Evening star., 1950-08-24

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Heurt Attuck Kills Man
After Rescuing Child;
Many Caught in Flood
Flooded cellars and scattered
damage were being mopped up
today in the wake of spectacu-
lar downpour which reached a
peak during yesterday afternoon S
rush hour. stalling traffic and ma
rooning motorists in low areas.
One man died of a heart at
tack, police said, after rescuing
a child from a flooded district.
Police and firemen rescued at
least a score of other persons
caught temporarily in the flood.
The heavy storm began in early
afternoon and continued with oc-
casional letups until $50 pm,
with a total precipitation of 2.79
inches. Earlier showers brought
the days total of 289 inches.
This was exceeded by last Satur-
day nights storm, when 1856
inches of rain fell. The record
rainfall for an August day oc-
CURED over a 24-hour period,
covered the 18th tnd 18th of the
month in 1928. In that time 7.31
inches fell. So far this month
7.6 inches has been recorded, as
against q record total for the
month of August of 14.41 inches
in 1928.
More Showers Likely Today.
The forecast called for con-
tinuation of the cloudy skies today
with afternoon thundershowers
likely. The temperature is ex-
pected to reach the low Dos this
Tonight the thermometer will
drop to about 68 degrees. To-
morrow will be cloudy also, warm
humid and again showers will
be likely.
While communities east ano
south of Washington reported
heavy rains yesterday. those west
and north of the District felt
comparatively little. The Weather
Bureau explained that the rain
fall. caused by tropical air masses
apparently was very limited in its
scope. It struck later at Annap-
oils.
BENJAMIN Goodrich, Sc, colored
of 1862 Sheridan road Sc, died
of a heart attack, according to
police, after rescuing Ruth Eliza
beth Duckett, 7, also colored, from
the first floor of her flooded home
in the same block. He took her
to his own second floor apartment.
A District street cleaner, he, is
survived by sister in, New York
and a brother and sister in Pam
anna, where he was born.
The worst traffic jams occurred
when cars coming off or entering
the city's bridges. particularly the
South Capitol. Eleventh street
Sc. and Fourteenth street S.W.,
spans. could not proceed further
due to heavily flooded areas near
by. The cars in some instances
were backed up for 4 miles, and
the delay at the South Capitol
span was two hours.
6 Cars Totally Submerged.
Number Eleven Precinct, cover
ing the Southeast. undoubtedly
was the hardest hit section. Major
floods and tie-ups, and about 80
sewers out of commission made
residents in the area an unhappy
lot.
At South Capitol and Portland
streets Sc, the underpass just
outside of the gate to Boiling Air
Base was completely under water.
At least 6 cars were totally sub
merged. Traffic stopped at about
6 pm. and the intersection was
still impossible today.
The motorists believed at first
they could get through but found
themselves stalled by the rising
waters and had to abandon their
cars. .-.. .--
About Is people were rescued
from the submerged cars. About
midnight, some drivers enter
tanned the idea of diving into the
water and swimming to their
autos. in hopes of attaching lines
to pull them out, but all gave up
the idea. The cause of the high
waters at this place was due to
clogged sewers.
Also in No. II, Suitland ano
Nicholas avenues Sc. was the
scene of another traffic jam. with
cars submerged from to 9 pm
At least eight persons were res
cued and four cars were rolled
over on their sides by the force
OF the current of the flood waters
Truck Washed Onto Lawn. :.
At Branch and Suitland avenues
Sc, traffic could not proceed
from 6 to $50 pm. A dump truck
was washed off the road onto the
lawn of a house. An expecting
mother, who also has 4-year-olo
child, was rescued by police.
Another bad traffic jam &C.
Cured at Naylor road and Mill.
tary drive Sc. The military
highway to Andrews Air Force
Base was under water for some
time.
One of the worst flood areas