Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-09
RISE IN The RIVER.
MUCH OF THE LOWER PART or
THE CITY INUNDATED.
THE STEAMBOAT WHARYES FLOODED.
Merchants Along shockoe Creek
Suffer Inconvenience, But Get
Their Goods Out of the wsy--Ths
Water Falling This Mornins.

James river went on another tear yes.
terday. and inundated the low-lying sec-
tons OF the city. though II caught nons
OF the inhabitants OF the bottom nap
ping. The muddy slothful stream began
getting full Saturday night. thereby
giving warning Of its purpose to overflow
its banks. The spree was continued
through the Sabbath, notwithstanding thu
laws of Justice Crutchheld. and about
o'clock in the morning the stream be.
gan to stagger out OF its beaten path.
The wharves of the Old Dominion
Steamship Company, the Bay Line, and
the Virginia Navigation Company wsrs
first attacked. but the companies having
noticed the fulness OF the stream. had
made preparations to receive the murky
waters, and when they flowed over the
floors OF the sheds all freight on storage
In them had been moved TO a place Of
safety
DIDN'T STOP AT THE wHARvEs.
The river soon flowed over the wharves.
but not being satisfied with the prey
II found there. continued on over to
Lester street, where IL inundated the
lower floors OF the stores and residences
on the north side thereof. and flowed
through them into Rocketts's old field.
completely surrounding a portion OF the
Lower gas-works.
Not satisfied with the FUN II was having
at the expense OF the Rockets folks. tho
river began to play pranks on the Main
ana Cary-street merchants, whom IL
reached by way Of Shockoe creek. About
noon Sunday if hnyap 20 ha,lr 80. .ht.
creek, and slowly pushed It out OF Its
banks into the cellars OF the stores along
the banks. The merchants along Shockos
creek well know the uncertain character
or that waterway. and they never keep
much stock In their cellars, for fear of a
flood, and when they heard that tho
James was on a tear they realized that
the creek would soon Join I'm tne spree,
and they emptied their cellars.
THE WATER CAME.
The apartments didn't remain empty
long, though. for by Sunday afternoon
they were full Of water. which will have
now to be pumped out.
The fulness of the river was caused by
the intoxicating Influence OF the melting
SHOWS on the mountain sides, ara gs no
one expected that the snow there was
sufficiently deep to cause the old streem
O move out OF it's banks. the freshot was
somewhat of a surprise TO all I'm this city.
The stream rose until at o'clock yes
terday Il was three and half feet above
the floor of the Virginia Navigation
Company's sheds. 1t stood at that height
for about an hour when high-tide showed
Il up a few inches. When the tide ran
out the water began 10 recede. and IL
has gone down 20 such an extent es 10
Justify the belief that the river will be
in it's bed by this morning.
The rise here. according to the govern-
ment marks, was IL feet and s inches.
VERY LITTLE DAMAGE DONE.
While the rise in the river was very
considerable, IL was not near 50 serious
as the freshet of October last. and tha
damage will not be serious. The flooding
of the steamship wharves and OF base
ments of large stores near the water line
caused the greatest Inconvenience.
The Ross Dredging Company, which has
the government contract on James river.
had a number OF men AT work securing a
lot Of valuable timber, such as spuds, etc.
These spuds are cut from the very best
OF timber. and are about IL feet square
and 50 feet long.
The Bay Line was very prompt In get
ting its freight out. The Clyde Limo
wharf was also busy removing freight.
, Most or it was put In cars Wnlch ran
alongside the wharf and carried the goods
10 a place OF safety. The old Dominion
Company had a stupendous task to per-
form. their boat having just discharged
its cargo. Most OF IL was lying on the
wharf when word was received about the
coming high water. over a hundred men
and many wagons were required before IL
could be moved in time. All OF the clerks
and officials were at work early ana re-
malned until the last load was removed.
None OF the freight was damaged.
UP THE VALLEY.
The river reached It's highest point at
Columbia during Sunday night, and began
10 fall early yesterday morning. The rise
amounted TO q feet, but at p. Nj. the
water had fallen to Is feet, and was re-
ceding rapidly. II was then 10 feet at
scottsville and feet at Lynchburg, ana
falling at both places.
The street-cars were unable 10 run
through last night, but they Will be this
morning.