The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-05-28
LOSS BY FLOOD.
BRIDGES, DAMS, BUILDINGS AND
LIVE STOCK SWEPT AWAY.

Naiiy AL luGIls lUs
Less TO County and Private
Property Estimated at
$4,000.
Sixty thousand dollars will hardly coyerthe
loss sustained in Cecil county by floods along
the Little Elk, and Little North East Creeks
on Thursday. The streams already swollen
by the recent rains became raging torrents
from the downpour of Thursday morning
and carried everything in their way. the loss
being the heaviest known in the history of
the county.
The greatest damage occurred on the Little
Elk Creek, which has its source ut the
Pennsylvania line and flows down through
the Fourth and Third districts, empting into
the Elk river Il mile below kton. Along its
course are located many OF ths importa Mt
mills OF the county-the Providence paper
mills-and the following plants of Lewis &
Son, Harvey and Blake. Harands Bonrd
Mills, and the Marley Will Paper Mill in
every case the dams being swept away and
other property destroyed. Two iron bridges
on the limo of the Cecil, Lancaster and South
bridges at Providence, Childs. Marley and
Elk Landing were carried away. The farms
along the stream We're washed, live stock
drowned and fences swept away.
| Rain feI! i'll steady downpour in the
Fourth district from five until about eleven
o'clock on Thursday morning. and much
uneasiness was felt, at the Providence Mill
| 81, til. Il
Gus pressure was being brought to bear upon
the reservoir and dams, by the rising stream.
| Higher and higher rose the water-the down
pour continuing with increased volumn.
Shortly after ten o'clock the crisis came and
with mighty roar the dam breasts broke
| and the surging torrent began its course of
destruction toward the Elk river. At
Providence the county iron bridge was swept
off its foundations and houses near the mill
were submerged.
No other damage was sustained by the
Singerly Pulp and Paper Company excepting
the breaking of the reservoir. The machinery
was not damaged. The lowlands were COW
cred to the depth of ten or twelve feet. and
horses and cattle grazing in the meadows
were picked up in the current
Tho people living along the creek had lit
tie warning before tho flood was right upon
them, and there Were several narrow escapes.
The Walnut Valley FIGURING Mills, of Lewis
& Son was next in the course of the flood.
There the dam was washed out and other
| damage sustained.
At Carriers Mill no damage Of consequence
is as yet reported. The fury of the water
was next felt at Harlan's Mill, where the dam
breasts went out. Considerable stock was
carried away and ruined.
Further down the creek at Marley Mills
operated by C. S. Garrett & Co.. OF Phila-
delphia. Not only the dam but the large
storage warehouse was carried away. There
were stored about a thousand rolls Of wall
paper stock-several hundreds Of which
were lost. Some of this paper was hauled
| out by rescuers all along the stream. The
county iron bridge at this point was carried
away. Several houses were submerged and
fences carried away.
A short distance below Marley Min-at
Childs-considerable damage was done to the
large Wilpa FIGURING Mills OF Harvey & Blake.
! The dam was almost completely DESTROYED.
The house Of a colored family was submerged
and the occupants were compelled to seek
safety on the roof where they waited until
the flood subsided. The covered county
bridge at Childs was washed off its founda.
tioE.
The height Of the water was best indicated
at the bridge of the P, w. & b. Railroad
crossing the stream just west of Elkton, Al
IL o'clock the water was surging over tho
tracks, which are fully fifteen feet above the
ordinary high-water mark. At this point III,
flood covered an expanse in width of almos
half a mile, and where many gathered tc
watch the current as it swept debris pas
them
An exciting incident occurred here. A
colored man had gone out upon little islant
to rescue cows owned by Charles Armstrong
The flood burst so suddenly upon him thai
he was soon up to his neck in water, and ht
was rescued with difficulty.
At the Red Mill Touring plant, owned b,
Charles Armstrong, the water rose over tn,
first story and damaged the machinery. The
dam had been washed out several years ago
At Elk Landing two spans of the woodel
bridge on the county road leading into Ell
Neck were torn out and at Deibert's Boat
Yards more or less valuable lumber was
swept away. The men were working
in the yards up to their waists in water, say.
ing the material. The covered bridge al
the Red Mill was threatened, but withstood
the strain.
LOSSES OF LIVE STOCK.
Nine head OF fine cattle, several hogs and
many chickens were drowned at the Elktou
Stock Farm, William NJ Rogers, proprietor
Other farm owners along the creek, sustain
ing loss of stock, are b. Beste Dennis Mullen
II. Cantwell.
Several cows were picked up by the current
on the property of Mr.. Mullen. Two of the
animals saved themselves by swimming and
were landed several miles down the stream.
LITTLE NORTH EAST CREEK.
The Little North East creek that empties
into the North East river at North East. also
rose to great height, and considerable pro-
perty sdamaged from its bordering territory
The dam at Armstrong; flour mill was
damaged and the covered bridge at Mearns
mill swept away.