The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-28
NO 3ERIOUS DANGER FELT HERE
River Not Likely to Rise Much
Higher, It Is Thought:
DAMAGE CAUSED IN SOUTH
Reports From Georgia and Elsewhere
Indicate Heavy Loss and Great IncOn-
venience-Latest Information Prom the
Local Weather Bureau

The excessive rains Of last night and
today were not confined 10 Washington
and vicinity, but covered a large area OF
Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland.
Streams in these States were swoIlen. al
most TO the record breaking point, and
serious damage is expected at several
places Washington. from all advices re-
ceived up to late hour this afternoon. fs
not menaced by any serious food, though
the water max reach . point slightly
higher than has yet been recorded since
high water set in The city, however. Is
still experiencing considerable dfmcuftv
in reaching the outside world By telegraph
and telephone. last nights storm having
played havoc with the wires. which had
been seriously crippled for a week previ-
Gus.
Amount of Rainfall Here.
Beyond the damage that has already
been caused locally by the filling CT the
cellars Of the merchants iu the lower
business sections. nothing further is ex-
Pected- The instruments at the Weather
Bureau at II O'Clock this morning showed
that "a Of an inch OF rain had fallen here
up TO that time which will have no an
preciable effect up-n the river situation.
II old food some OF the sewers and over
run into the street in several Isolated in
stances, bat this was due to their cIOgEed
condition and the consequent inability 10
carry on the water In the Marble saloon
at the corner Of Ninth Street and Penn
sylvania Avenue. the water reached
point several inches higher than yester-
day. but II was due entirely to local con
ditiOns. The river remained all the day
at about the same level that Il attained
at o'clock this morning.
River Free Of Obstruction.
The river is free Of obstruction and Is
capable Of carrying OF a considerable
volume OF water without altering he sit
uation- II would require an extremely
heavy rain, OF long continuance. those
familiar with the situation say. aagmeat-
ed BY severe winds from the south and
east, TO cause an additional rise. The
lain is likely 10 continue until about mid
night tonight II has been general
throughout all sections east Of TIE Rocky
Mountains. and is all that remains Of the
storm that originated on the North Pa
ciic Coast February e5- II is rapidly
moving in a nOrtheasterIy direction. and
viii probably have passed Washington By
midnight. leaving it clearer and colder.
Last night the storm centre was over
Missouri. but this morning 1t had passed
into eastern Iowa. and was moving in
the direction OF the upper lake region.
Reports Not So Optimistic.
The reports as to the river received By
Mr.. John T. Nolan, manager in this city
OF the telegraph lines OF the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. were not optimistic.
A despatch from Timberville, Va. stated
that the water had reached a point within
two feet Of the high water mark OF the
1899 food.
AT Harper's Ferry. another despatch
stated. the water had fallen six feet this
morning when it took a turn and was
again rising rapidly at noon today Rain
had fallen heavily through the valley as
FAR down as Lexington all night and was
still falling In sections Of Georgia the
downpour almost approached a water
spout Flood warnings have been sent
out for all sections Of Georgia and Ala
bama-
This afternoon a despatch was received
at the Weather Bureau from Harper's
Ferry stating that there had been a slieht
rise Of the water at the Ferry since morn
ing, but that il was not material At 6
O'Clock this morning il registered I5.S
feet above normal and at II O'Clock only
a rise Of one-tenth of an inch was shown.
There was also a slight rise at Williams
port, but the heavy rain is now over and
only showers will continue until the skies
clear sometime during the night.