Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-05-25
FLOOD IN CITY AND COUNTY.


town FIood--streets Inundated, Hous-
es Flooded, Bridges and Railroad
Beds Washed Away ;. Inch
es Of Rain Fell.
Not since the great Johnstown food
over decade ago has Martinsburg
and the surrounding community been
in greater danger from water than
from Wednesdays tremendous down
pour. Great damage has been done to
the growing wheat in some sections.
while in many places gardens have
been destroyed and fences taken away.
The rain was considered by many
as great as the one at the time Of the
Johnstown flood but a majority of
! the more observant citizens say It'll
was not. For the amount of rain fall
in one day. however the record was
broken. From o'clock in the morn
ing to 80 in the evening, when the
rain ceased falling. s. inches fell,
which is the greatest rainfall at one
| Illls tIidl weather obStlft Y az
Metre has. ever measured.
The rain came down in sheets for
hours during the day, becoming heav-
Ter each moment until it reached the
proportion of delnge. The streams
began to swell as if by magic and be-
fore people realized the situation they
were way out of their banks and
threatening great damage.
The two streams which flow
through Martinsburg, the Tuscarora
Creek and Dry Run, became raging
torrents in the afternoon and flooded
the lowlands in the city along their
banks. Even the insignificant little
Dry Run, which in drv weather en-
tirely disappears, except where the
city sewer flows into its bed, became
stream of no mean proportion and
the damage caused by its rise was
considerable in the south eastern end
of the city.
The Tickle Tuscarora.
The tickle Tuscarora played havoc
from the point where it enters the
corporation limits to the place where
it rushes out. 1t swelled in places to
the proportions of river and with
the fury of torrent it roared through
the city, sweeping away everything
unstable along its banks. AT the
western edge of town it was backed
clear up to the Wagon Works. The
creek rose at the rate of ten inches to
the.hour and att six O'Clock in the
evening 1t Assumed dangerous proper
tions. Shortly before that hour the
bridge leading from Maple Avenue to
the home of Hon. Geo. +. Evans,
which has been in place since the
Johnstown flood, was with a great
crash swept away. Inch by inch the
water rose toward the Evans house
and they were getting ready to move
into the upper stories as the water
reached its height. The water reached
the house and was within few
inches of the first floor before it sub
sided.
| Families Moved Upstairs
| Portions of three of the streets of
the city-Water, John and Stephen
were made veritible beds for raging
streams Near the Water Works Dry
Run empires into the Tuscarora and
this section. which is the lowest por-
ton of the city, was completely sub
merged. The water was three feet
deep ON the first floors of three of the
houses on the east side of S. Water
street, but the furniture was saved
| by being moved to the second stories.
For several hours the members of the
family of Mr.. Faircloth were penned
III the house and could not get out.
| The home of Mr.. l.. Blondel. at the
corner of John street and the Tusca-
rora Creek. was also surrounded by
water The cellar was filled and the
water came within a few inches of
the first floor. causing the family |
much alarm.
AT 80 O'Clock the creek rose over
tne WooueH DIluSe OH r. JoHu stTett |
| leading to the Water Works and Gas |
House and for about an hour it was
impossible. The Water Works was
completely surrounded by water, as
was also the Gas House. The creek |
overlooked into the springs from
which the city's supply of water is
secured and as result the drinking |
water will be muddy for several days. |
Electric Plant I'm Danger
At the Electric light House over |
four feet of the cinder banks were |
washed away, cutting off the entrance
at the rear of the plant Late in the