Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-23
POTOMAC ON A BOOM
Twenty-one Feet Above Normal at
Williamsport.
STILL RISING VERY RAPIDLY
Heavy Rainfall Reported Over Head
Waters of River.
RISE AT HARPER'S FERRY
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
HAGERSTOWN. Md, May 23.-At 1
o'clock this afternoon the Potomac at Will
Transport is twenty-one feet above normal
and is still rising at the rate Of eight inch
hour. The Conococheague creek, the
largest tributary of the Potomac, which
cmptics into the river at Wnliamsport. is
even higher. being about twenty-five feet
above normal. AT Wilson's Post Office,
some eight miles above the mouth OF the
Conococheague, the stream is within three
feet of being high it was at the time
Of the Johnstown flood.
While trying to ford the Conococheague
last night near the Pennsylvania line Will
liam Ebnger, a cattle dealer Of Philadel-
phia, was drowned. Bruce Gordon. who
lives near here, was with Ebinger and was
saved by holding to old tree until res
cued
The Potomac river today reached the
Cumberland Valley railroad tracks At Fall
ing Waters. and the Potomac Club house
at that point was swept away. The break
which occurred yesterday evening in the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal at Fort Fred
erick is about forty-fiVe feet. II is on the
towpath side of the canal. and at places
the toWpath is washed away below the bot
tom of the canal Several canal boats mar
rowly escaped being carried by the strong
current through the break out into the
river.
Great damage was done by the cloudburst
at Clear Spring, this county, yesterday
evening. The central part Of the town was
inundated and besides many houses being
flooded and their contents ruined, fences,
bridges and small buildings were washed
away. The gas plant flooded and Su-
perintendent John Hege narrowly escaped
with his life.
Several small laudslides occurred along
the line Of the Western Maryland railroad.
The orders issued last night to all agents
along the Norfolk and Western railroad
south of Shenandoah Junction not to re-
ceive any perishable freight will continue in
force until the streams have subsidized.
The weather bureau this morning issued
the following special river bulletin:
Very heavy rain has fallen in the upper
Potomac valley. At Harpers Ferry this
morning a twenty-four- hour rainfall Of
more than four inches was reported and
the stage of the Potomac was thirteen feet
and rising Additional advices viii be re-
ceived from Harpers Ferry at noon and &
Pm"
No Change Here.
Reports from the Washington wharf to-
day show that there has been no percep-
tible rise In the river here as result Of
the recent heavy rains. No apprehension
seems to be felt by rivermen, although a
careful watch is being kept OF the condition
of the Potomac, in view OF the reports Of
the recent storm.
Dam Breaks I'm Colorado.
FORT COLLINS, Col. May 23.-It 10 re-
ported that the dam at Chambers Lake,
fifty miles above Fort Collins has broken
owing to high water in the Cache la Pou-
Dire river. Damage done to crops irrigat-
ing bitches and bridges will amount to
thousands OF dollars
Inhabitants of the bottom lands have
been driven from their homes.