Evening star., 1936-01-04
Threat of More Rain Is
Worrying PopuIace After
Night Rise.
TRAFFIC is CUT OFF
MORE THAN 6 HOURS
Menace of High Water General
in Maryland as Thaw Melts
Snowbanks.

| DiddclloOulB Wy AAOOu NdOcio lIOIIl IiiC
Northeastern Branch of the Anacostia
River, a score of families viewed rain
filled skies with apprehension today
as they mopped up and prepared to
move back in.
Considerable property damage re-
suited and traffic was blocked for
more than six hours yesterday after
noon and last night when the inunda-
ton, brought on by the rain-induced
thaw, put Defense Highway under
inches of water at Bladensburg. More
| than 4 feet of water covered the high
| way at some points.
Traffic resumed its normal course
early today and 3-acre pond caused
by the flood had disappeared.
A repetition of the condition was
threatened tonight. however, with a
prediction of rain by the Weather
Bureau. Tomorrow will be clear with
dropping temperatures. A minimum
of 80 is expected overnight.
Families Quit Homes.
Three families on Ross street.
Bladensburg, we're forced to evacuate
their homes early in the night when
the overfowing water continued to
rise. One of the families-Mr. and
Mrs. Emile Johnson-spent the night
in the Bladensburg fire house. while
the other two found refuge with
neighbors
In North Brentwood more than a
dozen colored families were routed
from their homes. They also were
taken in by friends and neighbors.
The Bladensburg and RiverdaIe
rescue squads brought the marooned
people to dry land. They used a
boat which the Riverdale squad keeps
for such emergencies since the river
frequently overflows after Spring
freshets and during Winter thaws.
Efforts have been made to obtain
money from the Public Works Ad-
ministration to finance a food con-
troll project, but the application has
not been acted on.
Flood Menace General.
Threats of floods throughout Mary
land followed the moderating tempers-
lures.
Ofhcials and State police at Fed
eralsburg. scene of a million dollar
flood last September, said after an all
night watch over the swirling waters
of Marshy Hope Greek that they did
not anticipate a food of serious pro-
portions.
However. Mrs. Margaret Lewis, rep
resenting the Red Cross, ordered all
units in nearby towns, to hold trucks
and manpower in readiness for an
emergency.
The Associated Press said a serious
threat appeared in Cecil County. Big
Elk Greek was high. Highways in
some sections of the county we're COW
cred with water yesterday, but were
clearing today Ice was piling Up
against some bridges. West Of Elkton
traffic yesterday was diverted by way
of Fairhill, Rising Sun and Conowineo.
Potomac Rises Rapidly.
The Potomac River was up or 3
feet at Brunswick The Monocacy
River was up feet north of Freder-
lex, and high water was expected at
Oakland.
The moderating weather also broke
up the ice which had isolated Smith
and Tangier Islands since Christmas.
Charles H. Richards, returning late
yesterday from a flight to carry food
to the islanders, said many boats were
being freed from the ice. He pre-
dicted boats would be able to cross to
Crisfield today.
Richards was sent from Cambridge,
Nd. by Col. Albanus Phillips. wealthy
packer, with his plane loaded with
bags of canned food. The pilot
dropped them in clear places near
communities or skilded them ashore
on the ice to waiting islanders. Those
stranded waved CHEEKY greetings as
they recovered the bags. Richards
said they appeared happy and iovial
and showed no indication of severe
suffering.
Another plane was sent out from
Cambridge today to search for two.
Deals Island men unreported in Tan.
gier Sound since Christmas eve. The
boat of the men. Frank Webster and
Clarence Creighton, is jammed in the
ice in shallow water across from the
island The pair had only short
supply of food when they left for
South Marsh, deserted island.
James Ice Breaks Up.
Ice that had capped the James River
and its tributaries west of Richmond,
Va. for the past four days broke
under warmer temperatures and sent
a grinding mass of white foes crash.
ing seaward on the crest of snow-fed
flood waters.
While no repetition Of the record
it was believed the river would rise
about II feet above normal. 1t was
out Of its banks at Danville last night.
c. w. Simms, sanitary inspector for
the Public Welfare Department at
Richmond, and his son Wade, reached
safety after hazardous half-hour
ride down the ice-fllled river in a
rowboat into which they scrambled
when their pleasure launch was swept
away. ~
River men predicted the high water,
which has paralyZed shipping in the
Richmond harbor, would clear up in
day or two.
Dredge Floats Away.
Swept from their moorings by pres
sure Of gigantic ice foe in the
Rappahannock River near Fredericks-
burg. Va, a big dredge with nine men
aboard and tie-loaded barge drifted
helplessly for four hours yesterday be-
fore running aground, according to an
Associated Press report.
change in the tide halted the
movement of the foe. When the
vessels stopped, their crews made them
fast by lines lashed to trees.
The how of ice in the Rappahannock
Is said to be the heaviest in many
years, with the river about 10 feet
above normal because Of heavy rams
and melting snow and ice.
The Coast Cuard cutter Acushnet