00000746 |
Previous | 746 of 866 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
THE OVERWHELMING FLOOD. 709
the water covered the whole extent of the street northward towards Eager
street, flooding every building. In some places, from near Pleasant street
northward, the water was fully ten to twelve feet deep. The residents of the
small dwellings in the neighborhood were obliged to take refuge in the upper
stories of their dwellings and some made very narrow escapes. Holliday
street also came in for a large share of the overwhelming flood. The water
extended the whole length of this street, even across the elevated portion of
it at Fayette street, and thence passing clown into Baltimore street. In front
■ofthe theatre the water rose above the sills of the doors, and thence extended
in a broad sheet across the street to the new city hall excavation, which was
quickly filled, the water rushing into it with great volume, presenting the
.appearance of a mill-dam. Northward, the whole length of the street was
like an angry river, and the occupants of the small houses above Saratoga
street were in no little peril. Some of them were rescued from the upper
windows by persons in boats The whole appearance of this region was
■so changed by the action of the water that even one tolerably familiar
with the locality could scarcely recognize it.
On the opposite or eastern bank of the Falls many of the small dwellings
had completely disappeared, and on the west side those that were left standing as the water subsided, were in ruins, as though an earthquake had
shattered them. Just above Bath street bridge, which disappeared at an
early stage of the flood, a frame dwelling on the west side of the Falls wras
lifted bodily from its foundations and carried out into the stream with all
its contents, and soon became a wreck, its shattered fragments joining
the mass of madly rushing timbers, boxes and household goods continually
^passing down the current. Near where the above-mentioned house stood was
a whiskey distillery, which was also entirely destroyed, nothing being
left of the establishment but a mass of ruins. All the whiskey in the stills
and in the bonded warehouse was swept down the Falls. The Centre Market,
under the Maryland Institute, was completely swept out, scarcely a box or
a stall being left in the whole building. The blocks of the upper market,
'except those that were swept out into the basin, were piled up upon those in
the lower markets, presenting a scene of confusion. The stores upon both
sides of the market were in a terrible condition, the water having reached
the ceilings, and a large portion of their stock was utterly destroyed. On
the west side of the market and on Second street the pavements wrere torn up,
and in some places the earth washed out to the depth of three or four feet.
At the foot of the market on Pratt street, the earth caved in at the head of
Long dock, taking with it half of the bed of Pratt street. Five dead bodies
were-fished out of the Falls and along the streets.
The immense body of water that poured with such terrific force down
Marsh Market Space, Frederick street and Gay street into the wharves at the
-south side of Pratt street, can scarcely be described. The bed of the street
was uprooted and carried away, the enormous stones forming the coping at
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000746 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | THE OVERWHELMING FLOOD. 709 the water covered the whole extent of the street northward towards Eager street, flooding every building. In some places, from near Pleasant street northward, the water was fully ten to twelve feet deep. The residents of the small dwellings in the neighborhood were obliged to take refuge in the upper stories of their dwellings and some made very narrow escapes. Holliday street also came in for a large share of the overwhelming flood. The water extended the whole length of this street, even across the elevated portion of it at Fayette street, and thence passing clown into Baltimore street. In front ■ofthe theatre the water rose above the sills of the doors, and thence extended in a broad sheet across the street to the new city hall excavation, which was quickly filled, the water rushing into it with great volume, presenting the .appearance of a mill-dam. Northward, the whole length of the street was like an angry river, and the occupants of the small houses above Saratoga street were in no little peril. Some of them were rescued from the upper windows by persons in boats The whole appearance of this region was ■so changed by the action of the water that even one tolerably familiar with the locality could scarcely recognize it. On the opposite or eastern bank of the Falls many of the small dwellings had completely disappeared, and on the west side those that were left standing as the water subsided, were in ruins, as though an earthquake had shattered them. Just above Bath street bridge, which disappeared at an early stage of the flood, a frame dwelling on the west side of the Falls wras lifted bodily from its foundations and carried out into the stream with all its contents, and soon became a wreck, its shattered fragments joining the mass of madly rushing timbers, boxes and household goods continually ^passing down the current. Near where the above-mentioned house stood was a whiskey distillery, which was also entirely destroyed, nothing being left of the establishment but a mass of ruins. All the whiskey in the stills and in the bonded warehouse was swept down the Falls. The Centre Market, under the Maryland Institute, was completely swept out, scarcely a box or a stall being left in the whole building. The blocks of the upper market, 'except those that were swept out into the basin, were piled up upon those in the lower markets, presenting a scene of confusion. The stores upon both sides of the market were in a terrible condition, the water having reached the ceilings, and a large portion of their stock was utterly destroyed. On the west side of the market and on Second street the pavements wrere torn up, and in some places the earth washed out to the depth of three or four feet. At the foot of the market on Pratt street, the earth caved in at the head of Long dock, taking with it half of the bed of Pratt street. Five dead bodies were-fished out of the Falls and along the streets. The immense body of water that poured with such terrific force down Marsh Market Space, Frederick street and Gay street into the wharves at the -south side of Pratt street, can scarcely be described. The bed of the street was uprooted and carried away, the enormous stones forming the coping at |
