The Washington times., 1936-03-18
Tracks Under Water

izing its disaster relief units.
Tracks Under Water
AS heavy rains continued to
fall, increasing the rivers and
streams already out of their
banks, fears we're expressed that
the loss Of life and property will
increase.
AT Cherry Run. w. Va, the
Baltimore g. Ohio tracks were re-
ported under nine feet of water.
At Harpers Ferry the main street
Of the town and most Of the buSi-
ness section was under water,
while the bridge over the Shen-
andoah River was reported
covered. The bridge over the
Potomac was ordered closed to
traffic as the turgid river con-
tinued to rise.
Cumberland, Md, was almost
entirely under water. while Old
>tewn and Green Springs, Md,
were completely flooded, residents
being marooned in their homes.
Property losses were huge as
small and large houses were car
ried away by the surging waters
and smashed to pieces against OBJ
struetions. It was feared the loss
Of life would be high.
Autos Inundated
Hundreds of automobiles were
reported trapped along the water
covered roads, and it was believed
a number of persons had been
drowned as their cars were inun-
dated.
with the water standing more
than IS feet above normal at
WiIliamsport, Md. employees Of the
Potomac Edison Company were or
dered to abandon the big power
plant and flee to high ground.
AS the floods engulfed the plant.
it.was feared the property damage
would amount to hundreds OF
thousands of dollars.
Rail traffic was at a StandStiu.
Baltimore and Ohio trains from
Chicago and Pittsburgh were being
rerouted over the Pennsylvania
lines. reaching Washington many
hours late, while a number OF
freight trains were reported trap
ped in the flood Arrears and de
rallied.
Motor buses cancelled all
schedules. and automobile clubs
sent out warnings to motorists not
to attempt to go from Washing
ton to the West.
IN Virginia the Norfolk and
Western railroad and the Southern
railway cancelled all trains in the
flood area.
The. Harry Flood Byrd bridge
across the Shenandoah, between
Paris and Mil1wood, was reported
as under water. and the Cedar
Greek bridge, between Middletown
and StraSburg, was reported
washed away, closing the Valley
Pike to traffic.
Maryland Guard on Duty
Hundreds of business men and
tourists were reported stranded
in the flood area as all means Of
communication were cut off. With
danger of food shortage and cpl
demic, the Maryland National
Guard was ordered by Governor
Nice to assist in patroling the
f1ood-Stricken area.
The entire Shenandoah Valley
was flooded. with orchards and
crops along the fertile river-bot-
tom lands damaged. The Shen-
andoah River at Wildwood was IS
feet above normal, flooding for
half a mile on either side, and
the water was only a few feet
from the top Of the highway
bridge.
Lower sections Of Staunton, Va.
were under water, while the en-
tire town of WayneSboro was
flooded, with the waters begin
ming to recede this morning.
Inmates Near Panic
Near panic prevailed at the
State Hospital for the Insane at
Staunton, where the waters
came within a few feet from the
institution buildings. Guards
marShaled the inmates to the
upper floors.
Fifty girls were marooned in
the Cumberland telephone build
ing and the operators stuck to
their posts through the night, at
tempting to keep communication
lines open. But poles swept away
by the flood isolated most Of the
district. Water filled the first
floor Of the building and threat
ened the battery room before
workmen were able to stem the
rising flood and keep the batteries
intact.
Bridge Swept Away
The highway bridge between
Hancock and Berkeley Springs
was reported swept away early
this morning with the loss Of one
life, and all highways between
Cumberland and Hagerstown were
blocked by water and landSlides.
With all lines down along the
Potomac River, the river and
flood division of the Weather
Bureau was unable to receive
word from its observers who are
TRIO US RS