac, a bridge and saw
mill of Mrs. Shepherd were destroyed and
soma houses on the canal opposite.
Bush Smallwood'S HOUSE, opposite Bloomery,
was carried away also the Shannondae ferry