The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-24

Never before In tho history OF Roanok has any
one ever Witnessed the sccnes that the streets now
present. From sunt ct on Monday evening until
the coudburst came the atmosphere was almost
sulp' urous. Not n breath OF air was stirring
and the very leaves on the trees were as still us
painted ship uponc painted screen Dark clouds
that had banked In the west began rolling up in
dark blllows across the clear sky and ever and
anon flash OF lightning and the distant muttcr OF
thunder gave indications OF an approaching
storm. At the same time cloud began to form
in the cast which also came up with great rapid
ity and struck the city about nine O'Clock A
hesv shower came down, hut 1t WAS not until
the cloud from the west, which had assum ed
pinksh hue, comminglcd with the one from the
east tn at the storm burst in Its fury
Tho water did not fall IN drops or in torrents.
bnt literally fell in solid sheets, that brushed the
protecting umbrella inside though 1t had been
web OF gossrmcr. Every moment for fully two
hours II seemed to increase. In a few moments
the streets were covered with water. The cutters
room overlooked and the roaring torrents came
laundering down the streets In n manner that
would have shamed the swiftcst mill race. As
the minutes wore on the water crept higher and
higher and gradually the streets assume ed the ap-
pearancc OF swift narrow rivers as boxes, bar
rcls, and timbcrs came floating by on them. Over
the sidewalks and Into the stores came the flood.
The merchants abandoned their sweeping
broOms, barred thcirdoors and by packing cloth
and other material over the chipks attempted to
build n dam that would protect them, but of no
avail; each moment the water rose, until at last
all efforts were abandoned to keep 1t out and the
workmen turned their attention to storing the
goods On high shelves. In many OF the stores IL
MI hat hx,f
saved from the lower shelves
By II oclnck in many OF the stores on Salem
avenue It whs from one to four feet deep. Boxes
though they had been set adrift on q lake AS
serlons IA the situation was, there was some
thing ludicrous In watching the workmcn plung-
sionnly slipping and failing head over heels into
u In their ciroits to secure the floating merchan-
disc
On Sa EN- avenue the sight was one long 70 he
remembered. The deep excavation for the new
sewer Tor long time proved a receptacle for the
ity OF the flow the idea that it would prove mad
equatc to carry 1t on would lever present itself
However in u very short time 1t overlooked, con.
ver,nE the avenue Into perfect river, In some
pl ices from twelve to fourt, en- feet deep. Ali
Glnas o; hings intending heavy timbers, were
graph poles and buildings
ihc resemblance to river was so perfect that
n"wi outstanding the drenching rain that still con-
II tion for swim overcame them and they
plunged In. This was certainly novel sight Tor
any city on earth unless indeed IL were Venice
and especially for this one nevertheless the bows
seemed most thoroughly TO enjoy the sport In
this novel situation and for n long time 1t was
Kept up by many Of them.
Few people who had business houses on Salem
avenue, Campbell and Jeffersons streets slept
subsidized before daylight they were at their posts
up IL late honr In the day working to rescue ne
much much OF their goods as possible from ruin.
Gle to the eyes OF those who have go long been ac-
cusomcd to contemplate the streets OF The city
Between THE TINES office and the Ponce de Leon
when 1t dried away barrels, boxes, casks plauks
and other dt bris lined the ground as though a
factory with the contents OF a saw MILL
On Salem avenue the diagonal bridge, where
Treu, run crosses the street was bodily picked up
and 1ammed against the stores on the opposite
side Around the machine that was beir e used
In e1cayating and pumping on the sewer WORK
in the lumber line that the heart could desire
On the vacant lot between THE 1IMEs building
and Jefferson street up to noon yesterday the
small boys were riding planks in four feet of
water. Above Commerce street, owing to the
undnlating nature OF the ground, property
across the Norfolk and Western yards the water
was at one o'clock in the morning from four to
five feet deep, but little timber and some sand
were left In this quarter and II was removed at
an carly hour.
Every available workman to be had was placed
tie fret thing yesterday morning at work repair
r
timber end debris and by night had succeeded in
restoring Roanoke to something of her former
appearance.
The ground for several acres around the old
Roanoke and Southern depot was covered with
from two to ten feet OF water. The ground has
caved In and been washed out along the bridge
that cevers Trout Run from the market house
to Holiday street. The bridge over Lick Run,
near the Roanoke an Southern depot was con
siderably damaged, the north ell d being elevated
about one foot, while the other end was on
account OF the earth washing away around 1t,
lowered several inches.
The board sidewalks around and below the
market house were washed from their DO -ition
and are now lying promiscuously around on the
ground. The floor OF the market, which is now
undergoing repairs. was covered with several
inches OF water but no material damage done.
Near the crossing OF the Winston Salem divi-
sion with the Norfolk and Western railroad the
street car line to Vinton was washed and torn up
for distance OF seventyfve feet A force Of
hands was put TO work on it Immediately.
The track was also torn up few feet near
Brick row When the electric current gave ont
the car WAS left in front of Brick row in several
inches OF water.
Several acres OF ground were covered with wa.
ter between Brick row and the brewery, the wa
ter overlooking the tracks OF the Norfolk and
Western yards and the street car line. Near the
furnace It looked as IL vast river had suddenly
burst, the water rushing down from both the
Shenandoah and Norfolk and Western railroads
The yards OF the Machine Works were covered
with few inches OF water, bu. no damage was
done except In the foundry, where all the sand
was washed up with mud and cannot be used nm