Evening Star Newspaper, June 3, 1889, Page 2

* THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C., MONDAY, JUNE 3. 1889. THE HIGHEST YET. GREAT POTOMAC FLOOD. WASHINGTON PARTIALLY SUBMERGED DAMACE IN AND ABOUT THE CITY. —o——— SUNDAY A DAY OF EXCITEMENT. a Striking Scenes in the Submerged Streets and at the River Front—Rall- road Travel Interrupted and Mails De- | layed—Kelief when the Waters Be- | gan to Subside. ————-—_ The waters of the Potomac rose yesterday higher than ever known before by the oldest inhabitant. All day parts of the city were sub- merged. Toward evening the waters began to recede, and this morning the city had resumed Something of its usual aspect, the streets that ‘Were flooded yesterday bemg covered with ooze and drift. When the sun rose upon Washington Yesterday morning it brought to light acity par- tially submerged. The streets and reservations on 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 waters continued to rise Saturday night, and by midnight the levels in the center of the city south of Pennsylvania avenue began to overflow. Meanwhile, along the river banks the scenes were grand and fright- ful. Throngs of people were gathered at every ~ point, some engaged in the work of saving property, others looking upon the exciting rcene. The spectators were rewarded by many thrilling sights. Early in the evening the Analostan boat house was swept from its foundations and carried down the torrent with ell its contents, going finally to ruin against the Long bridge. ‘A schooner that was torn from its anchorage in the Georgetown channel went whirling down the stream, its bell tolling as it Swopt aiong helplessly on its perilous voyage. It stranded near the monument. The wreckage borne on the swift current 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, ‘ooding 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, partly under water and a part of the barrac! ‘Was cut off from the rest by a new branch of the Potomac, which took its course acroas the grounds, A SUBMERGED cIrY. Sunday morning the streets were early thronged with people, who gathered in the | center of the city to see the unusual sight of | acity partly under water. Pennsylvania ave- nue was flooded from 2d street to 7th street west, and also in the neighborhood of 9th street. All the streets leading south from the Avenue, between the Botanical Gardens and the Treas- ury were canals. The basements and lower floors of houses were under water. The mar- Ket-house stood in the center of a great lake. ‘The waters rose up nearly to the top step of the Baltimore and Potomac depot, and the trucks of the railrood cars about the station were under water. On some parts of Pennsyl- Vania avenue the water rose nearly to the floor of the street cars, which continued to run. Venturesome persons in carriages and wagons drove through water hub deep and shared the thoroughfare with wading boys, men on rafts and gondolas improvised from boards. which their owners poled along. Boats also appeared on the streets. STREET CARS STOPPED. The water was so deep on 7th street from Pennsylvania avenue to a point 200 or 300 yards south of the market-house that the cars could not go through. The water was a foot above the tloor of the cars. Enterprising owners of "busses, with high bodies, established tempo- Tary transportation lines, and did a good busi- ness ferrying or fording persous over at 10 cents ahead. There were many amus- ing scenes about the streets. Along the river front, wherever there were dry © approaches," throngs of spectators were gathered. The greaf point of interest was the Aqueduct bridge. All the day the treets leading to the bridge were crowded with vehicles and pedestrians. The cars on the Metropolitan Yashington and George- town lines were crowded with passengers, every available inch of space being occupied, the Washington people on their way to see the grand view of surging waters presented from the Free bridge and the Georgetown people to witness the lively scenes along Pennsylvania | avenue and south of that thoroughfare. The Free bridge was lined with people, who watched with eager interest the raging flood that poured ceaselessly beneath the stracture, inundating wharves and islands and eddying and swirling against the steep hillside streets leading up from the river front. Hundreds continued their journey farther up to witness mous strain of the midnight high ‘was too much for it. When morning dawned the pretty structure was on its beam ends on the rocks; safe, perhaps, from the dangerof being washed down stream, but having lots of its fresh scraped off. The club's blue, white and red pennant was still flying from the The canoes were all ee —— yy. One thousand dollars will probably cover done to the coal-tar depot and wharf ek Warren. Lots of barrels—some full, some —were washed away. he Gas company’s loss is quite extensive. The brick structure near the water's edge, in which the hoisting engine was, lost more than half of its walls, and, had it not been for the protection afforded by the more staunchly-built a y " probably have een completely swept away. 5 The ‘Washi ammonia and chemical com- any have suffered but little. There was three Reet of water in the works; but little damage was done the stock. The water did not put out the fires in the engine-room, but it had muddied everything within its slimy reach to a very con- siderable and disagreeable extent. Mr.Whiting’s Ret ‘ape vines in the yard looked like pond i welt ves yesterday. A bigcarp im- in the engine-room. SINKING OF A WHARF LOADED WITH FUEL. J. Maury Dove suffered very severely. Sat- urday he thonght he would escape with but little loss. Sunday the entire property was under water. The upper or G street wharf went down in the morning with a rush anda roar, taking with it lots of coal and wood. The big derricks followed, and two full coal barges left at 9:30a.m. Ten thousand dollars would hardly recoup Mr. Dove. THE ANALOSTAN BOAT-HOUSE SWEPT OFF. Between Cumberland’s and Cranford,s works there is a big gap in the landscape. It is caused by the absence of the Analostan club boat- house. The boat-house went Saturday night, taking with it a magnificent equipment of boats and boating material, splendid furniture and pianos, and a large quantity of valuable cloth- ing. The structure preserved its unity to a considerable extent until it collided with the Long bridge; then there was a crash of glace and timber and the boat-house and contents were gone beyond recovery. All the boats and fittings could have been removed Saturday, but in accordance with instructions from the officers, no attempt was made to save anything. Sunday afternoon Jesse J. Parks, of Balti- more, was resting on the foundations where the boat-house stood. Jesse is a pungy, loaded down with wood; Jesse drifted there Sunday morning. Most of the small buildings were flooded up to their roofs. Littlefield & Alford’s office