Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-08-01

! OWarQ tne Close VI i,iluIudS COOI'
refreshing breeze began blowing from
the north and vapor-laden masses OF
clouds being on the move athwart the
skies, it was supposed that the hot
wave had at last received its quietus,
and humanity was thrown into the best
humor as the cooling winds passed
through the city. But hopeful man
was a little too previous. as the
breez.s were sho-t-liyed, ana in about
an hours time dead calm set in, more
sultriness followed, aud later there was
rain, thunder and lightning. Through
out the night there was but little
change in the temperature, and at day
break the indications for a hot, dis
agreeable Sunday were very pro-
nounced. As The sun rose higher the
mercury in the thermometer grew ac-
tive and the neat severe. and if the
question, Where is The cool wave?P
was propounded once ii was Thousand
times. About three o'clock black
clouds formed in every quarter OF the
heavens and = perfect deluge OF ram
followed. The streets ran ris-ers and
in some instances overlooked both gut
ters and pavements and the waters
lasned houses in their course toward
the river aud Hunting creek. Boxes
and barrels were carried down some
streets cellars were filled and con-
siderable alarm occaSioned in different
localities. Daring heavy yaiatalls por-
lions Of Roval and Pitt streets are gen
elrlly converted Into canals, but yester-
day they presented more alarming
sDecfacles than ever before. On the
former street al its intersection with
Wilkes 10 portion OF the street or rail-
road track could be seen for q time,
and the railroad tunnel was converted
:nro 4 hugo sewer through which the
waters surgcd and roared toward the
river. Al the east end the sewer nj
the corner of Lee street had become
choked and Il lake formed, while ut the
mouth of the tunnel and for nearly
square in both directions water covered
everything. in some places to the dePlh
Of two OF three feet. The sewer out
lets in endeayorins TO disgorge their
contents caused the waters 20 bulge up
not unlike the boiling ofau immense
cauTdron. The aspect from Wilkes
street to Franklin, however during the
heaviest of the rain was The most thrill
jug. The deep gulley which starts IT
The railroad track and connects with
the lanyard ditch n square further
south oyerfowed its banks and the
waters rushed against the sides of and
under houses NJ such q velocity as to
canoe no little alarm 10 the inmates.
At Gibbon street the condition
of things ut one time was Of such = ma
lure that it was feared loss oflite would
ensue. The deep guiiey from the Bridge
pump. at the corner of Pitt street. had
overlooked its banks, and the waters
had completely covered about two
thirds of the square Of ground formerly
known as 'Shinns lot, where a mum
Der of small frame houses, occupied by
colored people, are now situated. In
one of them which faces Gibbon street
a colored man and his children were
huddled crying Justify for help which
no one could afford. as any attempt to
cross the gulley where the water was
four or fve feet deep and which resen-
bled the waste lock to 4 canal, would
have resulted in death. All this time
the rapid current dashed the house and
ran under it at such speed that lis over
turn seemed certain. However, though
not founded upon rock, it stood,
and the inmates received no harm. n
house to the south suffered most, it
having been almost destroyed by the
flood. At Franklin street where the
new sewer is being constructed, the
waters banked up, forming lake half
n square wide in which an ordinary
steamboat might have foated. The
colored denizena Of the locality had
thrilling experiences. though 50 far as
is known no injury to any one resulted;
A report that two or three people had
been carried OFT by The flood and
drowned drew several hundred eX-
tremely excited people to the locality.
In other parts of the city the water
reached points hitherto unknown.
Boxes were borne down King street by
the flood. and at the intersection of
that street with Pitt another lake was
formed, while on the latter thorough
fare from King street to Petersburg
valley an unbroken sheet Of water was
TO have been seen. \ negro boy who
undertook TO capture box which was
being carried down King street had
q narrow escape at the sewer trap IN
front OF the drug store of Mr.. Edgar
Warfeld jr. lie had hold of the box
when the surging water threw nm
from his feet, and had ne not been
speedily rescued by those who witness
ed his dangerous predjcament he would
have been drawn into the sewer and
drowned. The water in lower King
street was two feet deep, and passengers
could neither leave nor reach the ferry
house while it lasted. The water finally
receded. after which the sun came out
and more hot weather followed. Later,
however. a stiff breeze from the north
dissipated the heat and throughout last
night sleep was rendered pleasant once
more. To-day the temperature has
been lower, the thermometer at noon
indicating So, and all rejoice at the
fact that the hot wave is now among
.the things of the past.
TEACHERS ExAMINATIoN.-The City
SUPERINTENDENT of public schools re
quests us 10 say that he will begin the
examination of white teachers on Thurs
day the the 4th inst, at the Washing
Ton School building, commencing 1T y