Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-01

Water, water everywhere! Muddy water
raging, boiling, racing, whirling past the city
TO the sea, creeping up, inch by inch, foot by
foot, turbid, angry food, showing its teeth
and growing in its fury. AL along the George
town river front yesterday folks looked at the
clouds and then ont at the driving rain and
shook their heads. The stiff southeast gale
held the tides back and slowly the water began
to rise during the afternoon. As time went on
the winds blew harder and the rain pelted
faster, and merchants began to grow alarmed.
Al midnight Rock creek shook itself and
rushed down into the river Q torrent 1t
mounted rapidly, and by three o'clock was
higher than ever known before, by 4 feet, ac-
cording to the estimate Of those at the aque-
duct office. Then, when the wind went down,
the food in the creek subsidized somewhat and
contained to fall, though Iall during the day it
has danced down at Q frightful speed, and is
still Tar above Its normal height, and three
times as broad as usual The tall trees on the
little islets In the center of the creek are bent
low and the smaller ones leveled to
the tide. At one place an onion bed that was
covered last night had been uncovered by the
falling waters, and the green stems of every
bulb lay stretched northward while the food
swept rapidly to the south. Great masses of
hmbers from shattered structures up the creek
came tumbling down the stream, humping into
piers, smashing into walls, burying themselves
In banks
The Scene from the Aqueduct Bridge.
The Aqueduct bridge was lined with people
from An early hour this morning watching the
mad race Of the yellow Potomac, while those
whose interests lay along the front were at
work As hard as beavers shifting stores, max
ing fast their scows, and taking time by the
forelock while the waters crept higher and
al rha uh nd ,y%a 81
cellars. At noon the river running with
the speed Of q race horse, so fast that even the
ablsst guessers shook their heads and declined
to estimate its speed Some folks said it was
an hour. some Is, others 20. A and
II was even thought by few that the water
was travelling as fast as Is miles an hour. The
trees on the Three Sisters were submerged
save a few waving leaves, that looked like
green driftwood; the causeway from Virginia
to Analostan Island was almost invisible and
between the island and the shore was a broad
swift current. The Columbia clubs boathouse
was isolated from the island by stream 20 feet
wide. and along the shores of the island great
breakers roared as the food, impeded by the
rocks on the bank, tumbled up and over them.
The ANGRY FLOOD.
The water swirled and swung under the Adue-
duct bridge, boiling as it struck the piers, and
whipping up a foam with a roaring and grind
ing sound that was frightful Along the
wharves was great activity. gang of men
were ready with boats TO catch timbers, but
they crept near the shore with a safety line to
the wharyes. The channel totally
clear of all craft. none daring to
brave the tremendous current that
would have swept them to probable destruc-
ton. Tug-boats worked their way up the river
along the wharves by running ahead slowly
for time and then tying up to get their breath.
Two or three schooDers lay along the shore
near the bridge, guyed by several strong ropes
that grew taut and threatened to break under
the strain as the great masses of water struck
The bulls and swung them out.
A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
Three men went out in a small boat near
Dents foundry TO make fast a line on a
schooner, and, with a sudden whirl, the boat
overturned, throwing its occupants into the
water. Two of them reached the wharf safely,
but the tide caught the third, great brawny
fellow, Of enormous strength. and swept HIM
down. Some one threw him a line, but he was
several yards down before he was pulled in
The struggle was terrific one, those on shore
pulling with al their might and the unfortunate
man struggling with the frenzy of despair At
last he reached the shore. weak and about to
give up, every shred of clothing torn from him.
The food had literally stolen his clothes from
his back
Reports were received hourly at the aque-
duct once OF the condition OF affairs at Great
Falls, although there was no apprehension OF
danger 10 the works. Col Wilson remained at
the office until after midnight last night. Speak
ing this morning Of the odd circumstance of
water causing ire at the lime kilns, he told Of
SINGULAR
paradox he experienced while stationed in Ore
gon. The water, he said, rose so high that
there was none to drink, and it became so cold
that there was no ice 10 obtain. This resulted
from the flooding OF the wster-works pump,
and the freezing of the ice machines pipes.
NEWS FROM THE UPPER POTOMAC.
At half-past eleven word was received at the
Office that at lock 20, Just above Great Falls the
river and the canal were one food, while the
river was at least II feet above its usual level.
FLOODED CELLARS ON THE AVENUE
In nearly every basement and cellar on Penn
sylvanis avenue there is from one to four feet
Of water, and as these cellars are used mostly
for storing goods the aggregate damage will be
considerable. Around the Center market and
Louisiana avenue the damage will be greater
than anywhere else, as this point is very low.
The cellar Of the Howard house is flooded
TO 9 depth Of four feet and q large
stock Of vegetables and groceries were de-
stroyed The servants were busy this morning
fishing them out. The Marble saloon is flooded
TO q depth Of about Is inches. Further up town
the Richmond and Danville railroad company's
building has feet Of water in the cellar and
men were busy all day pumping it out, but it
came in faster than they could get rid Of ii.
The ground door Of the Center market is
flooded, and the busy housewife had to
hurry with her purchases. A great many
Of the stands had to be vacated
The water backed up through the foreground
sewers. Chief PARIS has been in receipt Of a
great many requests for his engines to pump
out cellars. The water department has an en-
CINE, which they purchased some time ago for
this work, and it will be utilized
Railroad Communication with the South
Cut on.
Railroad travel south Of Alexandria has been
abandoned for the present. The trains leaving
here yesterday afternoon had to return, not
being able to get through. The Richmond
train north, due here at $40. was compelled TO
stop Of Fredericksburg The schedule of all
south-bound trains on ID A and T. coast line
the Midland road and the Washington and Ohio
road (north and sOuth) are aunulled until fur
ther orders. The full extent Of the damage
10 the roads cannot yet be determined
The Midland road Is said to have suffered most
Il Is thought that they will not be able TO turn
svheel on that road until Monday. so e1ten-
sive 10 the damage TO culverts, bridges, and
track The Alexandria and Fredericksburg
road is badly damaged, also the Washington
and Ohio. 10 Is known that three bridges are
down between the junction and Falls Church
The bridge over Cameron Run has been slightly
damaged and about 100 yards Of track dam