was fall of water on the lower floor. The two pro- rietors were, however, leading a sort of a binson Crusoe existence in the second story, occasionally communicating with terra firma through the medium of amessenger and a boat. A BRIDGE AFLOAT. Among the many things which floated down the river were the carcasses of three cows, nu- merous dogs and cats, and a whole bridge. The latter was about 60 feet long, and seemed to be in fairly good condition after its undoubtedly long trip. Its cohesion was splintered off the Long bridge. AN ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. The crowds along the river front seemed to be, as a rule, good natured, but there were ex- ceptions and consequent arrests. Several bat- tles were fought as to the ownership of saved firewood which really belonged to some one else. One nervous specimen of mankind was 80 wrought up by the swirl of the muddy wa- ters that he tried to commit suicide by throw- ing himself into the stream. Officer Ghermon, who has demonstrated his ability as a base-ball catcher, caught the crank and threw him to third—the third precinct station. THE MONUMENT ELEVATOR STOPPED. The water from the river percolated throngh the soil of the monument grounds, and Sat- urday morning the engiife-room at the base of the shatt was partly filled with the tide. This necessitated a stoppage of the engines —_ visitors were compeiled to walk up the it. FAMILIES CAMPING OUT. The few families whose homes were on Easby’s Point have either been living on the second floors of their moist residences or else forsook them altogether. All the furniture downstairs will be damaged so far as muddy water can damage it. Farther down the ban! a number of shanties are occupied, when there is no flood, by colored people. The unfortu- nates have camped out ever since Saturday evening. A RELIEF PARTY. Saturday's increased flood caught four mem- bers of the Canoe club association on Analostan island and Saturday evening found them with- out food. Early yesterday morning they nailed a distress signal to the flag pole on their boat- house, and during the morning Messrs. Otis B, Goodall, Wm. 8. Dudley and J. A. Oliver, all canoe club members, decided to feed the hungry. A light boat and quantity of pro- visions were loaded on a wagon and taken over the ——— bridge into Virginia. A start was made from a point just north of the entrance to the national cemetery at Arlington, and after & pull of twenty-five minutes the reseuing party paint | river, which overflowed the banks and filled the streets. reached the island. Their welcome was a hearty one. They remained on the island all night. The distressed men were Commodore Lake, T. Barrington, T. E. Oertel and J. R. Church, THE LONG BRIDGE. The Long bridge yesterday afternoon was an interesting sight, and thousands of people crowded along the banks of the river, All the grand sights at the Chain bridge and the Little Falls, where the river rushed with a mighty roar iu its pent-up channel, overflow- ing the bridge and sweeping great trees and wrecks of barns and houses along in its re- bistless flood. RUIN TO PROPERTY ON THE WRARVES. The scene slong the river frontin George- town was exciting. Coal wharves and lumber yards were submerged, and vast quantities of coal and Iumber were swept away and lost. ‘The waters raged over the reclaimed flats and did incalculable damage to the work. Owners of property along the the river front watched anxiously for signs of fulling in the waters. At noon they were cheered by news from Harper's Ferry that the waters there were falling rapidly. STRANGE SUNDAY SCENES IN GEORGETOWN. The church bells called in vain Sunday morn- ing toa great multitude of people. Lots of them broke the Sabbath without giving any thought tothe breach. They consoled them- selves, if consolation was necessary, with the knowledge of the fact that there would be a large uumber of Sundays during the present year when the churches would not be called upon to str le with acounter attraction of such magnitude as the greatest flood that has €ver Visited this section since the days of very long ago, when the salt seas roared around and tossed their foam over the rocks in the Poto- mac above Georgetown, now known as “The Three Sisters.” ‘The K-street bridge over Rock creek was a central point, and although the Rorth roadway of the structure was in a de- cidedly ricketty condition and was barricaded to prevent traffic, the eager. curious public strolled across the bridge aud loitered on its creaky, collision-strained timbers. West of the bridge Water street was truly water street. Boats and rafts and planks floated over the sub- Merged cobble-stones carrying passengers and night Saturday the bridge watchers paced rest- lessly up and down the north end of the bridge, expecting every moment to see the bridge give way. Directions were given to load the bi with all the cars available, and about 10:30 p. m., along train of loaded freight cars backed onit. The old causeway was completely sub- merged, and the fence which divided the drive- way from the railroad tracks was swept away. During the night a canal boat struck the “draw ‘on the Virginia side,completely gs | it. A good many of the canal boats which been Dirty pide against the bridge during the day had been pushed away from the bridge. The schooner Fannie, belonging to the Widow Miller, which broke her m ge Saturday, lay a short distance from the draw until day- light yesterday morning, when she came down and struck the bridge with terrific force. Her crew of five men were rescued by Capt. Tay- lor, of the tug Hanson Keys, and €ap' Davi Two more long-boate, the Purdy and the George and tha, came down yesterday morning laden with lumber, and now lie there com paratively disabled. BETWEEN LONG BRIDGE AND 7TH STREET. Very few of the owners of wharf property, between the Long bridge and 7th street slept Saturday night. Many of them thought the water would subside during the evening, but instead of that it gained steadily, and when morning came it hed pushed over the wharves, and in several i extended clear across Water street. The street was bs 1 param named yesterday, and the thousands of curious spectators, who picked their way care- fully along the upper side of the street, looked with wonder upon the scenes presented. Asa large proportion of the property on the wharves was coal, lumber and other material of that character, which could not be moved to a place of safety, all that the owners of property could do was done to take Picasure-seekers of all ages, sexes, degrees, aud te. ‘THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL, During the twenty-four hours of Friday Tq inches of rain fell at Harrisburg, an un- Precedented quantity for the middle Atlantic Tegion. In Washington the rain gauge Measured 3.10 inches for the day, thus bring- ing the rainfall for May up to about 11.75 in- ches, or about 8.25 in ON THE s over the average, RIVER