Evening star., 1923-04-29

SCllSy SlCNS SCut Oul ilOill tic
sewers choked. Numerous repo
to the water department.
The automobile which Tibbs was
driving was overturned when the
crest of the flood met it on Sheridan
road near the Nichols avenue culvert
of stickfoot creek. At the same time
the waters rose over the body of an
automobile operated by John Cope,
also colored, who rescued three col
ored girls in Tibbs' car, by half swim
ming, half wading with them to a
nearby house. which itself was under
several feet of water.
Tibbs was seen by Cope to leap from
his overturning taxi cab to land on
the top of Cope's machine just as the
food reached a twelve-foot mark.
Tibbs leaped from Cope's machine into
the water, and was not seen there
after. On. .Miller's garage, just below
the corner of Sheridan road and
Nichols avenue. a highwater mark Of
fifteen feet was in evidence.
James Brawner of 1904 Douglas
| street northeast was driving Mrs.
Carter home at the time of the wash
out AS his closed sedan started its
! plunge down into the turbulent wa
ters of the creek, which flows through
Sheriff farm into Eastern branch, he
| succeeded in crawling through the
window of the front door. Vainly
trying to rescue his companion a new
rush of water. completely covered the
top of the machine, and he barely
escaped with his life.
Where Storm Was Worst.
That section lying between Benning
on the west and Capitol Heights on
the east probably suffered more
seriously from the flood than any
territory within the District. For
about two miles in length and
quarter Of a mile in width this terri
tory was inundated, hundreds of
homes marooned and scores of them
damaged seriously by the food wa
ters, which weakened the foundations
and made living in them dangerous.
With terrific force the water de-
scended from the hills in the vicinity
of this lowland, carrying away in
substantial frame dwellings, wreck
ing bridges. tearing up railroad
tracks and sweeping automobiles in
it's path as it would a dereliot boat.
The most extensive damage was
done in the vicinity of 50th street
and Grant road. Here great volume
of water which rushed down a near
by run lifted Clinton's barber shop
from it's foundation and carried 1t
two blocks down stream to 4sth
street and dashed 1t against a bridge
at this point, practically demolishing
it. The bridge near which the barber
shop stood was loosened from it's
foundation and made unsafe.
Porch Carried Downstream.
A concrete bridge across the run
at 57th and Dix streets was virtually
separated from either side of the
road and several of its supporting
pillars washed away. The porch on
q house nearby also was carried
downstream and some parts Of its
foundation torn from under it.
A. large frame tool house, two
chicken houses and a portable steel
garage in the yard Of house at 441s
Hayes street, occupied by Mrs. Edgar
Seabolt, were carried away by the
water. The chicken houses and the
tool houses were left on virtual
island about 800 yards from the house.
The garage could not be found within
q quarter of q mile of the place.
ef~
bus ran into a lake Of water about
five feet deep and was stalled,
marooning the passengers for sew
eral hours until the water receded
sufficiently to allow them to leave
the utility in safety. One of the
passengers, a boy, fearing q PARENTAL
reprimand for arriving home late.