Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-07
Great Storm Swept Over the
Old Dominion.
JAMES RIVER AGAIN RISING
Destruction OF Property Reported
Trnmc Obstructed-The Governor
Will Return -voseta-
bIc- from BIochsburs-The ROW
England Newspaper nIcn-Rev. G.
A. MARKS ut First Lutheran Church
Especial to virginian.Pilot.)


Richmond, Va, March 6.-For the
second time within three weeks the
James river Is again in state Of flood.
The water began rising about noon yes
terday. and has been rising until 6
o'clock this afternoon. It Is not falling
yet. but it will probably begin to go
down before tomorrow. The entire
lower portion Of the city Is submerged.
Little damage has been done, as there
was notice Of the rise, and those who
resided on the waterfront got their
property out Of reach of the tide.
The track Of the James river dlvis-
Ion of the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
way was in many places submerged.
The eastbound passenger train Sunday
afternoon had to contend with water
from point short distance below
Lynchburg. At Wingina the water had
reached considerable depth at that
point but desperate attempt was
made to get the train through. The en-
CINE passed all right, but the train be-
came stalled, and the water put out
the fires in the engine. Another engine
was hastily provided. attached TO the
stalled train by cable, and 1t was
All day yesterday, and all night last
night the water, continued to rise rap
idly, until o'clock this morning it
reached at Columbia the height attain
ed during the celebrated flood of 1895
which was thirty-two and n half feet
The water stood at this altitude for
two hours and n half, and then began
to fall slowly. The worst was past
The news of the great freshet came
early to the Chesapeake and Ohio ohi-
IN f1,f Il H.
graphic dispatches from their agents
between this city and Columbia.
OPERATORS IN TROUBLE.
These messages show that agents
etuck to their posts until driven out by
thf water. One from Columbia said:
II am now standing on a chair send
Ing this message and will have to
leave
Others down the line were OF similar
import, and soon nearly all OF the Of
fees were deserted
superintendent C. G. Walker began
to make arrangements to meet the
flood about o'clock Sunday morning.
All freight was removed from the c.. &
o. wharves and general alarm was
sent out to enable others to prepare
for the coming inundation.
From Richmond to Gladstone to-day
no. a. wheel has been turning on the
James River Division of the Chesa-
pceke and Ohio. but 1t Is expected that
traffic will be resumed Tomorrow. 1t
was said by officials this afternoon tina t
though the track was submerged at
various points, they were confident. that
little damage to the road-bed had been
done. and that repair trains would be
sent out as soon rs practicable.
1t is expected that the regular pas
senger train, due to leave here at 10 80
Tomorrow morning, will go out on
time.
NOT so HIGH.
The Chesapeake and Ohio officials
said this afternoon that though the
water had reached the same height at
Columbia as during tie great nood of
1850 YET it would not be SO high here
as was the case then, for the reas on
that all OF the water this time comes
from the mountains, whereas before it
was n heavy local rain.
The train from the West over the
main line OF the Chesapeake and Ohio,
due to arrive at 1880 Saturday after.
noon. Gil not come in until Sunday af-
ternooi tWenty-four hours ate. The
cause re delay was n number OF
landsliC vest of Hinton, w. Va, due
to heaY5 ains. The damage has been
repaired.
The rise in the river is due to heavy
rains above; there has been little rain
here, and yesterday and to-day the
NN'NS WI ~ 't5iit
from various points In the State say
the rains have been very heavy.
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
At East Radford the storm, lasting
an hour before dawn Sunday, is said
to have been the most terrific and de-
structive ever experienced there. The
wind was very high, the rain exceed
1ngly heavy, and the thunder and light
ning fearful. The long bridge across
New River was badly damaged. The
storm came from the southwest.
At Roanoke the rain fell early Sun
day morning for three hours. AS n re-
DR. Mitchell cn,rc - l;G