Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-15
FLOODS IN VIRGINIA
CAUSE THIRD DEATH
AND GREAT DAMAGE
Hundreds Abandon Homes to
Escape Waters Record i
Stage Is Threatened !

RICHMOND, Va, May 13.-The
most serious flood in years engulfed
sections of Virginia today, rendering
numbers of families homeless and
causing heavy damage to railroaa
property, farm lands, highways and
public utilities. One person, youth,
is known to be dead, the third
fatality in two Gays.
Rivers and streams In virtually all
parts Of the state, swollen to record
proportions, continued their rapid
rise with no sign Of abatement.
The Shenandoah river late yes
terday had reached a depth Of 30
feet above normal, the highest in
more than half a century. Reports
from points in the rivers vicinity
told of thousands Of acres Of farm
lands inundated, lowland dwellings
! flooded, power lines denloralized and
railroad trackage and bridges
menaced.
At Riverton, where the Shenan-
doah was at it's highest, Southern
and Norfolk and Western railroad
tracks were from four to six feet
under water and bridges and high
ways at many points were sub
merged.
A loss of more than 100000 was
reported at Charlottesville, where
the Rivana river attained a stage
Of 25 feet above normal. Several
manufacturing plants were flooded
and the city was without electric
power. Seven bridges were de-
moliShed.
A dam and numerous buildings
along the water front were washed
away in the Rappahanock river at
Fredericksburg, where William Luz
cas- was drowned while trying to res
cue a small boat; while from Har-
risonburg came word that several
power plants had been put out OF
commission in that section, plung-
ing many villages into darkness.
The streets already under water
contain few structures with valuable
contents but the section Of Main
street likely to be inundated first IS
directly in front of the Main street
freight station, across the street from
which are many retail mercantile
establishments.
On the other side of the river, in
historic Manchester, many manufac-
turing plants are battling with water
in their cellars while Mayo Island
park, home of the Richmond base
ball club of the Virginia league, is
under more than five feet of water.
The lower floor Of the Potomac
Boat clubhouse also is flooded and
scores of shacks and shanties along
the river either have been washed
away or are completely inundated.
FOURTH DROWNING OCCURS
WHEN ROWBOAT CAPSIZES
WINCHESTER. Va, May 10
Cletus Funkhouser, 80, foreman for
the Winchester Lumber corporation,
was drowned today when he attempts
ed to cross the Lost river near
Wardensville, w. Va, in a rowboat.
The boat was caught in the swirling
water out Of it's banks as result Of
heavy rains last week, and capsized.
The body has not been recovered.
The Front Royal Riverton NUM-.
cipal electric plant is completely I'M
der water, only the roof showing,
messages here stated.
WHOLE VILLAGE IN FLIGHT:
ISLAND HOMES SUBMERGED
FREDERICK, Md, May 13.--l
Flood waters of the Potomac river
caused large part Of the population
of Point of Rocks, town of 500 in
! habitants, to flee from their homes
late last night and early this morn
ing. Homes close to the river banks
were almost submerged by the
waters which rose 80 feet, said to be
the ighest since the YOUNGSTOWN
flood in 1889. Tracks of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad were mum
dated. Heaters island, midday in the
river between Maryland and Vir-
ginia, was entirely submerged, but
the inhabitants are supposed to have
fled before the waters became
menacing.
Flood conditions, but without dam.
age. are reported at Brunswick.
HOMES ABANDONED AS OHIO
NEARS ITS FLOOD STAGE
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio, May
13.-Residents of Jethro, a suburb.
today were moving from their homes
as the 35-foot flood stage in the
Ohio river seemed inevitable before
night. The water stood at 31.8 feet
at 10 a. M, and was rising slowly.
SEVENTY-FIVE FAMILIES
FORCED TO LEAVE HOMES
DRAVOSBURG, Pa, May a.
Flood waters of the Monongahela
rived today forced more than rs
families here to vacate their homes
and many residents along the river
front moved to higher land.
Many dwellings in McKeesport
were affected by high water, it was
reported here.
FLOOD WATERS OF OHIO
COVER GREAT CORN FIELDS
GALLIPOLIS, Ohio, May 13.--
| The Ohio river passed flood stage
at the mouth Of the Kanawha riv-
er here today and hundreds Of acres
Of corn land were inundated.
The government gauge here this
morning registered Al feet of water
in the Ohio river, which was ris-
! ing at the rate of three inches an
hour. More than 50-foot stage Is
ALL INDUSTRY PARALYZED
AT WILLIAMSPORT, MD.
HAGERSTOWN. Nd. May h.
The worst flood in a decade swept
( over Williamsport. Md, today, par
/ alyzing industry and destroying
/ hundreds of thousands of dollars in
property. 1t sent residents in the
lower mart of the TOWN fleeing for