Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-04
A MAD TORRENT.
THE RISE or The WATER IN THE
ROANOKE RIVER.
The Greatest Freshet Known for Years
Farmers Disheartcned-A Narrow
Escape-Barn Wrecked.
correspondence Of tho Richmond ol,DA'cs.l

liOrfsHDOnleuto u tu1 hAFflihNAt s't7OR'~-sl
WELDON. ". G., August 3. 1889.
The waters Of the Dan and stanton
form the Roanoke river. and when The
news reached here Of a great fresnet IN tnc
Dan our people looked for great rise in
the Roanoke and ;heir worst fears are more
than realized. The usually placid stream
that winds 50 beautifully through green
and fertile fields il this morning roar-
ing and seething torrent. carrying de-
struction on its broad bosom az y
spreads It's mighty waters over thou
sands OF acres Of corn and cotton.
where beautiful fields Of waving corn stood
like dark green carpet. promising - hll
the store-hOuses with grain, rejoicing the
heart of the husbandman as he rested from
the heat and burden OF the summer months.
The muddy waters of the Roanoke now
stand twenty feet. aud all tho LABOR OF
months ha. been totally destroyed. Tho
river presents a grand picture rs view II
from the SoabOard bridge. As far rs
the eve can see IL comes sweeping
down the hillsides and lashts itseli ID
fury against the great massive pillars
Of the great iron structure, ana then
breaking madly around them 10 PUSHES
with a sullen roar towards the sea. Hun
dreds Of people are out tins morning LOOK
ing upon IT.
DASHED TO PTECEs.
A barn belonging 20 Mr.. !. T. Evans was
taken UP this morning bY the mad current
and dashed to pieces against the iron
bridge. The inhabitants, mostly cOlored.
living on the lower end Of Second street
commenced moving ont this morning. the
lower floors Of their houses being under
water. The water has reached the base
ment of the post-Oifce and is running
across the street Just below.
The river is much higher than IT has
been since the great food of 1871. when the
railroad bridges here were all carried away,
and II lacks only few feet OF reaching
the high-watcT mark Of That memolabit
freshet.
NARROW EscAPE.
The ferrvmau came near losing his life
to-day. His house IS completely under
water and boats had 10 be sent out 20 save
him.
The county bridge at BASES Mil has
given way and no one can come into town
from that direction. go,
At this writing. - NJ, the water ls still
rising rapidly. averaging about one foot 10
the hour. The farmers living along the
river are now completely disheartenrd.
Year after year they have planted III due
season. only 10 see their crops DESTROYED IN
the fall Last September a great ireshet
destroyed all the crops Ola the river. nothing
at all being left, and now, as the spirits
Of all were revived and dropping hearts he
gan TO lift themselves IN the giadfrliuon Of
a bountiful harvest, the great destroyer
comes swooplng upon them like mighty
giant, carrying destruction III IT. path.
Truly this is "A disastrous year The oldest
inhabitants have never seen such rams
before. The clouds seem 10 bo composed
Of the very ocean itself, as they continue
to pour out vast sheets of water, and hut
for the great promise when the Lord put
the bow in the heavens we might have
fears Of another food. But amid all the
desolation we can still look up, remem-
beriug that behind the clouds the sun IS
still shining. >.