FRONT. The Water Three Feet Higher than the Great Flood of 1877. On the river front from the Long bridge to the Free bridge matters were much worse than up until all the tide-gauges were hidden. It was fully 3 feet above the 1877 flood-mark, and that was fully 11 feet above spring-tide high water. The Meredith & Winship coal company suffered to such an extent that no estimate of ‘the damage can possibly be made until the water subsides. Five thousand tons of coal have been washed away, and the wharf on coal-derricks are total wrecks. Three heavily- laden coal barges broke away from their moor- ings at the gas company’s wharf Saturday night and went to pieces against the heavy timbers of the bridge. Sunday al barge with 115 tons of coal on board started for e bridge at 5 o'clock and succeeded in getting there very soon afterward. There was no petty aphens the — tao expres- gion of a loiterer, “Ever; "—and everything did go. aemalie: CANOE ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS WRECKED. The headquarters of the Washington Canoe association lost its grip on ite pile-moorings sometime during Saturday night. It was all right when darkness settled down, but the enor- the ordinary precautions and hope for the best. This tog aia oer ings force of men eld at ‘erent points ready for an emergency, but practically they had nothing to do, What was the water was doing beneath notknown. The — supposition was en- tertained that the force of the water had lifted the wharves up and wrenched them, so that they would be almost a total loss. SURVEYING THE DAMAGE. effect of the flood. He found E. Kurtz John- son and J. Harrison Johnson, of the firm of Johnson Bros., at their extensive wharves, not far from the Long bridge. “Last Saturday a fire,” observed Mr. E. Kurtz Ji reporter later inthe day, boats gathered in quite a the watchman ot saa then a raid Rronerty which had not fair); eur it wi re were started down . was maintained, and these promptly checked. ‘ough was all that could be seen tensive lawns = ph and fields of that one side ve the total However, the tows = large flood amid horses were removed & z a little to the east and north the James Creek down canal, generally a sluggish stream de between the stone walls forming the banks, had been transferred into a swiftly flowing First street, in the vicinity of Virgimi: avenue southwest, was impassable ex: by The inhabitants in that locality looked — le ae ep Spies ner eee ey wanted to step out and visit their neigh- bors they either waded or took a boat. A number of the in that section were flooded in the lower floors owing to the water having backed up in the sewers. As to the low places, impromptu ponds and lakes had brought them up in some cases nearly to grade. The Smallwood school house had water in its 't floor, but no damage was done. THE FLOOD IN THE CITY. Streets Converted Into Canals—A Part of Pennsylvania Avenue Submerged. The water ftom the swollen river came up along the iine of the old canal, flooding the low-graded section of the city south of Pennsylvania avenve, reaching the avenue. Nearly every business house south of the Avenue to the Mall and north of B street, from the Capitol to 15th street, was flooded Saturday night, All the cellars were filled early in the evening, and by Sunday morning nearly all the stores were partly under water. There was plenty of time to move the goods stored in the basements, and those who took advantage of the early warnings of the coming flood saved hundreds of dollars worth of goods, while those who made no move in that direction lost nearly if not quite as much as their neighbors gained. Mr. t H. Shea, the grocer, on Penn- sylvania avenue, between 6th and 7th streets, was the first to make anearly move, and before the water flooded his store he pe up barrels of sugar, flour and other goods on the little parking in front of the Police Court which saved him the loss of hundreds of dollars worth of goods, SUNDAY WORK SAVING GooDs. At Browning & Middleton's, J. L. Barbour’s, and other stores, the large wagons and trucks were kept in readiness all Saturday night and Sunday morning, to be used in case the water rose much higher. The goods in the base- ments, such as barrels of oil, molasses, and other liquids that could stand considerable water were let alone, while other perishable oss Were removed to the first floors above. hen it was seen that the water was guing to enter the stores, the a goods were removed to the upper floors, where they were not injured. In that way most of the store clerks were kept busy during the day instead of having their usual Bunday holiday. The commission stores along B street and Louisiana avenue fared badly. In some of them the goods had been carried to the upper floors, but in most of them the stock remained on the first floor. In some instances the store doors were lett open to prevent their being broken by the waters. Apple barrels, hogs- heads and boxes and boards of every descrip- tion floated from these stores, and many of ee made their way to the foot of Capitol IN THE LUMBER-YARDS, SAW-MILLS, ETO. Many of the lumber-yards, saw-mills and machine-shops along Ohio avenue and 12th and 13th streets sustained losses, In most of those —— the water got into the engine-rooms and idconsiderable damage. Joists, boards and lumber of every description floated from the yards and millsand went some distance from where they started or were picked up by boys and converted into rafts, The loss to these will amount to several thousand dollars, FLOODED HOTELS, The signboard with the legend, ‘Severson & Bush,” was all that could be seen to mark the barbershop under the St. James hotel. The basement of the hotel was flooded, and the kitchen was out of sight. The water covered the first floor, rendering it impossible to con- duct business in the office. There was a sort of bridge constructed of timbers leading from the stairway inside the hotel to the pavement in front, and guests were driven to and from the hotel in carriages. The Howard house, on the opposite corner, was not quite so badly flooded. The cellar was filled with water, but the first floor, being con- siderably above the sidewalk, the water did not enter the office. The pavement on either side was covered, and the hotel could only be! reached by crossing a small bridge, or by means of a boat. Atthe American honse the state of affairs was similar to that at the St. James. The cel- lar and everything on the first floor was under water. The proprietors provided a boat for their guests, so that business was not much | interrupted. Mades’ hotel, at the corner of 3d street, and | the Hotel Brunswick were both flooded, Along the south side of Pennsylvania avenue a large number of boarding-houses are sit- uated, and in some of them the water entered the kitchens, THE B. AND P. RAILROAD STATION presented a novel sight. The water completely filled the waiting-rooms, and the large