Evening star., 1937-10-23
CoImar Manor Residents
Suffer Worst Damage
Since 1888 Rise.
D. c. LOSS Is LIMITED;
IS DEGREES FORECAST
Race Program Not Cancelled at
Laurel, Although Track
Is Sea of Mud.
Picture on Page A-j)

Clearing and colder weather was ir
prospect today after a torrential down
pour overfowed a branch of the Ana
costa River into low portions Of
nearby Prince Georges County and
necessitated the removal of families
by boats
Residents OF Colmar Manor and
other nearby communities reported
the worst food since 1888. Firemen
of the Bladensburg Rescue Squad
were removing at least 100 residents
from flooded homes this morning
The damage in Washington was
confined to a few flooded cellars and
temporarily closed roads. The forecast
is for partly cloudy and colder to-
night, with a minimum of about 35
degrees; tomorrow fair"
While water was more than a foot
deep across the two principal ap-
proacheS to the Laurel race track,
and the track itself and greater por-
ton Of the automobile parking area
had been converted into a sea of mud,
track officials this morning said the
regular racing program would be pre-
sented this afternoon.
Three Inches of Rain.
Almost inches of rain have fallen
here since 4;30 pm. yesterday, boost
ing the monthly average to 312 inches
and the yearly average to more than
10 inches above normal.
Most of the rain fell in the lower
Potomac Valley. The Potomac al
Harpers Ferry fell more than 2 feet in
the last "a hours, and l-foot drop
was reported this morning on the
Shenandoah River. No damage from
high water was expected along the
Washington water front.
The rains last night flooded the K
street viaduct at the railway tracks
temporarily tying up traffic Portions
mined on M street near North Capitol
street.
Beech drive between Blagden ave-
nue. and Tilden street was closed by
an overflow from Rock Greek, anc
parts of Rock Greek parkway were
temporarily closed last night.
Push Rescues in Four Towns.
Prince Georges County rescue and
fire squads today we're working to res
cue persons from their homes flooded
by the Northeastern Branch of the
Anacostia River in four towns.
More than dozen persons already
had been taken from their homes
shortly before noon, and all available
fremen~ and rescue workers in River
dale, Hyattsville, Brentwood and Bla-
densburg were called out to cope with
the emergency.
The water covered nearly mile OF
the Baltimore Boulevard from the
Peace Cross in Bladensburg to a point
near the Hyattsville city limits. Fire
men said the water was rising at the
rate of about a foot an hour At
10 O'Clock it had reached a depth OF
more than four feet in Bladensburg.
Residents in Riverdale. Edmonston
Brentwood, Bladensburg and East
Hyattsville were marooned in their
homes, observers being able to see
women and children standing on front
porches already being Tapped by the
water, awaiting the rescuers.
Business Areas Covered.
Business houses in Bladensburg had
two and three feet of water on their
floors.
Flood waters of the Little Patuxent
at an early hour today had cut of
approach to the Laurel track from
Main street, in Laurel, and the main
entrance leading off the Washington
Baltimore boulevard just north of the
town.
Town police said, however. ar
rangements had been made TO use
Whisky Bottom road. located off the
Washington Baltimore boulevard be-
tween Laurel and the State police
substation north of here, to reach the
track.