The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-03
UNPR ECED ENTED RAIN
A TREMENDOUS RISE IN SII0CkOE
CREEK.
The Lower Part OF the city Under water
Ola citizens say They Never saw
the ffke Before CONSIDER
able Damage Done.

tOrrcDl1 from = n ~ llll lou ~ We
During the morning Shockoe creek be-
came much swollen. but MOB enough To
give any merchant anxiety.
Between 3 and O'Clock iu the after
noon heavy rain fell. lasting about
half an hour. People on the street
hastonod 10 shelter. The water fell in
such q volume that streets in the lower
part Of the city became impossible in
part.
Main street was only troubled with
water across the central portion OF the
street in the deepest depression. But
on Franklin street the rush of wafer
down the incline from either side
caused a flood ina DR.. Scott B drug store.
one and one half inches. The culvori
openings were not equal to the task Of
carrying away the water which fell on
the aforementioned streets.
THE cBEsArEAKE AND ONO DEPOT.
The volume Of water which came
down Broad street b. the basin in which
are the tracks of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad. babe goodbye to Che
cnlvcrts. II made "a lake ia the yard of
the railroad. This was the first time
that water ever reached % level as high
as the Chesapeake and Ohio yards be-
tween Broad and Grace streets.
The crossing az Broad street was for
"a short while covered and pedestrians
could not get across.
The water which fell IN the city soon
found its way into Shockoe creek
which had not at that time risen as
high as it latterly did.
sHoCKOE CREEK.
Shockoe creek began suddenly torise
about clock. It's rapidity was un-
cxampled. The merchants had mo-
warning. Before they knew it an the
cellars in the lower part of ihe city
were filled, and water began TO fill the
streets.
The creek. i'm Smiths alley. began to-
bring down debris. and every now and
then some one would say. as the stuii
piled up on the bridge. that it must go.
Some how it stood firmly. and when
the creek rose SOFAS To- Mood the streets
the volume of wateiHasscd over 1t aud
left il screnely alone.
AT about clock lhe creek bad
reached its highest point. and then bo-
gan rapidly to fali. leaving consii
erable quantity of mud in the street
and damages i'm large sums To- many
merchants.
Several citizens who have lived in the
valley for at least Thirty years say lhat
this is the first time that there has ever
been flood caused by surface water
coming down Shockoe creek.
They, as well as the merchants in tho
flooded district. were amazed at tho
rapid rise and cbb. The cause was that
such a volume Of water could mot get
to the river. From the beginning of
the sudden rise 30 the fall was only
about three hours.
The water ON Main street rose 90
near Mr. 1casdale s shoe store. and ON
the eastern side To- near Mr.. Thon 3
restaurant.
On Franklin street % yellow sea cX-
tended from above Union street to
Eighteenth. The waterOn Seventeenth
street was within two feet ot what DO /
was i'm the froshet several weeks ago.
THE STREAM.
Shockoe creek as il came down. uas
rapid. Ii washed ont several house,
not far from the bridge over Bacon
Quarter branch, 40 the foot ot Brook /
avenue. At This point % brcakWlter
had been made of barrels and houses
erected ON the land thus projected. The /
crock. swollen COS it WAS. paid little at /
fcuti0n to this brcakWater. hu brought !
thcbarrcls down The stream. The bridge /
over Che creek at the chesapeake /
and Ohio depot was carried away and /
ii0ated ON the current under thc other ]
bridges until it reached the arch at I
Union street. where DO was hrld and /
backed mp the water 10 such en extent /
that il bad to find an outlet through /
the shops and houses lining Union and /
Franklin streets.
UNDER WAITER.
ON Marshall street mos' of the houses /
for a distance Of more thiH one han I
bred wards were rirht iu D stream oi F
water or water backed zap. The fins.
stone arch met by doe onrenl was at
this street. and hDtc the water was
highest. 10 s0tuto ,ha yard. OF thc
.Ifv. where the oJy horses are
stabbed. and dd mot shrink from in-
yading the precincts OF thc imI ITSELF
In the stables and in ihc jail no damage
IF consequence was done as ihc water
-ecedcd in a short while after reaching
the enclosure.
TO THE RESCUE.
The wooden house on tine seutn side
IF Marshall street. in juNlapo.Iiion Co.
he regular channel of the creek. be-.
anne undermined by the heavy cur
cent. The house WAS surrounded by
wafer four feet deep. I'm 1t were three
women. a message was sent to ihe
men at Truck House No ., ON Grace
.lrcet near Eighteenth. They prompt
y arrived with ladders To- effect a
cscue. Mr.. George Shaw and Mr Fred
.ow, station mcn.and Mr. Miller wadcd
hough The water zap To their waists.
They fastened two ladders together }
md then made bridge acr0s, the rag {
NJ waters. From the undermined {
wooden house to q BRICK tenement q
cross this temporary bridge 4
he women were brought. 1t
vas slow work. rs they did
ot know how to crawl on the bars of a )
adder like a fireman, and were also h
frightened at the waves two feet below
hem. Reaching the brick tenement "a
iindOw shutter was used as "a landing ]
lace. and thus the women cot ont Of }
THAT was thought dangerous house J
lfely. There WAS practically mo- dan /
er. rs the water subsequently went !
own. leaving the house standing high b
nj dry. 1t WAS a bold undertaking e
n the part of the aforementioned /
remen and several others who J0iucd a
iem. /
ON Fifteenth street. not far from the
ridge which spans the creek, a house 4
which were TWO women and three 4
lildren, was surrounded with water. q
cry was made for assistance. SIEVE y
d parties wentfo boats. and got them, o.
nj before the same could be used the q
alter rcceded. leaving the house N
ld It's inmates high and dry. J
FLOATING STUFF. i
Shockoe creek brought down lot of :
lating stuff, sufficient to build and fill n
good size house. Al the arch under 4
mon street negro men gathered in j
INFANTS Of fences. shanties, &c. suf- II
d ] J.