Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-06-04
Details and Minor Notes Of the
Flood at Harper's Ferry.

- tAeet POI y = III .
James Foreman ; house, on the east
side of the Shenandoah river, was
washed away on Saturday afternoon.
1t was carried into an eddy opposite
South Bolivar and foated about there
for an hour or more, and then passed
down into the Potomac.
Polk Cleveland, James Rocken-
baugh and George Longerbeam went
in boat up Shenandoah street, and
took dog and two cats from dwell
ing there. In attempting to return
their boat was capsized and they saved
their lives by getting upon some de
bris which had lodged nearly opposite
Mrs Russell's house. Cleveland
swan across, with great effort, and
after some time returned with a boat.
The current running under the drift
upon which the men had taken refuge
was SO strong, however, that they
were there nearly an hour before they
were gotten off. Meanwhile there
was a fearful cracking of the debris
above them, and the onIookers would
not have been surprised at any mo-
ment to have seen a breaking up of
the wreck and the men drowned
The dog and cat that were in the boat
when it was capsized reached the
shore by swimming.
Far out in the water stood an old
stone dwelling which was partly
washed away in previous floods, and
it was certainly thought would 60 this
time. Two cats came out of this
house on Saturday afternoon, and, as
if they had concluded that they had
been there about long enough, strucl,
out for land, and after a hard strug-
gle reached terra-firma in safety.
The iron bridge at uarper's Ferry,
John Browns Fort and Armory
Tower proved themselves flood proof.
Great fear was expressed for the safe
ty of the iron bridge when the wreck
of the Shepherdstownbridge struck it,
but it remained intact; the Shep-
herdstown bridge going to splinters.
This happened at ? 80 p. NJ, Satur-
day, and was watched with breathless
interest ty thousands of onlookers.
Two dead bodies fioatcd down the
Potomac past Harper's Ferry or
Sunday afternoon.
a boat loaded with wheat lies high
and dry almost up the mountain side,
above the canal opposite Harper 5
Ferry.
Eight hogs belonging to Mr.. Ed
ward Cummings, were drowned.
Mrs. John Bond, in the excitement
of the moment, just before her house
was washed away at Sandy Hook,
threw into the canal what appeared
to BE worthless box, but which, it
since turns out, contained her gold
watch and chain.
a hoatman ferried a stranger over
from the hotel at I1arper's Ferry.
and when out in deep water threat
ened to upset the boat and drown the
man if he did not give him five dollars.
The money was paid, but when they
got ashore the stranger informed
Mayor McGlincy, and the piratical
boatman was made to hand the five
dollars back instanter.
a reasonable estimate of the num-
her of people who flocked to uarper's
Ferry on Saturday and Sunday, to
witness the flood. could hardly be
made. The turnpike approaching
Harpcr's Ferry from Charlestown on
Sunday morning was the scene of one
continuous procession of vehicles,
and at each toll-gate the services of n
half dozen or more of men, women
and children were called into requisi-
ton to aid in collecting the tolls and
to keep the road from being block
AIDED.