The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-02
THE RISING RIVER.
RAPIDLY ROARING, RAGING AND RAM
PAGING.

Already Far out Of IT. Banks aud Threat
ening Another Big iiood-1he Lower
Part of Town inundatcd--Nisit To the
Monitors-faic~t Reports.
There was much anxiety yesterday
morning among the merchants Of Main.
Cary. and Franklin streets in the neigh
borho0d Of the First market about the
approaching freshet. All were eager
10 learn whether the water. which had
already reached and filled 10 con-
siderable depth their cellars. would
back up sufficiently tOcovcr Main street
and thus flood their stores They
wanted 10 know this so that they could
at once remove their goods from a
lower to a higher elevation.
REMOVING GOODS.
Messrs. Davenport q Morris yester-
day morning early. began removing
goods from their cellar. and many
hours elapsed before they began 10
remove their stock on the first floor to
the floor above.
THE WATER INCR0ACWNG ON THE
STREETS.
Water first trickled out Of tho cul-
verts on Cary street about half past II
O'Clock. aud by about 10 O'Clock the
water from the two culverts. one on
either side Of the street. met IN the
middle OF the street.
Al thissame hour the water IN Smith Rs
alley. which runs from Fifteenth TO
Seventeenth street. between Main aud
Franklin very low depressiOn-h
assumed depth Of two feet. From
this time onward the water slowly rose.
and az : o. o'clock yesterday evening had
flooded Franklin street, and Seventeenth
street north and south for consider
able distance.
At this same hour the water bad
gotten into Main street. on the south
side 10y pcTcalation through the loose
earth from the well filled cellars. At
that hour the wafer had not reached
the street through the culverts. though
Shockoe Greek was wellup TO tie bridge
by Baldwin store.
At the Richmond and York River
depot. foot of Twonty-third street. pas
sengers were received for trains bound
for West Point. and trains coming I'D
from West Point stopped there.
The usual place for all trains OF this
road. leaving the city or coming IN. to|
receive passengers and freight is the
Richmond and Danylllo Railroad DepO,.
The water, however, bad covered the
connection truck. which runs ON the
south bank of tine dock. and thus pre-
vented any running of trains.
The railroad ties mentioned IN YES
terday's paper. which were being re-
moved from tho south side 10 the north
side of the dock. were all safely gotten |
where they were wanted. They are !
now under water. but not i'm any cur |
rent. and in consequence cannot be
washed away.
Is RoCKErTs
The scene is lrigniful. All the houses |
ln Main street for several hundred /
wards are more or less under water. and /
he people living in them either being |
to move up stairs or 10 other /
quarters.
The water backed up down the Gillies
creek valley. aud flooded all the houses |
" thin its reach. the inhabitants being |
forced TO fly TO the hills and higher |
ground. Most of the families took
their furniture along with them. They
are as a general thing very poor people.
About one half are white.
AT O'CLOCK
the water bad cncroachei i'm the yard
Of the City Gas Works. As early as 4
D clock the water bad entered the sewer
INT ]
the creek. and showed its head IN the
yard right in front of the purifying
house. In rear the water had deiuged !
the lime kiln. and rendered that inn
I ortant part of the gas works useless.
The water at that hour was only |
eight feet below what 10 was at the last !
biz food at lhe gas works. The high |
water mark is permanently cut ON the |
gas lamp in the centre of the yard. The
foreman told the reporter that II the /
water rose five feet more 10 would stop
tho manufacture of gas.
At the time the reporter was at the /
IL could Boz seen that the /
water waseuoroachinC slowly. 'tis true, |
but still getting surely higher and /
higher. IL seemed from observations /
taken for several hours Co be rising ~ |
no less rate than four inches an hour.
VISIT To THE MONITORS.
A TIMEs reporter took advantage Of |
an opportunity and accepted an invita- /
iation To 20 with Mr.. Robert Hill, and |
a few friends tOthe mont or fleet. The |
tIip war made on tine tug Job b. Viii |
son. commanded by Captain Chaplell |
They reached the monitors ia twelve |
minutes After accepting the hOspita |
bic of Captain Ii Kuhl. tho executive /
officer and Captain smith, they started |
for home. The upward trip against a /
spid current was necessarily slow. en- /
abling a good view of the river /
" here Il had overlooked the low lands /
on either side.
At the monitor fleet the anchor chains /
were run out at stated intervals omeet /
.he rise of the boats a person with a /
glass standing on Libby Hill yesterday /
evening. .aid he could see the monitor, /
above the trees. something which can /
lot be done when the river is at it's
regular height.
THE LOWLANps COVERED.
On the HenIico side as we'll as the
Chesterfield side. the river has COM
pletely covered all tho low lands. In
" hat appeals 90 be a part of the river,
ard soVer. hundred yards from shore,
only the tops of trees. filled with sum
mer foliage. are seen. A stranger could
scarcely imagine that they were grow
ing on what is usually considered dry
and.
The drift-wood in the river was enor-
nous. There was enough seen in half |
m hour 20 have supplied SuperiuIend-
INT Carter with wood for the outdoor
loOr during the coming winter.
Tho high water fas the cause of the
formation of at least dozen cczy is
lands. each Of which look beautiful as
hey showed themselves above the
muddy water, for which we have 10
hank the county of r'luyanna.
At NIX. II. C.. CnANBLIN's
handsome residence. at the Witty
arm. "A fine field Of corn was growing
n front of the residence on the low
ands The water had begun To invade
his fertile field. aud much heavier
ise may damage thecOrn considerably.
Ia