Pull- man cars under the shed looked somewhat like Venetian gondolas, The heavy oak flooring was floating about like a huge raft. The bag- gage room was also filled with water, and nu- merous milk cans were afloat init. Now and then a trunk would strike a can, detaching the cover, and the contents would whiten the water. Boats floated through the entrances of the depot, and the Sran reporter's boat was made fast to the stairway leading to the superinten- dent's office. Passenger Agent Parke came w) in a few minutes in a large boat and made his way upstairs to inquire how the Long bridge was standing the pressure. He was informed by the telegraph operator that it was all right. MISSOURI AVENUE SUBMERGED. Persons living on Missouri avenue were un- able to leave their homes Sunday except by means of boats, as the water there was very deep. Most of the houses along there have basements and high porches. The water cov- ered the basements and in some instances the rches were submerged. The flood came be- fore many of the residents had been provided with eatables for the day, and had it not been for the assistance of outsiders many of them would probably have os hungry. Wagons and carriages were of no assistance on that square except at a few houses, because there are iron fences along the parking. As they were covered with water the houses could only be reached by means of small boats or rafts. “VENICE” WITH A DIFFERENCE. The section known as ‘‘the Division” looked as much like Venice as it was possible for that locality tolook. Craft of every description were assing through the streets, while women, who Praned from the windows and Cea the bal- conies and porches, chatted with each other and joked with the amateur boatmen as they floated by. At one window on lith street a woman was fishing from a second-story win- dow. The entire basement was flooded, and Saturday she gained the street by means of a ladder, but Sunday the water badrisen so high that the ladder was of no use for that purpose and it occupied a conspicuous position on the roof, Just in the rear of Harris’ theater two drunken colored men were having a free bath. One was vainly bee | to reach a partially filled whisk: bottle, and it looked at one time as if he woul: be drowned. Once when he went down and stayed some time the crowd thought he was gone for 508. but a were ae for he came up puffing and blowing, ye! o 5 Re, to hab dat whisky itl drown He idn’t get the whisky and he didn’t drown, for = police patrol boat nabbed him and took him ore. YON FOR THE Boys. Withal it was a picturesque scene, this street deluge yesterday, and the boys went in to get all the fun out of it they could. They sble lumber, barvzis and everything else available, built rafte nd paddled about all day. Some of these rafts were ingeniously constructed, while others could do nothing more than partial; Seat aor peti he straddled hiv improvised craft, and his feet and lower ex- tremities were in the water. One man had a boat constructed similar to a sand scow, with cabin, smoke stack and pushing poles,’ The whole was surmounted by a republican cam- ae “Goose's melody—“Rub s dub dub, poy edn tub,” was db on 7th _ street. He had a uge the cheers BOATS AND VEHICLES IN DEMAND, Boats were in demand and their fortunate fellfrom the second story of the New York lodging house, 921 C street, and broke his leg. He was precipitated into the water and rescued geet oe anaes me! y occupants o! e honse were ail wading about i their night clothes to learn the cause of the THE ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT. There were no electric lights lit along the Avenue last night. The United States electric light company had all of its machinery raised as a precantion: Measure and, consequently, although damaged. it was not injured ‘to, any extent. It isexpected that the lights will be in running order by to-night. ON THE EASTERN BRANCH. The Navy-Yard, the Wharves and Bridges Submerged. The lowlands bordering the Eastern branch Were an easy prey for the flood, and the stream grew in width all day Saturday, until Sunday morning it looked likes lake. There was but little current and the lazy flood lapped the shores leisurely and crept higher and higher into back yards, up steps, inch by inch, into front doors and back doors, until Saturday night scores of families living in the southeast- ern and southwestern sections along the Ana- costia and several squares back from the banks were driven to their second stories, and in some cases were entirely evicted from It was not long before the bridge giving access to Anacostia was flooded, and when the tide was highest the water was at least two feet deep over the side rail and many of the Sawer} were floated off down stream. This stopped traffic of all kinds, including the street cars, and communication was had with the village on the other side only by means of boats. IMPROVISED AS FERRIES. All day yesterday skiffs and pungies, neat outriggers and yawls, sail boats and scows were pushed back and forth as ferries, the charges being from 10 cents to a quarter a head for one way. Several small fortunes were started thus. Some of the boats took their course across the river through the bridge, thus giving nervons passengers a feeling of security. Some distance out in the water a clump of roofs peeped up out of the yellow flood. These were all that remained visible of Rabey’s boat-hiring estab- lishment. His floating stock was in constant demand all day. UP THE BRANCH, Further up the river lay the new bridge, also submerged, but, inasmuch as it is not yet open to traffic, its blockade caused no disappoint- ment. Midway between the two bridges, on the far shore, a white house of one story ap- peared above the surface of the water. A native told the reporter that it was Smith’s place, and it had another story below that couldn't be seen. Smith, he added, had moved upstairs in a hurry Saturday night. Away out in the stream a pole stood up straight, with several ropes stretched out in different direc- tions, heey Peseta beneath the colored water. This was a derrick used to hoist stone for the new bridge, and ordinarily stood on the bank of the branch, THE NAVY-YARD, Naturally enough the navy-yard was visited by the flood to a considerable extent. The water by Saturday midnight had completely surrounded the offices at the foot of the street, had entered and covered the entire floor of the immense new ordnance shop, had filled the marine railway, had choked up the door of the great ship-house to the west, and had obliter- ated all that looked like wharves. and left muddy beaches some distance further north. A rude causeway of boards was constructed from dry ground to the porch of the offices, a dis- tance of about 100 feet. while communication with the Chet enn and the Dale, that lay alon; where the wharves should have been, was had by means of boats manned by blue-jackets, A BALVAGE CORPS AT