Evening star., 1937-04-27

andoah County, dropped dead while
assisting in moving farm machinery
from the path Of the flood.
State police were also dragging 40
feet of water where a roadway over q
dam collapsed near Maidens. They
said Leslie O'Bryant, 26, Of Jefferson,
a newspaper motor route carrier, had
disappeared on trip through that
area
Richmond made preparations for q
26-foot crest on the James River dur
ing the day and Public Works Director
George w. Whitfield warned that the
gas works may have to suspend opera
tions. He held hope, however, that a
24-foot reserve supply would not be
exhausted before the works could
resume.
Traffic on two of the city's free
bridges was suspended by Public Safety
Director John A. Cutchins because of
the danger of excessive strain on the
spans. Arrangements were made for
the use Of the Robert E. Lee Bridge
without toll charges.
Work All Night.
About 200 W. P. A. workers and all
available public works forces OF Rich
mond labored all last night on the
sunken dikes. F. N. Hibbard, in charge
OF the Richmond Office of the United
States Weather Bureau, predicted a
crest Of between 25.5 and 26 feet. The
record crest, 28.3 feet. was reached
during the flood OF last Spring.
Hundreds Of sightseers, despite .
plea by city officials that citizens re-
main away during the emergency,
thronged streets and highways in the
flooded area
Damage at Cumberland, Md, was
estimated by Chamber of Commerce
officials at 100000, a small figure
compared to the 100000 flood dam
age last Spring.
George Oda Kinser, AZ, died OF 4
heart attack late yesterday after re-
turning home from tour of the food
area, but there were no other serious
casualties.
The Potomac River and Wills
Greek, which converge near the center
Of the city, began to go down late yes
terday, when a 36-hour rainfall
ceased.
As the water receded from the
streets, Maryland's second city began
to resume its normal routine. Traffic
moved again while flremen flushed
mud from the downtown thorough.
fares, and railroad and bus lines re-
sumed their usual service on regular
schedules
Merchants re-opened their doors
| and moved back downstairs the stocks
they had hurriedly moved to upper
floors when the waters began to rise
Sunday night. The straightaway on
| the dirt race track at the fair grounds
| was washed away and a turn was
damaged by several feet of water that
covered it during the waters crest
Damage at Hagerstown was neglig-
ible compared with that suffered a
year ago. The interstate bridge at
Hancock is closed, the center span
having been carried away for the
second time. Five hydro o-electric
plants of the Potomac Edison Co
were flooded and damaged to some
extent at dams four and five on the
Potomac, Millville and Warren on the
Shenandoah, and Cacapon on Cacapor
River. Repair of washouts permitted
resumption of traffic on the Hagers.
town division of the Western Mary
land Railroad. Traffic West over the
National highway is being routec
around Hancock, where a block anc
half Of homes are still under water
The families were evacuated yester.
day. All other routes were open.
Residents Return.
Conditions in Southern Maryland
were near normal as the high tide.
receded with lower winds, but con.
siderable damage to live stock ane
property was reported No seriou!
injuries to humans were reported.
Residents in the centers of evacu
ation-St. Georges Island and Great
Mills, both in ST Marys County-re'
occupied their homes at nightfan.
Many small boats were destroyed
and washouts were reported at sew.
eral beaches along the bay. Damage
to roads in the waterside area wa!
heavy, as the 60-mile-per- wine
drove the tide into inlets and stream!
overflowed their banks
Water began receding at 4 pm
after most of the 400 residents Of st
Georges Island. south of here, ane
Great Mills had moved their house.
hold effects to higher ground. Fifty
of the islanders sought refuge in the
Methodist Church. Also threatened
by the rising water was Solomon,
Island, where several stores were
flooded, and Piney Point, where the
southeast wind forced waves into
numerous cottages.
Bridge Removed.
Still isolated by rapidly dropping
water was the farm of James j. Brad.
ley, near Milestone, where two creek.
flowing into the Patuxent rose to cut
on his residence from the mainland
Normally prevailed at all other af-
fected points.
Most heavily damaged of the Solo,
mons Island buildings was the store
OF j. c. Webster. The first floor was
inundated by 6 inches of water. Al
Governors Run the highest tide since
the disastrous storm of 1888 was re.
ported, and at nearby Kenwood
Beach numerous cottages, boats and
fish nets were harmed
The speedy current removed 9
small bridge over the st. Marys River
between Dreyden and Great Mills
from its foundation, and a large strir
OF the Point Lookout beach was de.
stroyed.
Nearby Beaches Hit.
At North Beach and Chesapeake
Beach. popular Summer resorts fol
Washingtonians, long sections o1
bulkheading, erected to prevent ero.
sion, were ripped away. North Beach
was isolated when a low spot in thu
road connecting it with Chesapeake
Beach was covered
/ no Qpoono m fhn Dr;{&o- d..