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


prompt assistance All parts of the Republic
came forward with their contributions, and our
own city, as is generally the case, did more
than it was asked to do, for it fully realized
what was going on in Pennsylvania where
string Of men 2 miles long were carrying
collins to the little town in which to bury their
untimely dead.
Johnstown is much larger place now, and
the Conemaugh River and Stony Greek still
flow gently on. To many of its inhabitants,
and TO many of residents, the disaster it
met with at that time is now regarded as
ancient history; and So probably, is our own
Hood OF the same year regarded by many OF
our people whose personal memory OF past
events will not reach that far back.
OF course, there is comparison between
~ our flood and the one which caused the
loss of so many lives at JehnStown, for the
loss of life here, if there was any at all, in
cluded an extremely limited few, our loss being
entirely reckoned in dollars and cents.
There was an unusually large amount of
water which fell during the year 1889, in all
6l.38 Inches. Beginning April of that year and
ending the following day, a record fall of 3.21
Inches OF rain was registered here, and earlier
IN the month, on April 6, Washington was
visited with one Of its worst billiards.. At this
time heavy fall Of snow was recorded, &C.
companied by thunder and lightning This
condition was not purely local, nearly all Of
the streams of the eastern Atlantic Safes were
much swollen and out Of bounds from the 71A
inches of water which fell at Harrisburg. Pa,
on the day of the JohnStown flood. wash
ington recorded on the same day q fail Of $40
inches, thus bringing the rainfall for May up
TO about Ills inches, approximately 0.25
inches over the average. However although
the people of Washington were not entirely
taken unaware, still the flooding Of the low
lands OF washington was a surprise they were
not looking for.
The writer well remembers this food which
started to make its appearance on the after
noon Of Saturday, June l. and had practically
all disappeared by the afternoon Of Monday
June 8. He recalls that when he left the
National Museum, where he was then employed,
on Saturday afternoon, at o'clock, that the
Seventh street cars-then drawn by horses
could just get through the deepest part the
water, at B street, without submerging the
floor Of the car. Had this occurred after Presi-
dent Roosevelt added half hour to the clerks
working day. might have had to stand up
on the seats, for the water at that time was
rising rapidly There difficulty cross
ing the Mall the following Monday, for the
water then had almost entirely receded.
A n illustration of how quickly the water rose
= can be seen by the fact that The Star Of
Saturday, June l. carried no account Of the
food, though reference, of course, was made
70 the unusually high water in the Potomac
and the threatening conditions prevailing that
day At that time this newspaper did not print
q Sunday edition, but a full account followed
on Monday afternoon, and the following Is q
part of what this issue contained:
1.-THE waters Of the Potomac rose yesterday
higher than known before by the oldest
1nhabitant. All day parts of the city we're
submerged. Toward evening the waters began
to recede and this morning the city had re-
Sumed something of its usual aspect, the streets
that were flooded yesterday being covered with
Ooze and drift When the sun rose upon Wash
ington yesterday morning it brought to light
q city partially submerged. The streets and
reservations on the lower levels in the center
of the city and all the wharves and streets
along the river front were under water while
the Potomac, turbd and swollen and stretch
ing far over its banks, was rushing on bearing
on its surface the derbis that told of the de-
struction wrought along its course. The water
continued to rise Saturday night and by mid
night the levels in the center OF the city south
of Pennsylvania avenue began to overflow.
Meanwhile along the river banks the scenes
were grand and frightful. Throngs of people
were gathered at every point, some engaged in
the work Of saving property, others looking
upon the exciting scene. The spectators were
rewarded by very thrilling sights. Early in the
evening the Analostan boat house was swept
from its foundations and carried down the
torrent with all its contents, going finally to
ruin against the Long Bridge. A schooner that
was torn from its anchorage in the George
town channel went whirling down the stream,
its bell tohing as it swept helplessly on its
perilous voyage. It stranded near the Monu-
ment. The wreckage borne on the swift cur
rent was hurled and heaped against the cause
way and draw of the Long Bridge South of
the bridge the wharves and streets were flooded.
The Eastern Branch spread far out beyond its
accustomed bounds flooding the lower part of
the Navy Yard, overlooking the Anacostia
bridge, the causeway of which was washed
away, and inundating houses on the low
grounds. The arsenal point was partly under
water and part OF the barracks was cut from
the rest by a new branch of the Potomac,