Evening star., 1902-02-26
PROSPECT OF FLOOD
The Upper Potomac River
Rapidly Rising.
A BULLETIN ISSUED
OCCUPANTS OF PROPERTY IN Low
SECTIONS OF CITY WARNED.
Advices From Harper's Ferry and
Points Above Indicate Large
Volume Of Water.

The tide was up here about noon, and the
water eighteen inches above high
water mark. There is a swift current in
the river, and the police have notified mer-
chants along the river front, as well as
property holders about the other low Sec
tions. to be on the lookout for a flood.
There is considerable ice in the river, it
having been washed down from above
Georgetown by the swift current. After
the tide turned the water began to recede.
and this afternoon it was several inches
lower than it was at noon.
1t Is reported that there Is a great amount
OF heavy ice In the river at Harper's Ferry,
and 1t Is believed some damage has been
done along the stream. The steamer
Charles Manchester left the 7th street
Mount Vernon, but when the fork Of the
channel was reached the captain deemed
1t ADVISABLE not to continue down the river.
and the big steamer returned to it's wharf
at the foot of 7th street
Some of the Ice from up the river lodged
against the Long bridge, but Harbor Master
Sutton has boats Of the fleet Of icebreakers
about the structure to keep the channel
clear as long as possible. Should ice in ex-
ira large quantities appear the draw Of the
bridge will be kept open to assist in allow
Ing the Ice to pass below.
Property Owners Warned.
When the alarming report reached the
weather bureau this morning the police
| were informed. The latter then went out
to notify occupants of property in the low
sections Of the possible danger. Some of
them are needing the words of warning this
afternoon by removing perishables from
cellars and the ground floor Some mer-
chants feel that there will be no flood, how
| ever, and are permitting their goods to re-
main.
Along the upper Potomac. between
| Georgetown and the Big Falls the members
| of the several clubs have taken every pre-
! caution and removed their property from
| points where the water Is likely to do dam
age In the event Of extremely high water
| the Sycamore Island Pleasure Club will
| probably sustain serious loss. Its proper
! ty is on island, and a rise OF few feet
| will cover the land. The boats Of the club
| have been fastened to the house or to trees,
| but a heavy rush Of water, it is believed
might wash them away.
Probable Damage Here.
Yesterdays east wind was unfavorable so
| far as the water about the city was con-
| cerned, but the northwest wind Of today
| will be of material assistance in keeping
| down the water. At the weather bureau to-
| day it was stated rise Of from twenty
| two to twenty-five feet at Harpers Ferry
! will mean that the property on the lower
| levels there will be seriously damaged. A
| rise Of about 20 feet, 1t is stated. will put
| Shenandoah street, the principal thorough
| fare in Harper's Ferry under water This
depth. it Is believed. will mean trouble for
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad Company
and its tracks may be covered at one or
more points this side Of Cumberland.
Reports received from points beyond Har-
per's Ferry this morning stated that the
water was rising rapidly. A dispatch from
Hagerstown last night was, to the effect
that the heavy rains had swollen the
streams about that section. which had
caused rise Of three feet in the Potomac.
1t was stated that the river was prac-
| Antietam creek had overtiowed it's bank
covering the lowlands and threatening the
property Of the Antietam paper mill.
further rise of ten inches. it was stated,
believed here that there was rise of con-
siderably more than ten inches, and that
| the mill is not in operation today.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon the
Monocacy river at Frederick Junction was
over its banks and still rising. This river
empties into the Potomac near Dickerson's.
1t Is believed that the water is high enough
at some points to damage the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal property.
Tide Will Be Higher.
The tide will be high at II o'clock to-
night, and it is thought the water In the
river will then be higher than it was this
morning. Even this. it is believed, will not
cause any damage. The noon report from
Harper's Ferry to the weather bureau gave
Cue water dt lSf leeI dDOFG norman. 1t
was stated by the observer at that point
that further rise Of two or three feet Is
expected.
Unless there is more ice in the upper
river than Is expected the weather bureau
officials think the water will not go higher
than twenty-five at Harper's Ferry. Such
a rise, they state, will result in the flooding
of the cellars of some Of the stores on
Louisiana avenue between 9th and 10th
streets and at one or two other low points.
1t is the belief that unless the unexpected
happens there will be no boating any Of
the streets this week.
dispatch from Sir Johns Run, w. Va
was received late this afternoon at the
Baltimore and Ohio depot in this city, stat
ing that the river is out of it's banks at
that point and rising rapidly.
At latest accounts the water at HarperS
Ferry was twenty feet high and rising at
the rate of six inches per hour. At Han
cock. Md. the water is reported to be very
high.
Weather Bureau Bulletin.
The weather bureau has issued the fol-
lowing bulletin:
1.-THE ice In the Shenandoah river at Riv-
erton. Va, moved out on Monday, and the
stage Of water at am. Tuesday was ZIG
feet, q. rise Of 16.6 feet in twenty-four
hours, and still rising. At Harper's Ferry,
w. Va. the ice broke shortly after 8 am.
Tuesday.
above Harper's Ferry the Ice still holds,
but shows signs OF early breaking up. II tha
break occurs before pm. today there will
be a further rise below Harper's Ferry. In
the vicinity of Washington. while the water
will be comparatively high, there Is no Inn
mediate danger Of flood, as the ice will
most likely move down through the cham
mel lately opened.
Special reports will be received at fre-
quent intervals and further information
given. '
'At Pittsburg the ice is coming out of the
Monongahela river without gorging The
high temperature is creating much alarm
along the Allegheny river, and the situa-
ton is being carefully watched with view
to prompt warnings when necessary"
HIGH WATER AT MANY POINTS.
C,,onroIonno ona Qnhnv1ki11 nSwArr