The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-01-28
A WRECKED TOWN
Port Deposit Devastated BY Ice And
Water-Damage Far Greater
Than Ever Before.
LOSS QUARTER OF A MILLION


experiences with destructive ice gorges
and freshets, suffered the worst in its
history last Sunday morning. The dam
age done by ice and water from the dam
med Susquehanna is variously estimated
from 100000 to $3.50, 900, and extends
! from above Rock Run to below town.
covering distance Of three miles.
The temporary piling and structural
timbers beneath the recently completed
b. & 0. railroad bridge, three miles be-
low Port Deposit, is said to be the cause
of the unusual amount of damage this
year.
The heavy rains last week which rap
idly melted the immense quantities. of
snow in the territory drained by the Sus-
quehanna, soon caused the river to rise
and break its heavy coating Of ice. Satur-
day evening it commenced to jam at the
B. & O. bridge and kept the residents
of Port Deposit in nervous dread all
night All persons living in the lower
portions of the town vacated the first story
I of their houses and moved all goods
above previous high water marks. When
the full force of the gorgestruck the town,
however, about six o'clock Sunday morn
| ing it was found that their preparations
had been of little avail, as the water rose
to heights never reached before and with
the immense cakes of ice soon wrought
inestimable destruction to both buildings
and contents
In the Company store at Rock Run
water rose to the depth of seven feet and
nearly the. entire stock of merchandise
was ruined.
McClenahan Granite Co. suffered loss
of SIC, 900. as its wharf and transferring
plant are totally destroyed Is
]. M. Campbell & Co. suffered the loss
of their warehouse aud contents. consist
ing of hay, grain, fopr, feed, etc, esti-
The Rowland Manufacturing Co. are
the heaviest losers. The planning mill
was demolished and thousands Of feet Of
lumber carried down the river. mourning
a loss of $50, 900.
The Colchester Steamboat Co. S wharf
is demolished and freight house gone.
The large stone warehouse, which has
withstood gorge after gorge, was crushed,
one corner being the only portion of the
big building left standing.
The Penna. R. r. station and freight
house is wrecked and carried many feet
from its foundation. The tracks were
covered for three miles with ice from 10
to 80 feet deep.
Dwellings and stores from Rock Run
down to the lower end of town were
broken and battered, and in many places
carried from their foundations and yards
and street are piled high with the mass of
ice left by the receding waters when the
gorge at the bridge finally broke.
Luckily there were no lives lost as a
watch had been kept all night and fire.
quent warnings given, so the inhabitants
could flee to the hills in time. Although
in several instances families had to be
rescued from their second stories in boats.
Over at Lapidum on the opposite side
of the river, the damage was also greater
than ever before, Spencer & Co.'S large
warehouse being swept away.
The scene is one of desolation and ruin,
| liz AoSOS Wrought OSkuk lluDOSSkUAC u
describe. All telephone, telegraph and
train service are destroyed. trains run
ming only as far as Octoraro Junction.
Many families in the town are practically
homeless and in great distress and need.
A town meeting was held Tuesday
evening and committees appointed to take
steps looking to the relief of the flood
sufferers.
An appropriation will be asked from
the State Legislature, it being the inten-
ton to have committee from the legis-
lature visit Port Deposit in order that the
true state of affairs may be seen.
The railroad company has had an army
OF 1000 men and two steam shovels at
work night and day since the gorge, but
the tracks are not yet clear.
The work of clearing the streets of ice
and wreckage is also being pushed, but
the task is stupendous one, and it will
be weeks before conditions can be any
ways near restored to normal.
APPEALS TO STATE FOR AID.
Mayor David r. Armstrong on Wednesday
sent forth Statewide appeal for cash, food.
clothing, medicine and anything else that may
contribute to alleviate the condition of the
hundreds of persons made destitute by the
flood that accompanied the ice gorge.
las the hours go on the damage seems to
grow" he said. Everybody was hit by the ice
jam, but the poor people in particular are suf-
fering the most. The people who had some
thing and who would be willing to contribute
to help the poor have lost practically every
thing. There are but few supplies and little
clothing in the town, all being destroyed. We
never had to appeal for assistance before, but
it is now incumbent on me, as the Mayor, to
ask the people Of the State for assistance for
our suffering, destitute. hungry and homeless
people,
The National Red Cross telegraphed to Gov.
Crothers, asking If the society could be Of as
sistance to the town, and received an afirma-
tive reply. State Senator Crothers plans to
introduce a resolution at Annapolis today APP
propriating $4,000 to aid the needy.
Chairman Bicknell. of the Executive Com