Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-13
FLOOD IN SUBURBS
FORCES HUNDREDS
FROM THEIR BEDS
HiIIbrook and DeanWood,
Cellars Inundated and
Street Cars Tied Up.
WATERS SWEEP DOWN
NORTHEAST HlLLSIDES
Lack Of Proper Sewer Drains
Blamed for Storms
Damage.

brook and Deanwood in the north
east suburbs following the heavy
rain early today, drove hundreds of
families from their beds, flooded the
cellars of dwellings,. tied up street
car and railroad traffic for three
hours and left behind a wide wake
Of property damage and sticky yell
low mud for the second time this
year.
Hard by. the scene of the disas-
trous inundation around Benning
last spring. this mornings food was
scarcely less serious from the stand
point of damaged property. Resi-
dents OF the two suburbs most Sc
riously affected declared the only
thing that prevented loss of life was
the fact that 1t occurred at an hour
when virtually no pedestrians or mo-
florists were abroad.
Flood From Hills.
Tons of water drained down from
the high hills surrounding Hillbrook
and Deanwood into the narrow valley
In which they nestle. Within fifteen
minutes. residents said. Wills creek,
an ordinarily pacific little stream in
which children wade with safety. was
turned into roaring river. From one
to two feet of water raced down the
streets after completely filing made
quate six and twelve inch sewers. and
hundreds of private homes became
marooned in muddy, yellow lakes.
LACK or proper sewer drains to carry
on the rain water was blamed for the
ri
ers nave asked for an appropriation
OF SZ,oO0.G0O for sewers throughout
Washington, including an item that IS
expected TO give the northeast sub
utos adequate drainage systems, but
IN the meantime there is no prospect
or steps being taken to avoid repeti-
ZION OF the costly overflow should an
other severe storm occur whicI,
might be expected at this time of the
year. 'o
Trafic at standstiT.
Traffic over the >Deanwood street
car line and the Washington. Balti-
more and Annapolis electric railway
tracks was brought to a standstill
"hen the raging waters of Wills
creek broke through a sustaining
dam in the rear of fire engine com
papy No. 81 and flooded the street
and tracks beneath four feet OF
water for distance of more than a
mile; Both the road and tracks be-
neath the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road culvert remained dangerous for
hours. Ao
Most damage was done in HIN
brook, which lies largely along the
Danks or Wills creek. Fields, truck
farms and gardens. covering an area
OF several square miles were sub
beneath
water when the creek rose precipi-
tateiy more than a yard and over
Moved its banks. Many of the yards
OF private dwellings were still sub
merged this morning and nearly
every person one met in that suburb
wore hip boots.
Store Surrounded
- One of the most sorely hit places
was the store and gas station of L.
ID. Hayes, on the Deanwood pike.
Six inches of water still surrounded
the big gas tank. which stuck I'D out
of the center for all the world like
a lighthouse in sea OF mud Its
attendant reached the tank by means
of an improvised bridge built from
bricks and boards whenever an in
trepid motorist splashed through the
mess for a gallon or two OF essential
fuel.
Angelo Gabardini. a stonecutter,
whose shop and attractive home are
just few yards down the road,
waxed eloquent when approached.
CARRIED in overalls and hip boots. he
was busy carting wheelbarrow upon
wheelbarrow load of sand and mud
from the floor of his shop. His yard
was still lake, from out of which
once well polished but now thoroughly
tanned tombstones cautiously peeped.
He said his cellar was just as full OF
Were always Hooded" he said.
when the last big flood come I
advertise my house for sale. But
every time prospect come she rain
again and my street. my yard. this
water again and the prospect go away.
Just a few sewers would fix things
all right, but we can't get them. But
you bet by .golly we have to pay our
Of that: huh? l think she is one damn
shame"
Chicken Coop Inundated.
Over in Deanwood. which is just
across the Washington, Baltimore and
Annapolis tracks from Hillbrook, and
is largely occupied by colored fami-
lies. conditions were hardly less dis
heartening. For instance, reporter
found Arthur Crutchfleld and his
wife busy draining water from around
their yard so their already loudly
cackling chickens might hop down
from their roosts without danger
of being drowned. Next door lives
Anthony Brown, also colored, who
said waters surged down his street
and swept directly across his back
porch. Fortunately, he lives on a
slight incline so that his home was
not inundated for very long.
What had once been streets were
veritable quagmires this morning.
Roadways that were not concrete and
asphalt covered had almost been OBJ
liberated by the washout and the
paved thoroughfares were covered by
half inch of the sticky, yellow mud
that was to be found almost every
where. Motoring was made hazard
Gus by the cars skidding in almost
every conceivable direction. complete
ly beyond control of their drivers. A
corps of men was kept busy greasing
the street car tracks alone.
Another detachment of workers was
at work early replacing the dam,
which ordinarily keeps the waters of
Wills creek from covering adjoining
fields with every substantial storm.
Thk men were simply .piIIng mud up
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