WORK. Capt. Meade, the commandant of the yard, took time by the forelock, and as early as Saturday morning had a force of men at work removing loose bits of materials to the higher ground and making fast things that might float off. The bulk of the ES eee was of such a nature that it could not well float, such as boil- anchors, chains and cannons, and they left to their fate. A little more chain was given tothe anchors of the old monitor Saugus awaiting its fate in mid-stream, and it was the most placid looking object in the vicinity. It even looked higher an bigger than usual. There were some materials which could not be moved, such as cement and lime for use in the new gun shop, and these were destroyed. The water set fire to several barrels of lime last night, but no damage was done beyond the loss of the lime. The great shrinking pit in the new shop is, of course, full of water, and will have tobe pumped out. This, however, will take but a few hours, and there will be com- paratively little delay to the work of complet- ing the building. Considerable damage was done to some of the tools in the other shops by rusting and in the new shop by the weakening of some of the freshly laid concrete beds for tools, but Capt. Meade yesterday estimated that counting everything the loss of property and the damage to the tools, work, and yard will not exceed $5,000. This figure would probably have been at least doubled had it not been for his prompt action at the first note of warning, Yesterday the gates of the yard were kept closed to prevent the swarms of visitors press- ing down to “see the water” from over-running the yard, and the sentinel at the entrance, with a bunch of keys hanging from his belt, was kept busy skaking his head and refusing admission. ien were at work all day vester- day getting cement and cord-wood out of the yardof Z. Williams & Son, at the foot of 3d street southeast, THE OLD CANAL, The mouth of the Eastern branch canal at the foot of New Jersey avenue and 22 streets, was choked, and the flood spread out from this point like a fan. Just down at the water's edge a tall brick house bid defiance to the mud, and sheltered a large colony of colored people who had faith that the tide could not py rise as high as the roof, The steamer eary lay at anchor in the pay formed by the overflow between the mouth of the canal and Buzzard’s Point. She was taken around from her landing place in the Potomac Saturday night to prevent her from getting on top of her wharf. Directly opposite the mouth of the canal was a collection of indistinct objects that proved to be the remains of a fish station. An enormous net creel was the only thing entirely above water, while around it lay roofs and floats at every possible angle. BUZZARD'S POINT. Buzzard’s Poiut is along finger-like stretch of land that enjoys the reputation of being the most odorous place on earth, Ii lays away out in the river, iow and flat, just the kind of ter- ritory that rising waters like to embrace, and the kind to disappear at the first wave. That is what happened to a good portion of Buz- zard’s Point Saturday night, and some folks were sorry when they saw it come back again to its malodorous existence when the waters receded. Mr. Peter Mann runs a warehouse for bones and fertilizers out on the point that had a good washing in the last two days, He also deals in carcasses of deceased animals and other material impossible to mention, which the tide picked up and scattered along the sides of the point. He found that his steamer Arlington, which he uses in his business, was in danger of bumping over his entire plant, and so he ran her out near the other shore and there anchored her. There is quite hamlet around Mr. Mann’ establishment, and on Sunday morning there was an exodus from the huts tothe dry ground further up South Capitol street. HE HELD THE Fort, The man who lived in the end house toward the river was more fortunate than the most of his neighbors, in having two stories, and so he held the fort, although his parlor was » minia- ture swimmin, canoe tank all yesterday morn- ing. Inthe shvernoon, when a Star reporter visited the t, he was stan on his door- step and ye! for a boat to come to take him toshore. About a rod from the edge of the water three or four of the washedout families had erected a rade tent-house and were waiting for the flood to subside, the women amusing themselves by throwing bricks into the water in their front yards, for which a couple of well- trained dogs e with mad energy. A great pests | omt on abeer keg with his in silent, motionless, patwe of misery, Another sat waiting a chair tilted back against a tree, camp-mee' ‘ir homes.*| Ge tide switches ronn’. Tain't no show to what | THe most it was las’ night,” and the chair legs went again, and the began once more to te the glories of «‘de valley by de Jurdan.” TRE 34MES CREEK CANAL. The mouth of the James Creek canal, at the foot of Delaware avenue southwest, was the focus of interest to the inhabitants of “Blood field” yesterday, and the two bi that span the beautiful stream at M and N streets were loaded with men and women. ail of one per- Ssuasion in the line of complexion, laughing at the queer things the fi had done. There were in this neighborhood probably a hundred houses of which the first floors were fi Saturday night, and in some cases of low huts y down on the shores of the creek the in- tants had been driven out entirely. One whole row of bricks midway between M and N on 2d street was surrounded. on every side all day y iy, and boats were in it demand. mning’s bridge and the railroad bridge, Anacostia, withstood the onslaught of the waters, EXCITEMENT IN GEORGETOWN. Great Destruction of Property—A Serie ous Blow to the Business Men. The Potomac had a large audience watching ite tragic fury. One of the best points of ob- servation, looking up and down the river, was the Free bridge. One-fourth the population of the District appeared to be assembled there, or working their way in crowds to that vicinity. People stayed from church to watch the rush- ing water, and some of them appeared to find & practical, illustrated sermon in the terrible anger of the flood. Groups of colored people, standing with their faces together, declared, in solemn voices: “It am de judgment.” THE RUSH OF TRAVEL TO AND THROUGH GEORGE- Town, Street cars loaded until the conductors were crowded off the platforms and not an inch was left for passengers to hold to, buggies, cabs, hacks, private carriages, milk carte and de- livery wagons, omnibusses and 7 drays, bicycles, tricycles, and every description of vehicle that would move on wheels carried thousands of people in to Georgetown. People on horseback aud people on foot hurried through the streets. Georgetown has probably never before seen such activity in its history. Every street abuting on the river front was lined with people down to the brink of the flood so that the water washed