Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-02-27
The WATERS ON A SWELL.
Loss of Life-Property Destroyed
Citizens of tiarpers Ferry in a
Predicament.


their tributaries into raging torrents,
several days the fore part ofthe week.
Charles Holton, 10 years, Gallatin
county, KY, was drowned and several
others from that section are missing
Geo. Athey and his team of horses
were drowned at Westernport Monday
afternoon. a number of cattle belong
ing to farmers above Cumberland
were drowned. All passenger trains
on the B. & o. were stopped in this
city from Monday night till Tuesday
night when the Pittsburg passengers
were transferred over the c. W rail-
road. On Thursday the trains were
running as usual The Potomac at
Cherry Run reached the highest mark
of any place along the B. & o..
William Tate, B. & o. brakeman,
was drowned in the Little Valley river
at Grafton, w. Va, having lost his
hold while standing on bridge
looking at the flood. Peter O'Brien,
a trackman, was instantly killed by a
falling stone while working on land
slide on the main stem. A fast-train,
loaded with live stock, was abandon
ed at Sir Johns Run and the cattle
were liberated. An extra locomotive
was sent out to assist the freight, but
the fires were extinguished before
reaching the train. While all this
was going on the Tuscarora remained
quite peaceful. Below are several
Geographic reports sent out from
different points:
BRUNSWICK, MD. Feb. 23. THE river
has flooded the lower stories of the
houses on Railroad street.
HARPERs FERRY, Feb. 23.--A
number Of houses are flooded. Seven
teen residents of Harpers Ferry are
on Island Park, Including four young
ladies. They crossed the bridge lead
ing to the island, and two spans of it
gave away few moments later, cut
ting them off from reaching the main
land. Apprehension is felt for their
safety, as the river continues to rise,
and 500 reward has been offered to
any one who can get them Oft. At
Point of Rocks all the streets are
flooded, and the lower stories of most
of the houses and stores are under
water.
SHEPHERDsTowN, Feb. 23.-The
Potomac is higher here than it has
been since the memorable flood of
1880. At p. m. it is about eleven
feet below the highwater mark OF
that date and is still rising about 4
inches an hour. The LIGHTHOUSE OPP
posite this place is partly submerged
and the outbuildings have been car
ried away. The canal and the river
are all in one both above and below
Shepherdstown At dam No. a every
effort has been made to prevent a
recurrence of the destruction caused
by the flood of 1880. 1t is not likely
that the canal will suffer as greatly as
it did at that time.
MADISON, IND, Feb. 23.-The Ohio
river has risen IA feet here since Satur
day. tits now 3Sieet andis still rising.
Rain has falling steadily since
Saturday.
CATLETTsBURG, KY.-The Ohio
river at this place registers ffty-two
feet six inches and is rising three and
a half inches an hour. The lower end
of the town is nearly covered with
water The Big Sandy river has
reached forty feet, the highest i'll
twenty-five years.
HUNTINGTON, Feb. 23.-The Ohio
river has flooded all the valleys in
this section and continues to rise at
the rate of four inches an hour. Most
of its tributaries are now stationary
and will soon be on the decline.
Dozens of buildings hoated out of the
Guyandotte into the Ohio and many
families have been made homeless.
All buildings in this city, Guyandotte,
Ceredo and Catlettsburg along the
river front streets are flooded Traffic
is still suspended on the Norfolk and
Western and Ohio and Big Sandy
railroads. Chesapeake and Ohio
traius were delayed twelve hours on
New river owing to heavy landslides.
RIvERToN, Feb. 23.-A long span
over the iron bridge i'll process of
erection on the north branch of the
Shenandoah river at this place was
L. L.