Evening star., 1936-03-18
FLOOD RECALLS
1889 HIGH WATER
Pennsylvania Avenue Under
Water From Second to
Seventh Streets.

The famous Johnstown food year OF
1889 saw downtown Pennsylvania ave-
nue. in Washington inundated, with
water reaching from Second street to
Seventh street, it was recalled today.
with the announcement that the Po-
tomac tomorrow night will reach the
highest stage recorded here since that
year.
All the streets leading south from
the Avenue between the Botanic Gar
dens, now the site Of Union Square
and the Treasury, were canals. The
Easements and lower floors Of the
houses were under water. The old
market house stood in the center OF
q great lake.
The waters rose nearly to the top
steps Of the old Baltimore g. Potomac
Depot, which then stood at the south
west corner of Constitution avenue and
Sixth street, and the trucks Of the
railroad cars about the station were
under water.
Description Of Flood in Star.
A description of the flood in The
Evening Star of June 8. under a head
line of 'The Highest Yet" said that
call day (June o parts of the city
were submerged. Toward evening
the waters began to recede and this
morning the city had resumed some
thing of its usual aspect, the streets
that were flooded yesterday being COW
cred with ooze and drift.
ington yesterday morning it brought
to light a city partially submerged.
The streets and reservations in 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, turbid and swollen
and stretching far over its banks, was
rushing on, bearing on its surface the
debris that told Of the destruction
wrought along its course.
"The water continued to rise Satur-
day night and by midnight the levels
in the center of the city south Of
Pennsylvania avenue began to over
dow.
Meanwhile along the river banks
the scenes were grand and frightfuk
Throngs Of people were gathered at
every point, some engaged in the work
of saving property. others looking
upon the exciting scene. The specta-
tors were rewarded by very thrilling
sights.
Boat House Destroyed.
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 (replaced since by the High
way Bridge. A schooner that was
torn from its anchorage in the
Georgetown Channel went whirling
down the stream, its bell tolling as it
swept helplessly on its perilous voyage.
1T stranded near the Monument.
The wreckage born on the swift cur
rent was hurled and heaped against
the causeway 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, over
flowing 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 a part of the
barracks was cut from the rest by a
new branch of the Potomac which
took It's course across the grounds.
Sunday morning the streets were
early thronged with people, who
gathered in the center Of the city to
see the unusual sight Of q city partly
under water. Pennsylvania avenue
was flooded from Second street to
Seventh street west, and also in the
neighborhood Of Ninth street"
Along the river from Chain Bridge
between the canal and the river, all
houses we're swept away. The only
place left standing this side Of Cabin
John, Md, along the river was the
Sycamore Island club house.