Evening star., 1936-03-19

tween the G. q o. Canal and the rivers
sidewash, presented by 10 am. the most
striking picture of food in Washington.
Water 6, Feet Deep.
It was 6 feet deep in some spots, with
the tide still rising. The first floors OF
buildings were flooded, and business
was being done in canoes. The Smoot
Sand & Gravel Co. ran ferry service
for It's employees. The boat picked the
workers up at Jefferson Street and car
riod tharn half book to the south side
Of x street, where the firm's building
Is located. The employees entered by an
outside stairway, which they climbed
to the second floor and work.
The pitiless deluge caused $4,000
damage to the Wilkins Rogers Milling
Co. In this Georgetown sector, and 1t
was feared that the igure would
mount still higher If the -four bins,
feet above the water level at 1880
pm, are reached. The District of
Columbia Manufacturing Co. suspend
ed operations to remove the machinery
it uses to pump water from tine canal
for making paper.
The Rosslyn Steel 8s Cement Co., on
the Virginia side, closed temporarily
after receiving o warning from the
power company that the food might
explode the cement company's power
motors
The water was 21a feet deep for
several blocks along the Rock Creek
Parkway, which runs northward from
K street.
The Titanic Memorial Statue In
West Potomac Park, near the Heurich
Brewery, was flooded at its base.
Although water was tapping against
the walls of the gas company build
ings, oficials said it would have to
rise feet more to affect machinery
there. A gas reserve big enough to
last several hours was stored last night
in case of emergency.
Horses Removed From Stable.
Thirty horses were moved out of
the Riverside Stables, near the juno
ture of Rock Creek with the river.
With Niagara-like roar, the Poto-
mac beat its way across Great Falls
and flooded the adjoining Maryland
and Virginia banks. Great Falls con-
cession buildings were covered with
water.
Anacostia golf course on the Ana
costa Flats was partly flooded and
the road along the edge of the East
ern Branch was under water.
Bridgetenders reported seeing
houses, furniture, boilers, beds and
other debris floating down the river
Although the waters so menaced
the District Morgue on Water street
near Seventh street southwest that
four bodies were removed, an inquest
was held there at noon. Spectators
we're warned to leave the place, but
most remained.
At o'clock hundreds Of people
lined Pennsylvania avenue in expec-
tation OF seeing the food waters roll
up the famous street, which was COW
cred in the 1889 deluge.
So high and dangerous was the
water that the Norfolk boat was un-
able to dock at its Water street wharf
this morning. Police had to 60 out
into the river in boats to take the
passengers ashore. Earlier, the boat
failed to make its usual Alexandria
stop because the captain was unable
to find the wharf. The Virginia city's
quay streets were three feet under
water.
The Harbor Police station, next TO
the wharf, was made into an island.
It is built on piers out over the river,
and the water covered the street be-
hind it.
The dixie authorities were ready to
throw their levees across Constitution
avenue below the Naval Hospital if it
became necessary.
1,400 Work All Night.
As the angry waters roared south
ward from their mountain sources
$500 men worked feverishly under the
glare of anti-aircraft searchlights all
night long to barricade lower Wash
inton and its s10o, 10000 worth Of
Government buildings against the
roaring food.
At midnight 75o c. c. C. boys, 800
of them from Beltsville, Md, and the
rest from Chopawansic, Va, relieved
900 C. G. C. members building the dixie
to keep the Potomac in its banks.
Until 4:30 am. they worked with 500
w. P. A. employees who were relieved
by additional C. C. G. members from
Annapolis. Beltsville and Elkridge, Md
The 800 c. c. c. boys who went OF at
midnight returned to the feverish job
at 8.
At midnight, Commissioner George
E. Allen and z. A. Demary, associate
director Of the National Park Service,
made an inspection tour of the dixie
site and reported progress satisfac-
tory. Two hours later further check
on the battle with the river was made
by Lieut.. w. ], Matteson, assistant
War Department district engineer,
who found all well.
Trafic In Halted.
Special police details halted all traf-
fic into and south Of Constitution ave-
nue. between Fifteenth and Twenty
third streets, except the trucks haul
ing earth to the dixie, which entered
the park in q constant stream. The
dirt was brought from the site Of a
recently demolished temporary war
time building on the north side OF
Constitution avenue between Twen-
tieth and Twenty-second streets
where steam shovels operated al
night
The searchlights were furnished by
Battery A, 260th Coast Artilltry, Dis
trict of Columbia National Guard
under command of Lieut.. L. ]. Rutz
who was forced to burn them alter
nateiy for fear of burning them out
if he kept them lit continually. They
were posted few yards apart on th'
south side of Constitution avenue
: near Seventeenth street.
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