Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-18
HIGH WATER AT RICHMOND
Suffering From Heaviest Flood
Ever Known.
Hundreds OF Cellars FIooucd-Conl
Elevators burned aud Lighting
Plant Submerged.
tBy Telegraph to virslnlanpno,.,

Richmond, Va, Feb. 1.-the situa-
ton tonight is pitable and alarming,
and still growing more alarming every
moment. The fear of high water has
been realized, and the rush OF the in
creased volume and the ice from the
upper James, together with the back
water from the gorging of the Ice below
the city, has resulted in one OF the
heaviest floods ever known here. The
wharvcs; at the Rockets, the landing
place for steamers ana the streets for
blocks around are under water, and the
Virginia Navigation Conpany's wharf
has been swept away. The depressed
section of the city, between Shockoe
ana Church Hills is also under water.
ana hundreds of cellars are flooded.
Early Tonight it was reported that the
Manchester end of the Mayo bridge,
connecting Richmond with Manchester
which is IL foot and vehicle bridge, had
been swept away. This proved not to
he correct; but this condition is such
that further rise Of the river of a few
lhcheS VIII cause the demolition OF the
whole structure. The Southern Rail
way bridge across the james river is in
great danger, and may go before morn
ing: one of the electric light plants Is
under water, ana power and lights are
cut off from certain sections OF the
city The gas works are momentarily
expecting an overflow. To add to the
calamlticS Of the night the lime and
cement warehouse ana coal Office of
II. III. Haes was totally destroyed by
fire. Loss. $25.000: insured
MidniGht.-lteports from up the river
hrc more encouraging. At Columbia.
inc great danger point where the heavy
tributary water of the James is re
ccived, only sixteen and a half feet is
reported, ana the rise is slow The dan
ger here from The ice gorging and back
water still continues. 1t is impossible
to estimate the loss to merchants in the
lower part of the city from FLOODING. of
first floors and collars.
AT $50 n. IN. this saturday. morning
Main ana Grace streets. from Thr-
tenth to Seventeenth, are under water.
Included In the area covered is one of
the principal markets. and rs many
persons are short of provisions. owing
To recent Gnow storm, this will work
great hardship
MAYO'S BRIDGE RUINED.
Mayo's bridge is practically ruined.
The Ice has lifted spans of il off the
piers ana huigcd ana twisted it in
many places. More hope is entertained
Tor the Southern hallway bridge-a
train has Just crossed it. The other
bridges are not in danger. All tho
electric lights in the city are out, and
the streets are in total darkness In
the Hooded district a number of clc.
Nators are run by electricity. and tho
cutting off of power has prevented the
removal of goods to the upper stories.
Iherc are several tobacco warehouses
In the district under water. ana as il
is Impossible to get teams 10 move the
tobacco great loss is expected Though
the food was feared. owing to the
unusual conditions. 1t came sooner than
was expected. ana the people hardly
had any warming
In most rises heretofore they have
had to cope principally with ,ip-coun-
TRY water, and could make some cal
culation rs to when it would reach
here.
SITUATION AT WASHINGTON.
Washington. -. G.. February IL
There is strong apprehension to-day
oi disastrous Hood In the lower sec
non OF the city. The Indications are
favorable To 1t. AT Great Calls. sixteen
hheh up the Potomac. the river has
risen -. inches. The coating OF ice on
the Potomac here is about ten inches;
below ana To the mouth Of the river IL
is from twelve To fifteen inches, and
the upper Potomac averages about ten
inches of ice. Added to Inns arc the
great snow masses that bank up the en-
iilc Potomac. Property owners ana
residents In the threatened districts
have made preparations for instant re-
moVal and 1t has even been urged to
b!oW mp the historic long bridge. which