about the toes of the foremost. The Free bridge, spanning the flood ae enough above the tide to be safe, was crowded with almost as many people-as it could hold, and those persons too timid to ven- ture on this structure with the waters rushi madly so close beneath stood in the streets an: warned their friends not to be too venture- some, WEIRD NIGHT SCENES, Saturday evening the crowd had stood on this bridge watching the flood until the dark- ness narrowed the scenes about them, and the washing and roaring of the rapidly rising flood seemed to come nearer and become more threatening. The lights at intervals along the shore, the leaping lights on the schooners careening and tugging at their anchor-chains before the rage of the waters, and the pound- ing of the drift against the piers, with the crash now and then of timbers giving away along the wharves, presented a weird scene to the crowd that lingered into the night. There were watchers all night. These were owners of property being destroyed or threatened with destruction as the waters rose. AN ANXIOUS SABBATH MORNING. Sunday morning early a throng of spectators were on hand. Then the Sunday scene—the lower part of the town flooded with the de- | stroying waters and the upper streets crowded with people in their church clothes eagerly watching the destruction. The crowd of the morning and midday was almost doubled in the afternoon. Men. women and children, nurses with baby carriages stood on the banks and on the bridge watching the rush of the water, until they grew dizzy, and the bridge, the city and the surrounding country seemed to be rushing up stream at the rate of twenty miles an hour, Many people with carriages drove UP TO THE LITTLE FALLS’ BRIDGE where the channel is narrow and the waters more violent; several large excursion wagons did a thriving business carrying passengers up the canal road. They made trips as fast as they could travel the three miles to the Chain bridge, and it did not take more than five min- utes to get a load ateach trip. Now and then in the crowd was seen some disconsolate dweller onthe river shore trudging along with a few aq? gerne on his back. One muddy and forlorn lookmg man had on his back a tin wash boiler, a bed quilt anda pillow, all wet but the boiler, “House and all gone,” was his laconic reply to questions, CANAL BREAKS. The canal banks above washed away, and in the lower part of the canal a long line of canal boats were resting in mud, while the water had rnn out to help swell the flood in the river. People on high points of observation were look- ing for familiar objects along the shores. WATER THE VICTOR. The young men who drink beer at Holtz- man’s looked in vain for that resort. Cold water had got the better of it at last. It had gone down the night before. All on the upper otomac nothing could be seen that was not adrift—and rushing rapidly. The shores were swept clean of pleasure boat landings and the waters were washing high upon the hill- sides. Some of the couples who love to walk along the paths on the Potomac shore strolled over the bridge and out by the roadway to find that paths led into the water, and their favorite picnic places were covered many feet deep. Loafers who were in the habit of hanging around Holtzman’s for beer or stronger liquor were driven from their haunts like drowued-out rats, and sat up on the bank in a sorrowful sort of way watching the victory of the water. They had nothing else to drink. Here and there in open places on the hillside picnic — took their lunch and a birds’ eye view of the flood. AMONG THE DRIFT. Early in the day considerable drift came down from the upper Potomac, chiefly logs and uprooted trees, When a box or barrel or an outhouse came by it was greeted with a shout from the crowd. A live hog floated down and was rescued by a colored boy, who suid he would have pork for breakfast to-morrow. Heavy Losses of Business Men. The scene of destruction was below the Free bridge. Water street was flooded for all but about a square of its entire length. The mills, the warehouses, stores, and dwellings were flooded, and everything that the force of the flood could dislodge was washed away. Wharves, buildings, and shipping were terribly damaged, and coal, ice, lumber, and other property washed away. All along Water street men were at work in boats trying to save their prop- erty, while at the bend of the river below, where an eddy was formed, “wreckers” in all sorts of crafts were gathering in the drift that came within their reach, The loss to the busi- ness men along Water strect and the entire river front of Georgetown cannot be correctly estimated at this time, but none have escaped without heavy loss, and in many cases the losses are extremely heavy. All the wharves were buried out of sight and some of them washed away. Great quantities of lumber were washed away and many of the buildings damaged. THE HAVOC AT THE COAL WHARVES, Mr. H.C. Winship is one of the heaviest losers, two of his schooners having gone adrift and received serious damage; also, two barges. About 5,000 tons of coal on the wharves was washed away, besides the damage to the wharf property. Mr. Winship stated to a Srar reporter thi morning that it seemed incredible that the cur- rent was strong enough to wash away an im- mense wall around the coal pile. This wall, high t said Mr. Winship, was fully twenty feet and very thick, but it was forced down. About $10,000 worth of coal consigned to Mr. Winship by the way of the canal is considered by him as owt amount, unless the canal-boats had arrived in some town where the coal could be of, which he thought was not likely. AM ICE COMPANY LosEg $15,000. Mr. A. W. Ward, president of Smith's Trans- SERIOUS LOSS GEORGETOWN HAS EVER MET WITH. Mr. R. B. Tenney, proprietor of the Analos- tau, Columbia and Foundry mills, declared that the loss to the town is the most serious by poy beer met with: that the outlook eis gloomy. and unless the people of gr agen) fame’ borward with helping hands tl mills of this place would be shut “As it stands now,” Mr. Tenny added, « loss sustained by me by being flooded and goods damaged does not bother me, but my great loss is the loss of the water- Power from the canal, which may be for months — it ory bons forever. As for steam-power, at is out of the question. The outlook is in- deed dark, when you know that everything belonging to the canal company, even to the water rents, is mortg: and IT really can't tee any other help than from the people. ‘The loss the canal water-power is not only the millers’ loss but the town’s, I am sure the oe would weet <4 pay a liberal in- m money advanced for the re i of the level of the canal. The Tovennse da rived from it are worth a good deal. We may never start again,” said Mr. Tenny, in conclu- sion, LOSSES OF THE ICE COMPANIES. The Great Falls ice company and the Inde- Pendent ice company suffered losses by ice being melted or floated away. The Indepen- dent company's loss will reach about $10,000, while about $3,000 will cover the loss of the Great Falls company. THE LUMBER YARDS. “When we were warned by the signal office,” said Mr. Charley Wheatley, of Wheatley Bros’. lumber yards, “we put a force of men to work at once and secured everything by heavy ropes and other ways, and I find that we have scarcely lost anything.’ Mr. Wheatley highly indoree: the harbor improvement, and said if it were not for the channel being clear there is no doubt the water would have reached almost to M street. Considerable lumber was carried away from Libbey’s lumber yard. The big trestles of Borden companies wharf were partially washed away. Agnew's and Herr's wharves were serio damaged. The Potomac and Columbia boat clubs got their boats on dry land. and their club houses, while pretty badly washed out, still stand. The Canoe club house,which was anchored close up to the Analostan Island, was washed up among the tree tops and stood on its beam’send half under water. Most of the boats were out of it but the lockers were not cleared. The damage done im the store houses and ship-chandler's stores is not as heavy as one would imagine, for preparations were made for the freshet. The loss of household goods to the poor people living within the flooded district is severe. ANOTHER FIRM LOSES TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. Messrs. Cropley, Boteler & Crampton, dealers in fertilizers and agricultural implements, are among the heaviest losers, Their new ware- house suffered great damage by being struck by a scow, staving in the walls of the building, through which the water surged in torrents. The floor of the building was uplifted from its supports. About 75 tons of guano were sendin pol together with two new wagons and a lot of implements. It is not known whether their wharf is damaged to any extent, but it is feared so, at about £10,000. i A young man who had been purchasing manure from the car stables and other places, had stored a great quantity since January last upon the wharf near the Aqueduct bridge. He suffers losses to the extent of about $1,000. OTHER LOSSES. The Arlington roller mills escaped with about $3,000 damage to flour. Mr. E. L. Dent considers himself quite fortu- nate in escaping with little damage, which is also quite strange. REPORTED LOSS OF LIFE. Two canal boatmen while making purchases at Leech’s ship chandler store this morning stated that about thirty boats were landed high and dry on this level of the canal, and that two boats with all on board were washed away, and that each boat had at least five persons on it. This story is not believed by many, and had not been even heard of along the canal. THE VIRGINIA END OF THE FREE BRIDGE. The earthwork around the Virginia abut- ment of the new bridge was pretty badly washed by the heavy rains, but there is no damage done to the abutments. Workmen were put to work constructing a breakwater. SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DROWNED. Charles Sparshaw, while engaged in securing drift-wood yesterday near the Virginia ap- proach of the Aqueduct bridge, was carried away and is supposed to have been drowned. Sparshaw, who resided at Rosslyn, was em- joyed in the car shops of the Washington and Georgetown railroad. ss Mud was everywhere on Water street this morning, and shovels and brooms were brought into requisition to ciean up. Above Georgetown. Nearly every house from the Chain bridge and the Big Falls, between the canal and the river, was swept away. The only house left standing in that space this side of Cabin John bridge was the Sycamore Island club house. The man in charge of the club house packed all the contents of the house on an old scow, which he tied to the trees and saved them, but he narrowly escaped with his life. Probably a hundred or more small boats were washed away from up the river. This side of the Chain bridge an old black cow was left high and dry on a small point surrounded % , and was unable to get away. At the second canal lock the feeder dam of the canal was broken. The house and store of James Trailes was swept away. A young man employed there as clerk remained in the house too long and had a narrow escape. At the house of a man named King. on the north side of the canal near the second lock, the folks were in no hurry to leave the house. One of the in- mates said he would remain in the house until he cooked his breakfast. Before he finished cooking he was compelled to jump from the second story window. The store of Howard Garrett, on the south side of the canal at the Great Falls, was swept away with all its contents, Joe West, the lock tender, suffered great loss to household effects and his house. THE CENTER MARKET. It Was Flooded Yesterday, but is Open To-day as Usual. eat By 6 o'clock Saturday evening B street was full of water, and the dealers in Center market began to prepare for the worst. The large storage rooms of the company were made use of to an unprecedented extent by the dealers, as well as by the wholesale commission mer- chants, who placed an enormous amount of early fruit, strawberries, meats and other food products on cold storage. The task of properly caring for the market buildings was gréatly in- creased by the task of caring for the costly refrigerating machinery, which it was neces- sary to protect from hurt in order that the con- tents of the storage roomsof great value should be safe. Much of this machinery is under the large sopry f in the court-yard—six feet below the level of the market floor. By 9 at night the flood had cut off outside access to the 9th street wing, when the dealers and the public were notified to quit, and within an hour the = were put out and the market emptied of all but those employed to protect it. The water kept constantly rising, but until 3 o’clock in the morning the large force of men were able to keop the engine-room as well as the boilerroom empty of water. In the market the water had reached the top of many of the benches and had thus set crates of crabs, diamond-back terrapin and a number of enormous turtles, and only a few of the latter were saved. All attention and effort ‘is | by this time had centered in the engine-room, raged around which on every side the flood nine feet above the level of the floor, where thirty men, with the aid of two steam poms, were doing their utmost. About this hour « break in the , Which could not be contro! quickly put out the fires and the overflow overcame all effort, and by 4 the engine-room was full. As soon as the flood began to recede last night the work of washing out the market began, and this morn- ing besloees eee carried on as usual, The was soon emptied of water, and, if is believed, that the asc is un- harmed. The food products in the rooms above are in dition, and facility bas thus proved iteclf of val S — us proved especial value ON THE ANACOSTIA SIDE. —" Ttontinned on Ah pagel