Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-22

during the tIO0d OF 1857.
vices its growth was gradual, and began at
about Fifteenth street during Civil War days.
when troops were encamped on the grounds to
the south OF the White House. BY degrees
nearly all Of the better class of people living
within this triangle sought residence elsewhere.
and by the time the neighborhood was cleaned
up some 20 years or more ago the Division"
had extended to Tenth street. However even
for a number Of years subsequent to 1865, the
city directory shows living in this area re-
spectacle families who helped to make WASH
ington. But during the flood of 1889 hardly
any one would say it was what it ought to be-
and consequently it afforded material for the
reporter seeking high lights for his paper.
In this connection one tells Of two drunken
colored men who were swimming in the nasty
muddy water trying to catch a half-filed
whisky flask. At one time the onlookerS
thought one Of the men, who was already in
toxicated, was drowned, for when he dived
into the water he failed to come to the surface
for a seemingly long time. Finally the police
arrived on the scene and put the parties under
arrest.
At the New York lodging house, 921 street
an aged man fell from the second-story window
into the water and broke his leg. He evidently
suffered much pain, for the occupants of the
house were attracted by his cries and came in
their night clothes and waded about in the
water to find out what the trouble was. Finally
Police Of1cer Boardman rescued the injured
man and sent him to the Emergency Hospital
There were those who even took the flood
as a joke. One man on Seventh street had q
huge wash tub boarded up on the sides and with
his two children was navigating the inundated
part of that business thoroughfare, to the
amusement Of all.
Another had boat constructed similar to q
sand scow, with cabin, smokestack and pushing
poles, the whole surmounted by Republican
campaign flag.
A NAC0STTA and Georgetown Jared badly
In the former place along the river for
several squares back from the banks families
were driven to the second stories Of their homes
and in some cases were entirely evicted. Even
the old bridge, long since replaced, was soon
partly covered with water. At high tide It was
even worse for the water was then at least
two feet deep over the side of the rail and
many of the planks were foated of down
stream.
Over in GEORGETOWN much damage was done
The canal alone is said to have been damaged
to the extent Of 100000, for in many places
its banks were washed away and the canal
boats in some instances were entirely lifted from
the artificial waterway and rested alongside
the canal in foot or two Of mud.
Holtzman's Barge, famous boathouse where
drinks could be had for the price. met its
Waterloo, and was taken by the swift current
somewhere down the river, where it remained
harmless forever after.
H. c. Winship. the coal merchant had two
schooners damaged and suffered the loss Of
5000 tons Of coal, which was washed away
together with an immense wall erected for the
purpose of protecting the fuel. AS might be
imagined, his loss was considerable, as was that
Of other merchants along the Georgetown
river, where the damage was relatively as severe
as it was in Washington
Up the Potomac the property loss was very
large since nearly every house from the Chain
Bridge to Big Falls and between the canal and
the river was swept away. The only house left
standing, according to reports made at the
time, was the club house on Sycamore Island,
where the Germans at this period were holding
their Sunday outings.
All day Sunday. June 2, crowds from WASH
ington wended their way toward Georgetown
to get good view Of the raging waters of the
Potomac from the Aqueduct Bridge and other
points of vantage. It was indeed a sight never
to be forgotten, with the muddy river strewn
with wooden household articles of every de-
scription, farming utensils that would float,
even to wagons and parts Of barns and shacks
built too close to the water. Much Of the wood,
once manufactured articles was unrecognizahle
having been torn asunder as 1t passed swiftly
over the many rocks encountered as the mad
waters carried it relentlessly on their way.
In the vicinity Of Braddock Rock and near
the Munitions Building the Potomac was twice
its natural width. The grand old stately Wash