The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-12
"A Tide of Water InVddeS
Locomotive Works.
THE MEN DRIVEN
FROM THEIR WORK
The Fires Extlngulshed and
Much Damage Done.
BRIDGES WASHED
AWAY IN HENRICO
More than Two Inches Of Rain in and
Around Richmond Within the Past
Twenty-four Hours-A Very
Little Rise in the
River Is An
ticipated.

Something fast resembling miniature
cloud. burst swept over Richmond and
Henrico county yesterday afternoon.
causing c-eeks and streams to leap far
beyond their normal confines. thereby
demolishing bridges flooding certain dis
tricts and otherwise causing damage.
AS result OF the sudden and unpre-
cedented rise In several sections con-
siderable loss is reported, particularly
along portion OF tho line OF Shockoe
Creek. At the Richmond Locomotive
Works the water gradually crept into
several OF tho departments OF the great
plant. found its way Into the furnaces
and extinguished the fires; drove the
men pell -mell from their tools. 6eve-
raj of the shops had to close entirely.
and In the case OF the power-ho dis
tinct injury was done. A section OF the
wall was washed away and the switch
board with its many wires. was for a
time in Imminent danger OF toppling to
the ground. Such a catastrophe would
have crippled the entire plant. The
actual dhmage to the works will prob
ably amount to several thousand dol
lars. About noon six employees OF the
establishment fell headlong into the
creek. but fortunately for them, 1t was
at a time when the water was not yet
roaring, even with It's banks. as 1t did
later In the day. Had they delayed their
plungea bit lofs OF lifeAWould have re-
suited
Apart from the ds mage at the Loco
motive Works the storm made itself felt
In various other directions, particularly
IN y<.f t,rt1 tY7
county The Southern Railway ira cks
also suffered by the rains Of yesterday
and those OF the day before. So far as
could be ascertained last night. the pre-
ctpitation was more local than other
wise. and there Is no cause. for fear OF
James River overflow. No advices
have been received from Columbia. which
is taken to indicate that the water there
Is normal. ~
LIKE A CLoUD-BURsT.
The heavy rains seem to be Richmond's
small but sufficient share OF the wide
spread and devastating food epidemic In
the country that is taking the lives of
hundreds Of people and causing the loss
OF millions. of money.
z On Wednesday evening came what is
emphatically declared by some to have
been colud burst at least when It touch
ed certain portions of Henrico In this
city the rain fell In a steady and binding
sheet, which caused wide and muddy
streams to ripple along the very streets
and sidewalks for full half hour or more
But In the country and In some netghbor-
Ing sections 1t was worse still. At Meadow
Station. In New Kent. on the Southern
road, a dangerous, washout occurred
straight In the path Of a train flying to
Richmond with a number OF residents OF
this city aboard. The train was stopped in
time, hut 1t was delayed for many hours,
not reaching Richmond until Yesterday
morning A relief party which set out
from Richmond. Under Captain West, met
the flood on this side, and had to stop
at Jennings. in Henrico county. At this
point is a trestIe some ten or twelve feet
high. The water had reached the top
Of It.
Gillle's Creek had never before been 50
high, say many persons. and Captain
West declares that It was vertahle
cloud burst which let loose on the coun-
ty, His opinion is shared by others,
gentleman at the Henrco courthouse yes