Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-04-03
POTOMAC RIVER
ON RAMPAGE
Cumberland Experiences Most Devas-
tation in ALI of That City's His
tory. Waters High in Mononga-
hala and Ohio Rivers. !.

CUMBERLAND, Md, March 20.
The most devastating flood in the
history of Cumberland and this Sec
ton of the Potomac Valley was
sweeping the region tonight. AS the
food waters of Wills Creek and the
river raced through the city streets,
unconfirmed reports of casualties
here and nearby villages were circu-
lated.
Bridges were washed out, houses
carried away and railroad trains
stranded on hills by the rapidly
swelling streams. The waters here
continued to rise tonight with no sign
of a let up. More than half the city
was inundated and hundreds OF per-
sons, unable to reach their home be-
6Are the waters flooded the office build
ihg in which they worked, were ma
rooned in the structures in the down
town section. Power lines were down
and the city was in darkness,
The first report of casualties came
from persons marooned in a river
front building. They reported that
when the Western Maryland bridge
collapsed before the onslaught of the
flood, three men went down with It,
A number of casualties were report
ed from the town of McCoole, 10
miles up the Potomac, but the tele-
phone lines were down and it was i'm
possible to confirm the story. The
Interstate and the Cumberland and
Piedmont bridges near MeCoole were
said to have been swept away.
Abandon Cars in Streets
The rise of the waters here was
SO rapid that automobiles were a.
bandoned in the streets and residents
fled from their homes without
thought of trying to save their furni-
ture and personal belongings. OBJ
servers on the river front reported
| that the Potomac was clogged with
debris and merchandise and that a
number of houses had been swept
away.
Loss Will Be in Millions
There is no way to estimate the
probable loss to property owners and
merchants, but it will run into the
millions. Many business men are
heavy sufferers.
Mayor Koon stated tonight that
he thought the city had an ample
surplus to meet it's cost of rehabil-
itation without a bond issue.
Houses located along the river
front were being swept from their
foundations and carried down stream
Shortly after 5 p. m. the Potomac
river was 20 feet above its normal
stage, and the waters continued to
rise Half of the entire city was un-
der three feet of water. Many fam
lilies, forced to leave the first floors
of their homes took refuge on the up
per floors. The Potomac Edison
Electric Company reported that its
bower lines were down and it was
feared that the flood swept city
would be in darkness tonight.
PITTSBURGH, March 29.-Scores
BIZ families were vacating their
homes in the lowlands here tonight,
Ind business establishments in the
hanger zone were moving merchan-
lise to places of safety, in an eff
ort to escape the rapidly rising wa
ers of the Allegheny, Monongahela
Ind Ohio rivers Unprecedent rains
bver the the water sheds and melt
ny snow in the mountains caused the
Use, and according to the United
States weather bureau observers
here, the stage at the mouth of the
Dhio will be well over the flood mark
unday before noon The crest will
20 feet, seven feet above the flood
tage, the observers reported.
Man and Wife Drown
Two flood casualties were recorded
ate today. Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph
kraber were drowned when they at
empted to save their son from the
God waters of Saw Mill Run.