Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-05
The Flood at fredericksburg.


Tie recent flood ct Fredericksburg and in
that vicinity caused more damage than has
vet been ascertained. Parts Of ihe city were
at one time submerged, and the fire bells
were sounded on Saturday night as warn.
ing to the citizans to be ready to leave. The
electric lights we're put out acd the water
works demolished. The outlook for water
famine ia serious and the city is defenseless
in case of ire. This causes no little fear aud
anxiety. No mills or manufactures run by
that power will be able to resume operations
for at least sixty days. The river there rose
to the remarkable height of forty-nine feet
above high-water mark, beating a previous
records.
The following is an estimate made of the
loss in the city Falmouth bridge, $50 ,OOO;
Hunters bridge, $50 .000 Scott's bridge,
$4,000; the Bridgewater Roller Mills,
$40 600; Germana Flour Mills, IS 600; Elk.
celsior FIGURING Mills, $500; damage to
property, $50 600; damage to crops, Sl25, 600;
John Ward and w. S Embrey, tie-dealers,
SO 500; Rappahannock boathouse, 1000 !;
Steamboat warehouse and contents, SS,OOO;
making the total Losses $3.50 600.
Mr.. Charles E. Hunter, ir., son of Q. II
Hunter, proprietor of Farmers Friend Plow-
Works, was drowned frum the bridge cross
ing to his fathers island. His father, who
lives upon the island, had been caught on
the island by the rise, but the citiz9ns
thought little of it, as there was never case
ia The history of the town where tae
water had reached the dwelling situated
on the island. But the unprecedented rice
had flooded the house to the second
s;org, and az vhere was no indication OF
abatement q number of citizens, including
Young Hunter and his wife, went up 10 see
il thay could not get MIR. Hunter ard dis
wife eff. Ga arriving there young hunter
went out on the iron bridge, which spans
tne river to the island, and which was COW
cred with about two feet of water, and was
telling his father he had better 60 to the
barn, for Il was almost impossible for the
water to reach him there. Some little con-
| yersation then fl lowed between the two,
when without Moments notice the entire
bridge, with Hunter captive, was swept
away. 90 striking the water young Hun
Ter eresped q piece Of timber, but finding 1t
was taking him to the rocks he let loose
sn6 caught another piece nearer the shore,
and taking of his hat sprung from the tim.
Der and had swan 10 within twenty feet OF
the shore, when the current turned him,
throwing him upon rock and striking his
head. Not movement of his body was
again visible and he sank to rise no more In
full sight of his wife, father, mother, and
several friends. As he went down the
heart,eudug cries Of the young wife were in
deed pitifu. He was twenty seven years
of ace and lea7as q wife and two young
children. The affair cast q gloom far be-
beyond the loss of property over the entire
community. He was beseeched by his wife
and friends not 10 make the venture, but
did so because he could not hear OF his father
on shore Old Mr.. Hunter and wife were
held prisoners on the island Till the iiood
subsidized hut their house was swept away
Hunters body baa not been found. tx
element was intense on Sunday on the
rpuort OF the giving way OF the dam. Pso
bio were rushing wildly about the street;
cryinc for help A courier was dispatched
and in O short time returned and somewhat
relieved the feara of the populace by report
ing that it had broken about twenty feet on
the Stafford side, thus carrying The majority
of tic water down through Stafford county
Had il broken on the other side the proba
biity is that the entire town would have
been swept away and e number of lives lost
bsfore the people could have gotten beyond
the reach of the wafer. The scenes pre-
sented on the river bank as far as the eye
could reach can hardly be described. The
dam when built cost 5000 600, and until on
examination s made of the part standing
the loss cannot be stated. By this brenkage
the entire current of the river has been
changed from the Fredericksburg side tc
ths low lands Of Stafford. Brick buildings
two stories high we're DO more than strawf
in the rivers angry rush. Stone walls thirty
feet at their base ard rs high, cracked, broke
and crumbIcd as clnds Of dirt thrown against
q stone wall Buildings, furniture aud al
most everything, have been carried along
by the current as if they were but common
| feathers. l. is reported that five men were
drowned at Falmouth. From the adjacent
counties the information is that the destruc
ton of property is appalling,