Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-06-30
THE RECENT STORMS.

III ANA1OA@-fA OlAhbA-s
The rains of Sunday and of yesterday
morning were marked by cloudbursts in
parts of Maryland, Virginia, West Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania. Rivers and
creeks rose with startling suddenness
sweeping away property, blocking rail
road traffic and causing grave apprehen-
sions of worse thing to come. The rapid
rise in a numbers of the smaller
streams recalled the Johnstown flood.
Tracks we're washed out on the Balti-
more and Ohio, the Western Maryland
and the Norfolk and Western railroads,
and traffic was suspended for a
time, but has now been resumed.
The food caused big landslide on the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad just east Of
Sir Johns run, w. Va. Tons of rock
and clay engnlfed the eastbound track,
which was closed many hours.
Ia New York the rainfall was 2.3l
inches, about one-third the total for
June. The Potomac below Cumberland
has been rising two feet an hour. 1t is
feared that there has been heavy damage
to crops.
Several cloudbursts Sunday night and
yesterday, together with steady rains,
caused a sudden and rapid rise
of the Potomac at Williamsport.
Beginning at o'clock yesterday after
noon the water rose at the rate of Is
inches an hour until night, it was
still rising at II inches. The river is
out of its banks and the adjacent low
lands are inundated. The water is Is
feet above normal and much damage
will ensue if it continues to rise.
The most destructive cloudburst in
Leesburg in years visited that town and
vicinity on Sunday evening All the
streams were greatly swollen. Goose
creek and Tuscarora creek were raging
torrents. The Town branch, normally a
slow stream about two miles long, run
ming through the south end of Leesbnrg,
became a little river. The railroad
station there was flooded with three or
four feet of water, and the current
washed away the railroad track in places
for several miles along its course. The
railroad bridge over Tuscarora creek was
carried away, delaying the trains for "a
hours and entalling loss of thousands
of dollars. Many individuals suffered.
Norris Bros, lumber dealers, were
damaged to the amount of $4,000.
Farmers AID Others report disastrous
losses to crops, fencing and stock.
The cloudburst Of yesterday wrought havoc
in Frederick county. Crops houses and stone
fences were swept away, many cattle were
drowned and fully dozen bridges were
washed away. Freight schedules on the
Baltimore and Ohio have been abandoned on
account Of the big washouts, and passengers
will be transferred around the washouts until
Wednesday. Eight inches OF water fell IN
one hour
Tremendous rains in the Valley of Virginia
did immense damage along water courses. AT
Jordon's White Sulphur Springs the new
brick hotel and cottages are about all that are
left standing. The bath houses, sulphur
spring house and other property were swept
away, and the old hotel buildings ground
floor was inundated. Colonel III. ii. Baker,
who ownes the springs, narrowly escaped
drowning. His loss is 81 1900 The seyerest
wgshout on the railroad was at Stephenson's;
The flood tore out space of 200 feet long and
% feet deep. besides tearing up, 2OO feet OF
track. freight train was derailed.
Miss Matte Anderson, Of Front Royal
Miss MAY Rust, of Haymarket Mr.. Lynn
Ash. of Front Royal, and Prof. Murrell, Of
the Virginia Poly technic Institute, Blacks
burg. had narrow escape from drowning while
attempting to ford Crooked Run creek at Cedar
vile. Warren county, in surrey Sunday
night. The party was returning from Strasburg
and on reaching the creek, about o'clock,
found II about feet above fOrding and decided
IN wait notil il receded. About IL o'clock,
,yhen all danger was thought to be over, they
ATTEMPTED 10 ford. When they reached the
channel the horses, vehicle and occupants
we're swept down the stream. The surrey
lodged against tree, however, and the
occupants climbed from their perilous po-
sition into the tree, and thence on to water
gate. They remained there until four
o'clock in the morning, when their
appeals for help were heard and an
iwered by persons living near the lord
They were rescued by means of a rope, one
end of which was held by several men on
shore. while another man swan to the tree
and secured the other end. Professor Murrell,
who is a giant in stature, while attempting to
free the horses, was hurled down stream by
he rushing torrent and was thought to have
leen drowned. but was found by party
which went in search Of him about 300 yards
Town the stream, where he had lodged IN
some bushes. He was in a bewildered condi-
lion when found The horses, succeeded
IN freeing themselves from the vehicle and
swan TO the shore.
Miss Rust and Mr.. Murrell, were made i'll
by the accident