Evening star., 1937-04-26
Auto Plunges
Into River
NearOrange.
FEAR DAMAGE
In CUMBERLAND
W aters Sweeping g
Over Sea Wall at
Speedway.

A vashed-out bridge apparently had
claimed four or five lives today as the
Potomac River and its tributaries
swollen to flood stages by heavy rains
and backed up by high winds, threat
ened to inundate cities in nearbv
States.
Alarm was felt in some commune
ties as the Weather Bureau offset an
earlier prediction Of cessation of the
rain by tonight with the following
bulletin:
AT 1913 am. rainfall amount
over Potomac Basin has been heavy
and rain continues over entire area.
Rivers will rise rapidly during the next
"a to 36 hours and pass flood stage at
most stations this afternoon or to-
night. Crest forecasts not practicable
at this time"
Small Towns Flooded.
Rising at the rate of more than a
foot an hour at some points along the
Upper Potomac, the river has already
overflowed into many of the small
towns hard hit by last Springs flood.
The middle span of q bridge at
Hancock, Md, which temporarily re-
placed bridge carried away in last
Springs flood, also was washed out.
cutting OF traffic between West Vir-
ginia and Maryland.
Although the Potomac was running
high and overflowed the seawall in
some places. rivermen here saw no
cause for alarm.
The loss of life occurred at Orange,
Va, where the Associated Press re-
ported an automobile carrying -four
or five boys" was believed to have
plunged into the Robinson River last
night.
Fire Chief E. H. Rouse of Orange
said volunteer firemen we're battling
the turbulent stream in search of the
car, which was seen by another mo-
torist as 1t dropped into chasm left
when the river tore away the supports
Of bridge miles north of Orange.
woman who lives within view Of
the bridge said she saw the lights of
An automobile disappear" over the
end OF the span and heard the crash"
Of 4 vehicle hitting the water.
Cumberland Threatened.
Cumberland, Md, and that vicinity,
scene Of disastrous high water during
last Springs floods, were uneasy as
the river swished through mai streets
and forced merchants to move their
stock and families to evacuate
As the rain continued, main roads
west OF Hagerstown, Md, including the
Lincoln Highway, were closed. Inun-
dation Of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
bridge at Hyndman, Pa, forced aban-
donment Of rail traffic between Cum
berland and Pittsburgh.
Washington, deluged by more than
, inches Of rain during the last 48
hours a. swept by 30-mile Winds did
not escape unscathed.
Children in District elementary
schools were excused from afternoon
classes because of the inclement
weather today by order of Robert l.,
Haycock, first assistant superintendent
of schools. The junior and senior high
schools were to have two sessions as
usual.
Bladensburg road, with water 4
feet deep at the Peace Cross, was bar
ricaded to traf1ic and many families
living in the low area had to be car
ried to safety.
Hams Point Under Water.
Hains Point was under water and
the double blossom cherry trees were
endangered. The Speedway and roads
in East Potomac, Anacostia and Rock
Creek Parks also were shut off,
Travel along Mount Vernon Memo
rial Highway was still moving, but
police said t would have to close
(see FLOODS. Page A-2)