Evening star., 1901-04-23

NO FEAR OF A FLOOD
THE POTOMAC EXPECTED TO SHORT
LY RESUME NORMAL STATE.
River Front Men and the Weather
Bureau-Water-BOu on
Island.

The prospects of a flood in the Potomac
sufficient to cause any serious damage are
rapidly diminishing, and il no more rain
occurs the river will soon resume it's normal
condition. The highest point reached was
yesterday morning between 10 and II
o clock, when the level was about three
feet or little more above the usual spring
tides, which are heavier than at any other
season of the year.
This morning the river presented a diff
ferent appearance. While still high and
flowing swiftly, there was a noticeable ab-
sence of driftwood. If anything, the cur
rent was not as swift, and boats were able
to make much more headway than yester-
day at the same hour. The high water
from the upper points had reached this
point and greater portion Of 1t had
passed.
AT the boat house of the Potomac Boat
Club the water still covered the floors and
made 1t impossible to clean things. The
entire first floor was covered by about two
feet of water, and many boats which had
been moved out of the place We're moored
in the flood water near the boat house
Janitor Bromley stood guard over night at
the place, so that in the event of a further
rise more boats could be taken out without
being damaged.
canal Managers Views.
Mr.. G. L. Nicolson, general manager Of
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, stated to a
Star reporter this morning that all danger
was past, and from reports received from
points up the river he never was at any
time apprehensive of a serious flood at this
point. He was interested In the high water
IN the upper regions, where most damage
was done to the canal, and had no fears of
damage on the lower portions. If there
should be no more rain he thought the
worst was over.
While not definitely able to announce, he
stated that the damage to the canal, rot
reports published, would not
exceed $4,000, and if anything would be
less. He had heard from all
points with the exception of one, which
was nine miles from nowhere, as he ex-
pressed 1t, and from which reports never
arrived until late owing to the remote teness
from telegraphic stations
Main Damage Located.
From reports received, practically no
damage was done to the first fifty miles of
the waterway from the Cumberland end.
The damage at lock 53, at Sir Johns Run,
would be only slight, he having heard
from the place. Dam No. 4,above Shepherds
town, was not injured to any extent and at
Williamsport the injury was very little. He
stated that the main damage would be sur
race WaShouts, and not washouts extending
from the bottom. The canal drew six feet
Of water, and could easily stand four add-
ional feet without any chance of ,lamage.
At the latest, traffic on the waterway will
hardly be delayed until the latter part of
this week or the fore part of next.
Displeased Over That Bulletin.
The river men at Georgetown are some
what incensed at the action of the officials
IF the weather bureau in sending out
notices yesterday afternoon. The
it was claimed, was different
rom actual facts, and caused much addi-
ional extra expense, some of the property
owners needing the advice and moving
goods at considerable cost to themselves
Even the policemen along the river front
beats were instructed, on account of the
to notify the property owners of
he rise predicted by the weather bureau
md this gave additional color to the first
reports sent out.
According to Capt Joseph H. Lee. the
1amage along the water front east of the
bridge did not exceed 500. if
aqualfng that amount. This does not in
;Iude the cost to some persons who spent a
good sum in removing their goods to
point of safety, owing to the threatened or
rise.
Unnecessary Precautions.
While the flood warnings sent ont hv the
weather bureau yesterday morning were
lot generally believed along the Washing
on river front, still precautions were taken
oy the steamboat line officials to protect
goods in their warehouses. At the Norfolk
and Washington line wharf all freight that
would have been injured by water was
placed on the steamer Newport News. the
,eserve boat, lying at the wharf At the
Randall line wharf high platforms were
put up, and on these the freight was
stored. A h1 rf
Aeems line pier the same precautions were
observed as at the Randall wharves Pre-
cautions were also taken by the steamboat
managers with the use of extra lines to so
,asten the boats that they would not drift
on the wharf piles when the water sub
SIDED. All these precautions were unneces-
Sary, as water did not come within a foot
of the high water mark of yesterday morn
hs. lh1s morning 1t was about high as
Yesterday morning. The current is still
gong down, but most of the trees logs
railway ties, &c. have stopped running
BLOODHOUND on Sycamore Island,
Messrs. +. and ]. Van Hord, Robert Cole
man, Henry Daley, T. Dove, ]. Mcpherson
and T. Berry were bloodhound at the Syc-
amore Island Fishing Club near Glen Echo
Sunday night, and had some lively expe-
riences. The party went up to the club
house Sunday morning. and after spending
home when a heavy rise in the already
high water made the venture of reaching
the Maryland shore too perilous to be I'M
dcrtaken. They made themselves as COM
Portable possible, and when they awoke
morning found themselves worse
off than ever. The entire island was sub
merged, except Immediately around the
club house, and torrent full of logs and
drift was rushing down between them and
the shore. Hunger added it's discomforts
and a search of lockers discovered only
two boxes of sardines, a tin of salmon and
q small bundle of tea. At 4 o'clock yes-
terday afternoon they concluded to make
an attempt to get to high land, and were
after a dangerous struggle in
getting their boat to a safe landing place
The gentlemen report considerable damage
done to the club grounds, the benches and
tables and several outhouses having been
washed away. None was much the worse
for the experience, however, but they do