Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-03

great mass of masonry similar to the gate
post 1t bears two inscriptions, one Of
which Is legible while the second cannot
be distinguished. 1t having been practically
worn away by the elements. The first
mark. however. shows the high water
mark at that point Of the flood of June 2,
1Seo. 1t was at that time that Johnstown,
Pa. was washed away. A few feet TO the
north of this monument stands small
structure of masonry which resembles a
tomb. Its flood inscriptions are clearly
visible The marks indicate the height of
the water In the floods Of February T.
1881, and November %, 1877.
The flood which is most vivid in the
minds of the residents is that which oc-
Cured almost simultaneously with the
Johnstown calamity. At that time the
ing experience. The Potomac rose very
rapidly and the people of the lower levels
or the city, wholly unprepared, found them
selves at the peril of the surging water.
Inc danger OF the situation was only les
sened by the absence of ice. In the ma
jority of floods in this vicinity ice has
constituted the greatest danger to human
life and property.
When the sun came above the horizon
the morning of Sunday, June 9, 1889 it
shed its light upon Washington partly sub
merged in water. The water reached a
higher point than had ever been recorded
in the annals of the city. The lower levels
were almost entirely inundated Toward
evening the water began to recede and
t tie itoIo"ins morning Monday, Washing
Ton began TO assume its former aspects.
Damage on River Front.
Ihe river front sustained the greatest
damage. The wharves and streets of the
water front were obscured from vision. The
water surged through the streets, bearing
on its surface the debris that told the tale
or the great destruction wrought.
The water reached its greatest height
early Sunday morning. The lower portions
or the city south of PENNSYLVANIA avenue
were under water. Throngs of people we-e
satnereo at every vantage point. some en-
gagged In salvage work and others survey
ing the unusual scene. Pennsylvania ave-
nue. was under water from I'd street TO
uh street and in the vicinity of 9th street
scum OF the avenue The market house
stood in the center of a great lake, the
water finding its way to the top step Of
the Baltimore and Potomac depot and COW
ering the railway tracks. All the streets
Ieadlng south from the avenue between the
Botanical Gardens and the treasury canal
were covered with water and the Hood
completely inundated the Easements and
lower floors of the houses on those streets
In many places along Pennsylvania Avenue
the water reached the floors of the street
cars as they passed through it, In fact
the great thoroughfare of Washington in
part resembled the streets of Venice. Boats
anc skins and RATS were in evidence aloEg
the avenue
On It'll street from Pennsylvania avenue to
point two or three hundred feet south of
the market house the flood gained such
height that the street car traffic was stop
ped. Enterprising owners of 'busses AMI
other high-bOdied vehicles established tenn
pCrary transportation lines at this point
and conducted a wholesale business ferry
ing or fordfng persons across the mandates
section at 10 cents head.
The spectators along the river front wit
messed number of exciting scenes. Early
Sunday evening the Analostan boat house
afNt frOn ne.
foundation and carried down stream with
its entire contents. 1t crashed to pieces
against the Long bridge. A schooner was
torn from it's anchorage in the Georgetown
channel and sent whirling down the river
As 1t rode the surging current it's bell
tolled 1t stranded near the monument and
its shattered hulk was hurled and hesped
against the causeway and the draw Of the
Long bridge.
Eastern Branch Out Of Bounds.
The Eastern branch of the Potomac crept
far beyond its accustomed bounds, flooding
the lower part of the navy yard and plac-
ing the Anacostia bridge under water. The
houses In the low grounds along the banks
of the branch were also several feet under
water. as was part of the arsenal point.
part of the barracks was cut Off from
the other buildings of the reservation by
a small river which crept across the
grounds.
duct bridge. All day the streets leading to
the bridge were crowded with vehicles and
pedestrians. The cars on the Metropolitan
and the Georgetown lines did ''land-
office business. Every available inch OF
space was taken up by passengers the
Washington people on their way to see the
spectacle as presented from the bridge and
the residents of Georgetown bound for the
dc wn-town districts to obtain a glimpse of
the lively scenes along Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and south Of that thoroughfare.
An Earlier Overflow.
The flood of February II, 1881, in the
opinion of many persons. was much more
dangerous than that which occurred in the
summer of 1889. Floating ice constituted
the greatest danger and caused more dam
age to the river front and bridges than
any other recorded rise in the river The
rise in the river and the breaking of the
ice in the upper Potomac first manifested
itself the evening of February H. The high
water, with ceaseless rumbling that
sounded like thunder. rushed down the Po-
tomac and bounded over the Ice above
Georgetown.
Shortly after midnight the ice above the
Aqueduct bridge became dislodged from
its resting place and rushed down the
stream and began an onslaught on the
Aqueduct and Long bridges. The rise in
the river created great excitement in
Georgetown and Washington and the pop
ulation was out in full force as witnesses
of the great spectacle. Owners of stores
and lumber yards along the water front soon
set about mailing things down or removing
them to a place of safety. The steamers
moored along the river steamed up and
prepared to assist in the salvage work. The
ice was lifted bodily by the flood, and. with
a crash that could be heard for miles, broke
into great cakes and went whirlng down
the river In the darkness, crushing boats
and wharves In its path.
In Cellars and Lower Stories.
Before the break Of day the water had
found its way well up along B street north
west, extending half way over the walk
and up to C street, flooding cellars and
lower stories of dwellings and ss