Their loss is placed | WANTED—HELP. WANTED-AS Active x, LOCATED OUT- Side Lange citing ¥ eli mouth, to rebre: yet SUPT. MPG. HOUSE, Lock Bo Isle, aw yANTED—A PAINTER, AT PEA & Law. Wyss tenon Sheps Vi lOand 2M stow, Ware WANTPD-AJOUENEYMAN PLUMBER, pina PTE Fuaranterd the year ary am . Apply to ED. J. HANNAN. WAS TED-DRCG AlPRENTiCE © sume eipericnce preferred also. boy fountain. Apply at Lbint House Drng store a for soda it WANTEDIWOMEN COOKS #10 TO 940, CHAE ey, Berinaids, nurwes and laut in city oF aways SAMLA COOMBE & “ae yANTED-MEN AND WOMEN OOOKS, @1 @°5. Chambermaids, La Shirt Ironers, Gardeners, Faria ofall kinds. DICKS Agency, 6: Wastep—a merly been en Profits in the best sell subscript shed Address Box 7, Star office WAdTED Sou. Abour YEARS OLD VY care for child. Apply betweeu 5 and 9 p.m. sthenw. * ANTED—A RELIABLE W Man, polite and neat, « bars aad Feferences, Addr y ANTED-IMMEDIATELY—A WHITE OR OOL- ored Girl family of Uiree to do chant 5 ny ag. m . ANTED—A COMPETENT PENSION OLE gMly OF weutleman. “Apply to Box Apply at y ANTED—GENTL af A) rn raid of work HONEST WHITE GIKL F Also boy in Jewelry st en. wore, a 1D NURSE GIRL—A WIL aud Data nw., over Drug St eutrance on 2d st ro WASTED—A SERVANT Of ) DO WASH- ing, ironing, and general Lousew rk, only those competent need apply at once. 630 D st. nw. . iv ANTED-A GIRL TO WORK ON DRKEssks | iso, an apprentice to learn dressin: Apply S13 11th st aw. ao WASTEDYOUNG LADY FOR OFFICE and to wait o ‘Ustomers, stoall wages to meuce with, Address W. S.C, 949 Bat nw WANTED—A RELIABLE, ENERGETIC LADY, not too ¥ f wood address aud picwming to se attention. #ix customers, for hours daily; only. A, lary &n. SHURE & CO. 430 TANTED — 5 laundresses, Heip for Phi f fees every Satu; early. BURNHAM'S, ¢ y ANTED-SERVANTS, COOKS, LAUNDRESSE Wines Positions of all iuids filled; rooms uted aud rents collected. Tell us what you want KR, 2016 H ST ¥ jor te aared Th A CY, #10 F stu. w W ANTED—DRESSMAKE “ work. Cail or address Mra. J £ MAITEGN stae jel be woo a summer, references re Indo K’st. uw. Je WANTED —uELP— VERKAL CHAMBEKMAIDS | Government postions TELLIGENCE OF Fic ANTED-WHITE DRIVER FOR DOLIVERY wagon, APIS, after 6 p.m, 414 wih st. a. w. jel -at we will help you EUKEKA EMPLOY ME * all between 1Uand 11. WASTEDIGIRL, TO DO -GENERAL Hut v y ANTED—IMMEDIATEI nurse for two Fu for Loug Branch ; housewor ber meu to handle b. WASZED EXPERIENCED WAIST AND SKIRT Dabds, at ot: st nw, Lae Wane. -AGED pay—The Cayital City Benefit Society, coutrulled MALE OK FEMALE. GooD by tax-payers of Washington, pays wick ccchieut, wind death benetits. Office 458 La ave. opp. city del roows 11 and i2. Wasi WHITE GIRL FOR HOUsEW and to assist in the care of clilureu , iuust mtay nights; relereuces required Apply 154% Sth st. u. AL AND de wasn . canvassing, on. ti e uperial edition of Zeil's’ Encyclopedia in five voluiies, Just is Sued. Sold tor casi, or on easy instalments For lib- eral (erie aud territory address I. &LWOOD ZELL, del-it Pub. Phuadelphua. Ware TYPE-WRKITER tw autroduce the “smith Premier, al inveutiou of the as YA CLAKKE SON. WANTED AT ONCE-A SERVANT 10 OOUk aud do geueral work 101 y of three; must stay at night; washing put out, Bring best of reter- ence aud appiy at 18 Towa cin my3s1-st" WANtE2— WHITE NUMSES AT THE « dren's Hospital, izth and W sts. nw. Apply immediately. my 31-2w WARSZEDIWHITE WOMAN FOR GENEKAL housework, must stay niguis and uneuc Apply with retercuces to 133. LUth st.n.w. W AdED-1W0 YOUNG MEN aT s ter, those with some experience py dress C.'H., Star office, WATED-A SETTLED WHITE MAN To on afarm near this city, who Uuderstan ing and care of bo: ‘terms to Box 100. WARTED-MANAGER, ON SALARY ¢ Year, to open branch office 10 y bess purely mercantile it pride, pleasure, and profit; trad Vassiby or , eddiiug ARD, 0 and WRTEDSA CAPABLE a bet. Sand 9am, 1919 Ketuw. my WASPROCLEARNEKS FOR | PROF. CHEST. 2LK'S New luternauoual Zuilor System of Dress aud Garment Cutting with inch rule and tape measure alone; no scale the only system used that is tailor priucijies. System taught SEK, 1305 Hstonw. my do-ku® ED — DUNDOKE'S EMPLOYMLNT BU: » conducted by ladies, wen aud women, White and colored, tur ail kinds of duieste imbor, 105 District aud states, wath relerebces, 717 Ast, m svered. may 51 -St* milk and carriages. Deud address aud Lar ottice. st its ty |, Ubio. “my W CLERK A SITUATION AS COMPET usLernaid OF sealustress (White), oF rr Seamstress; Uhorvughiy understands dreseiuakiug ; ferences, clty or country. Address bux % ee 8 — POSITION 4, laundress » Scumstress. Alen waiters, cooks, coachmen, butlers. SAM'L A COUMBE, Yo F st. uw. jod-4t" WANTED G0 To Dick: Mousemaida, Wait men, Buiers, Waiters stow. Al u U V Place to do chamber work or geueral bu: Apply wt 1248 Mauisou st. n.w w= D—BY A COLOKED chatnbermaid ina private erences, Cail or address 424 L st. n.w WANTED EY A GERMAN MAN 4 SITUATION WV ANTED— AT HEADQUART for cooks, chauwberuimid, Wa nurses, > % With an American to drive and make himself erally useful at store, Address EDWAKD AKGE, 340 Pa. ave. nw. Je3-st* Wanreeey COLOKED GIRL, A PLACE TO do housework ; good references, Call 1015 11th st. new. ail W ANT ED—BY A RESPECTABLE COLOREDGIKL, Asituation to do general huusework or as waite Tess competent aud experienoed Cail or address 1213 Met nw. “at furmshed; ruily competent, Lith st. n-w. ‘Call TLEMAN A SITUAT muller position of trust, Ad jount of security, Address y ANTED—SOBER, SKILLF responsible mecLanic will «; V day or enwaye his full ume on any resy re a few Lo canvassing; Where energetic rewarded.” Adaress ti £1, WANTED EY A WHITE WoMAN, 4 SIT N ae experience) nurse for chikdni Fully exper: enced m care of children; willing to leave city. dress Box 6, Star offi vei WASZED-POSITIONS POW COOKS, WAITERS, houseLeepers, valets, nurses, drivers, wads, seaisiresses, and others resorts (Saturdays during summer halt i leftearly), BUKNHAM'S, ¥10 ¥tb st. WAxter., YOUNG M DEAUGH ISS having AN, ® thorough knowledge of Patent office patent attorney or ‘Address F drawing, Wishes employment with hates best uf references. Wi 4NthDree—THe city 1 office furnishes and clerical applicant, erument applications for hished rooms in demand. 711 G Wann YOUNG LADY OF FINISH. sical education desires & position as guv where study of music may be made a spec highest reiereuces exchauged. Address Star Office. WANTED—HOUS iy recommended servaute tus registered free pysitions prepare TlGow ma} my2i- ES. Y. ave, Hi 85, ™. 3e3-3t posit B ud ANTED—FOR A CASH CUSTOMER, A southwest . will, from @3,000 to jerat tow pavip b Bt pa WWANTED-2Y_ AN OFFICER, WIFE dans ter to take, care of Furnished house d suuimer mc v' ven. + "AKALY. Btar office Jel-zt* Wy ANTED—WILL BUY, POR CASH, IMMEDI- W tttiy, house with good lot in ‘northwest or om Capitol 4, exact tion, price and Sorty: must bes barrein, “Bor Nar office, Je WAErTOAB SOE Fias OH8 ats., ‘aud F sta.; Septem! ; reut 5 Stapp ly mee aes pape