Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-11
DAMAGE BY THE RAIN
THE HEAVY SHOWERS CAUSE THE
STREETS TO CAVE IN.
MORE TROUBLE At CALICO HILLS.
The Water Main Bursts, Filling the
NewIy-Constructed sewer With
Freshet.

The rainfall hero yesterday between
noon and midnight was perhaps the
heaviest for any twelve hours during this
entire summer. remarkable for hard rains,
severe storms. and hot days.
The showers were frequent and heavy,
and some OF them were Of long duration.
The first rain OF consequence during the
day fell between and o'clock, and
while this was quito considerable show
er. II lasted only few minutes, and the
sun was soon shining brightly again. But
about o'clock there came one OF the
most terrific downpours witnessed here In
years. The water fell in sheets, and Main
and Broad streets were like small-sized
rivers.
This shower lasted something like a
half hour, and rain, more or less heavy in
its fall, continued almost without cessa-
ton until long after midnight. There was
every variety from a gentle shower to
drenching downpour.
RISE, in THE RIVER.
The heavy rains in the mountain Sec
ton of the State for some days past have
caused a considerable rise in James river.
Late Tuesday evening the water at Col
umbia, where the Rivanna empties in,
was but feet above ordinary tide, and
falling During the night however, the
stream began to rise rapidly again, and
by midday yesterday had reached II feet
at the point indicated. At Scottsville,
about twenty-five miles further up, the
rise was 10 1-2 feet. The water got up 20
IS 40 feet at Columbia late in the after
noon, and soon began to fall about as
rapidly as it had risen.
There was considerable rain all up the
river during the day, but not enough, 1t IS
thought, to affect the stream, and there
is no apparent danger of freshet or Of
damage here. 1t takes over % feet at
Columbia to make the situation grave in
the lower sections here. Fortunately, the
very heavy showers of the afternoon and
night seemed TO be confined to Richmond
and vicinity.
DID MUCH DAMAGE HERE.
While the heavy rainfall here will not
affect the river to any extent, it did
good deal of damage-chiehy TO the
streets of the city. All the thorough
fares were given a good, and, perhaps,
needed washing, but On the other hand
there were several caveins Of more or
less serious character. Shockoe creek
rose rapidly, but the showers were sufii-
GENTLY scattered TO prevent any serious
results from this source.
There was a big cavein late in the. af-
ternoon on Twenty-frst street, half way
between Broad and Marshall. This was
the fresh outbreak of an old trouble. A
cavein occurred here about two weeks
ago, but was filled up few days later.
The rain yesterday washed this place
out again, and apparently made the
break in the street larger than before.
The hole is some 6x12 feet, and quite
deep. 1t was full of water e. midnight,
and the edges were still crumbling. This
break did not seriously interfere with
street-car travel, as the timbers OF the
track were promptly braced.
The big break on Fifth street, between
Jackson and Duval, which the city
hands had been repairing, washed out
again, and all the work will probably
have to be done over again. The break
extends almost entirely across the street,
ard is wide and deep.
There were also some small cave-ins or
washouts in streets in other sections. The
high fence on the side of Wake & Bal
laufs coal-yard, next to Bakers alley,
on Cary street between Seventeenth and
Eighteenth. gave way, filling the alley
with coal and slightly damaging house
on the opposite side, occupied by colored
people. Some OF the crockery in the
house was broken.
The telephone and telegraph wires were
considerably crossed, and the electric
light people also had some trouble.
THE WATER-PIPE BURSTS.
The rain adds greatly to the compl
Gated situation of the break in Twelfth
street. just back Of and below the Gal
lego Mills. The city hands have been
pushing ahead vigorously on the new Gull
vert being constructed up Twelfth street
from the river to Cary street, but much
OF their work may have to be done over.
The sewer had been gotten in such con-
dition that the water could be readily car
ried off from the broken place, but the
torrents of water resulting from the rain
washed in the heading Of the sewer, and so
choked up its mouth with debris ard dirt
as to greatly retard the outflow. To add
TO the trouble, what seemed to be the
Waterman down Canal street burst in
the sewer opening about midnight and
this great volume of water was added.
The openings in the street soon filled
nearly to the street level, and the banks
caved considerably. Much Of the earth
near the base of the east wall of The mill
gave way. All dlldCHe VI luc wafer DG-
partment was sent for TO cut Off tho flow
into the broken main.
ELECTRIC WIRES CAUSE FIRE.
A fire was started twice in Kenny's
tea store, corner of Broad and Sixth
streets, last night, the blaze in each in
stance being attributable to electric wires
disarranged by the storm. The first
occurred about midnight, and a chemical
engine was summoned by private alarm
The flame was extinguished with little
more damage being done than the de-
struction of an awning. Later second
fire started from the same cause. and an
electrician had to be called to adjust the
wires.