The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-30
FEARS FOR SAFETY
OF FREE BRIDGE
Swift Current and Mass of Drift
wood May Weaken
Supports.
WATER POURS OVER WHARVES
Old Market and Cary Street Are
Early Flooded-Rivcr
Still Rising.

sections Of Richmond last night. the
rise in James River being greater than
predicted. At midnight the gauge
stood eighteen feet and rising steadily.
NO serious loss was reported, though
some apprehcn sion was felt for the
safety of the Free Bridge. OH account
OF the great amount of driftwood in
the raging current. Close watch is
being kept, and In event of any OF
the wooden supports being carried
away the bridge will be- closed to
traffic.
All morning the river rose slowly at
Columbia until ut i o'clock the Chesa
peake and Ohio gauge indicated a
maximum of thirty feet. After that
the river slowly fell back less than
two-tenths of foot an hour. The
crest of the food, it is believed. Will
be reached hero early this morning.
have passed
Comes From the Mountains.
Clear weather all over Virginia yes
terday and the entire absence OF food
water in local streams served to mini
mize the danger, practically all of the
water coming from mountain sections.
Flowing swiftly. the river bore on Its
crest an unusual amount OF driftw God,
trees. railroad ties and debris of all
Rl1dS. nc Overflow AFTER inc TlNeT
left its banks was OF back water.
which rose first through the culvcrts.
and then IN a sullen. murky stream,
but without force OF current to wash
II away.
Except for apprehension about the
bridges, strong hopes are expressed
shat the food may pass Richmond by
some time to-day without any serious
money loss.
had fallen 10 23.A feet-a fall of near
~ seven feet-and railway officials
were preparing then to rush in men
To- day TO repair the damage. All train
service over the James River divi-
sion of the Chesapeake and Ohio has
been annulcd. The main line was
opened last night as far west as Hunt
ington, but conditions on the Ohio
River are reported as becoming more
serious as each hour goes by.
Watching Free Bridge.
City Engineer Charles Il. Boiling put
on an extra force of men yesterday
to protect the Free Bridge from drift
wood. Mr. Boiling made a careful in
spection just before dark and said that
he did not anticipate any reason for
closing the bridge 10 traffic. Three
years ago the old structure was re-
ported unsafe. Immediately after con-
solidation OF Richmond and Manches-
ter, when control of the bridge pass
ed to the City Engineers Department.
MIR. Boiling had wooden trestlc work
built to support the weaker spans. and
under normal conditions the bridge is
now stronger than 1t was for years
before annexation. But fear Is cx-
pressed that freshet water and the
mass OF floating driftwood may carry
away these wooden supports, In which
event the use of the bridge would be
actually dangerous.
BESIDES those employed to prevent
the banking OF driftwood against the
bridge, extra watchmen will be on
guard night and day with authority
TO stop traffic instantly at any sign OF
danger That part of the new Mayo
Bridge from Richmond to the island
has been so far completed as TO be free of
freshct danger. Viewed from the river
banks last night, 1t demonstrated that
the vents under the arches would be
ample to carry the flood water OF a
much greater freshet than is anti
cipatcd, South of the island some
damage was done TO false work and
temporary structures, and 1t will be
several days before active construction
can be med
Pocahontns Abnndons Trip.
George NJ. wyatt, general agent OF
the old Dominion steamship Company.
said last night that all freight had
''N'' i'i'iO'c'i i'i'i 'hS Ciu common
wharvcs before the water flooded In.
The steamer Berkeley arrived yes
tcrday morning from Norfolk. and was
able to unload passengers but no
freight.
1t Is still tied up at the local
wharvcs. Tho Brandon was held at
Norfolk last night. The Pocahontas.
making for Richmond yesterday after
noon. tied up mt City Point. from which
place passeugers came To Richmond IN.
rail II conditions permit, tho Poca :
hontas will sail from City Point on
Monday for Norfolk. resumlng Its
schedule without coming here. and
there VIII be no boat from here to
Norfolk until Monday night Mr..
Wyatt said that from his information
the food would exceed that OF March
Il, 1?l2-thc highest record for sew
cral years.