Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-01

| ton, and briage has been swept down near
Clifton Forge.
The Virginia Midland track between here
| and orange Courthouse II flooded In several
| places, aud the trains this afternoon had 10
run through several inches Of water for some
| distance.
| The rain has washed the land very badly
and has damaged the wheat and other crops
very materially. but II is impossible tonight
to tell the extent OF the damage which has
| baen done.
The Riyanna river is booming tonight.
| At O'Clock the water at the Charlottesville
| Woollen-Mils bad risen eighteen feet above
the usual level, and the river was still rising
| rapidly. The water had risen several feet
In the mills, and the goods from the lower
! floors had 10 be removed. Several cottages
occupied by employees Of these mills are
flooded. and the furniture was removed
from them. Kitchens and out-houses are
| tied 10 trees and buildings 10 prevent their
being swept down the stream. great
many persons from this city weat down TO
see the freshet this afternoon. The rain
ceased falling about o'clock tonight, but
| the river will continue u rise several hours
| yet. MANY claim this 10 be the worst rain
storm since 1870.
Fredericksburg.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, May 3l.-About 10
O'Clock Thursday night heavy rsin-storm
| commenced here and has continued with
| unabAted fury all day. and at this hour.
| O'Clock L. NJ. shows no signs OF abatement.
IL Is the heaviest storm remembered here Tor
| years, and the unprecedented rise in The
Rappahaonock river is growing y an alarm.
| ing extent. II has risen steadily from
O'Clock to-day at the rate OF twenty inches
to the hour perpendicular aud still con-
| tlnuos. The amount OF debris and drift
wood aloat is considerable and should the
rise continue until midnight the Falmouth
! and SCOTS bridges will be in imminent
danger, as even al this hour grave fears are
entertained as to their safety In standing the
fearful torrents and drift-wood. a number
OF persons occupying houses near the river
have moved out, and along "llszel Ran"
they have had 10 leave in boats. The streets
in q number OF places are ankle-Ceep in
water and all traffic has ceased. A number
OF houses in the lower end OF the city are
completely inundated and almost afoat.
SEVERE STORM
The storm for severity surpasses that OF
1879, when Scotts bridge was carried away.
but the most disastrous and heaviest qusnti-
ty OF water has not yet come down, and the
water from the Rspidan and North river
and Elk ruu will probably not reach here
before midnight, and by this volume the
great damage will probably be done. and
many an anxious eye will not close until its
volume will reach here. The cItyi- entirely
cut Off by rail, as no trains over the Rich
mOnd, fredericksburg and Potomac or the
Piedmont, Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroads have arrived or left since ! O'Clock.
Irain.hands report several bridges down
between here and Qpantlco, and the culyert
at Clay Run with thirty feet OF track on the
same road cayed in, and that the damage
already done will require some time to re-
pair. No information Is TO the delay IN the
trains over the Richmond, Fredericksburg
aud Piedmont road between here and Orange
can be obtained, az there is 10 telegraphic
communication.
TWO HORSES DROWNED.
Mr. Sale, Of Caroline county, who was in
the city, attempted at a late hour this eve
ming 10 cross Deep Run just below town TO
reach home. but when about midway the
tide swept his horses around, and not being
able to make shore they were drowned, he
narrowly escaping the same fate. They were
two very fine colts and were hitehed to
double buggy.
The damage so far done will exceed that
Of any previous storms since 1851 The
damage along the river cannot be estimated,
but is immense. as all the popIar-wood rail-
road ties and other shipments on or near
wharves hGve been carried away.
1t is also reported that several bridges
across the Rapidan and North rivers have
been carried away.
RIVERS OF STREETS.
The intensity OF the storm still continues
and the streets present a river almost in
itself. Houses some distance from the river
are inundated and people are going about in
boats. The city is in entire darkness, as
neither the gas nor electric-light machinery
are at work. Private houses and public
places are using ou-lamps. The Rappahan-
mock river still continues on its unprece-
dented rise and its raging torrents are madly
flowing. II has reached at this hour the
third floor o. the steamboat warehouses, in
which are stored a large lot Of perishable
merchandise which is a total loss. Neither
Scott's nor Falmouth bridges have as yet
given away. II is reported that two spans
OF a bridge are passing down the river at
this time, but where from cannot be ascer-
tanned. A number OF cattle have also been
drowned. The loss in this item alone will
be great.
TIE LATEST.
11:40 7. N.-The storm has somewhat
sbated, and a stiff wind is blowing. Reports
received at this hour from Kng~George, Es-
sex, Richmond, Wes!moreland, and other
lower counties report the storm unequalled
in fierceness. and that houses, bridges, csi-
tie, and crops are being swept away by the
raging waters. Ali saling-Yessels aud
steamboats, have taken refuge in BiackwelPs
harbor.
RAIN AT WINCHESTER.
WINCHESTER, Va, May 31.-There has
been an incessant downpour OF rain for the
last thirty hours. At times the winds were
very high. Many magnificent wheat-fields
are laid fiat and the wheat is materially In
iured. All the water.courses are beyond
crossing.
PERFECT HURRICANE.
HARRIsoSBURG, VA, May 31.-There was
a great storm in this section last night. The |
wind blew perfect hurricane. Wheat was
blown down, trees uprooted, houses un- |
rooted, and fences laid low. The damage |
is great.
RONCEvERTE, W. "A.
RoNCEvERTE, W. VA. May 3l.-Ronce- !
ver:e was yesterday aud to-day visited by |
one OF the worst floods known here since |
1877. The st. Lawrence Boom and Manu- |
featuring Company is very heavy loser in |
consequence Of their mills being situated on |
the banks OF the river. SO far 100000 feet |
of their logs have been swept away. and the |
loss 10 expected to reach at least 100000 |
feet. The river ls ~ feet high and still |
rising rapidly.