Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-07
FLOOD IN THE JAMES,
The River Higher Than it Has
Been Since 1883,
WATER STILL RISING HERE.
Nearly as Deep as Ten Years Ago, and
Coming Up Slowly.
LITTLE DAMAGE IN THIS CITY.
The Lower Sections Inundated, Hut
the Steamship Companies and Mer-
chants Had Moved Out-Gas-WOrIss
shut DOwn-FaIIins Above.
LITTLE DAMAGE IN THIS CITY

For the second time within three weeks
the James river at richmond has gotten
far beyond its banks. and made itself at
home in business-houses and residences
and in the streets Of the lower districts
of the city
The rise i'm the river came somewhat
Unexpectedly. but timely warning was
sent out early Sunday morning, and such
complete preparation was made that the
resulting damage will be reduced to the
minimum. The damage to wharf pro-
perty is considerable, but the loss is not
nearly so great as that occasioned by the
ice-gorge three weeks ago. So far as
Known water-craft has not suffered at
all. The damage TO freight on the
wharves has been slight. everything hav-
ing been cleared out in anticipation Of
the rise.
The James-River Division Of the Ches-
apeake and Ohio has been generally sub
merged for 200 miles west Of Richmond.
and freight and passenger traffic has
been suspended since early i'm the day
Sunday. Telegraphic communication be-
tween Richmond and Lynchburg is possi-
bic only by way of Clifton Forge. Points
east of Lynchburg cannot be reached.
At Lynchburg and all points west at
midnight the water was falling. At
Lynchburg at the latter hour the river
was 80 feet and falling. The railroad
people always calculate on twice as much
water i'm the river AT Columbia as at
Lynchburg. which would have made it lS.i
feet at Columbia ~ midnight, not Sc
rious tide. The highest figure reached at
Columbia. which is always the point for
calculation as TO probable danger here,
as the Rivanna emDtles into the James
there, was 32 - feet. This was attained
al or 8 o'clock yesterday morning, and
about $50 O'Clock. according 10 reports
given out here from authoritative sources,
the water began To recede.
MORE RAIN FALLING.
At midnight il was raining lightly at
T.ynchburg ana Buchanan, and snoVing
at Clifton Forge. whore there was J -
inches on the ground II Was also show
ing at Stanton and raining AT Char
lottesyllle. 1t began raining in Richmond
shortly before midnight and soon began
showing The falling weather appears TO
be- more or less general throughout the
state west Of Richmond.
The water here was rising at the rate
of four inches an hour at 2 o'clock this
morning. II was about three feet deep
i'm Main street near the Old Market, and
much deeper. of course. i'm Franklin and
Cary ana in the streets down on the
river. The impression prevailed at that
time that the water would not continue
10 rise much longer unless the rains
should prove sufficient to cause another
rise, which is not likely. The water lack
ed about a foot of being as high as IL
came i'm Main street during the recent ice
gorge.
The freshet results from the extremely
heavy rains that fen the latter part Of
last week about the headWaters of the
James and some of its mountain tributa-
ries. The rain was also heavy along the
Valley west from Scottsyille. Between
that point and Richmond the showers
We're comparatively light This accounts
i'm part at least. for the fact that though
the rise at Columbia was just the same
as I'm 1859, when the river was higher
than it has been at any other time since
1877, the altitude here is not so great by
foot or two.
BEGAN RISING SUNDAY.
The water began rising here early Sun
Jay ibl 4All- anu AEfi liiliN Afi iNi ~ NUN
points up the river showed that there was
prospect OF a big freshet The day was,
Therefore. one of anxiety and activity.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company, the Weather Bureau officials,
and the police were prompt and energetic
i'm their efforts 10 notify the steamship
companies and merchants doing business
i'm the exposed section. I'm order that goods
might be removed to places Of safety. The
rise at Columbia, Lynchburg, and other
points was 50 rapid, and the situation
held so much Of alarm that the Dispatch
displayed bulletins i'm front of its build
ing. which gave warning to many and
kept all passers by fully posted as TO the
conditions above.
The steamship people and warehouse
men began early I'm the morning moving
out goods, and merchants had their wares
taken from basements, and, in many IN
stances from the street floors. too. to
more elevated and safe apartments. The
scenes down town were very unlike those
Of the usual quiet Sabbath in Richmond.
All was hustle and stir. The stores and
warehouses were fun OF operatives work
ing with all their might. and the streets
were filled with drays and wagons bear
ing heavy loads.
Sunday night at 10 o'clock the water
was I'm many cellars on Cary, Sixteenth,
and Seventeenth street. and was running
oyer the wharves in Rockets. The agents
of the steamship lines began early TO get
the freight stored on the wharyes on
their boats or TO other points out OF
danger. The Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way Company advised the steamship men
Of the danger and in the afternoon ran
4 number Of cars down 10 the wharves
and carried away a great quantity Of
goods.
RUNNING FROM THE FLOCD.
The old Dominion steamship city OF
Richmond got in from New York at
O'Clock Sunday morning The water was
then rising so rapidly that II was deemed
best TO get the vessel down the river out
OF reach Of the food as quickly as possi-
ble. The Old Dominion warehouse was
full OF freight for New York. and this
was taken aboard with all possible dis
patch as soon az the vessel could be un-
loaded. By 6 O'Clock the vessel was ready
To sail. At this time the water was up
about level with the top Of the wharf
Captain Hitler, OF the Richmond, saw
that ne could not turn her at her wharf
owing TO the stiff southeast gale blowing
directly across the river. The submerged
horea opposite the wharves was also IN
danger. SO Captain Hitler let his vessel
dron down 10 the Clyde-Line wharf.
and lust as he reached this point he
turned her nose into the current and to-
Iapk The engines did