10– 16

lornajarrettblanchard August 8, 2017

–16 Blanchard tally based on State and local breakouts below.[1]

Maryland ( 6)

— 6 Baltimore, Aug 8. Quinan. Medical Annals of Baltimore From 1608-1880. 1884, p. 28.

—>5 Hagerstown Herald, MD. “Baltimore, August 11. Awful Calamity!!” 8-20-1817, pp. 2-3.

–Mr. Daniel O’Rourke of Holliday street.[2]

–Unnamed apprentice of Mr. George Miller.

–“several [~3] persons supposed to have been overwhelmed in the ruins of their houses.”

Pennsylvania (10)

–10 York, Aug 9. Hagerstown Herald, MD. “York (Pa.)…Dreadful Inundation.” 8-20-1817, p2.

–1 Williams baby.

–5 In Cunningham house.

–Mr. Hugh Cunningham

–Mrs. Cunningham.

–Daniel Updegraff, Esq.

–Samuel Eichelberger

–A hired girl.

–1 Henry Bradley, drowned while “trying to save some fowls in a stable…”

–3 “[T]here others whose names we have not heard, remain still in their watery graves.”

Narrative Information

Maryland

Baltimore Office of Sustainability: “ In August 1817, flooding along the Jones Falls swept away homes, bridges, and livestock. Floodwaters during this event were reportedly between 12 and 20 feet above normal levels.” (Baltimore Office of Sustainability. Disaster Preparedness Plan. “Chapter 3: Hazard Assessment.” 2018 update (DP3). p. 52)

Hagerstown Herald, MD: “Baltimore, August 11…It is with sensations of the most heartfelt regret, that we assume the duty of recording, even in a partial manner, the appalling circumstances of the late destructive freshet. Although nearly forty-eight hours have elapsed since the cessation of the storm, yet, taking into estimation the whole course of its ravages, it is impossible to present any more that a faint idea of the injury it has occasioned. The distress, of which it has been the instrument, is sufficient to penetrate the stoutest heart to its innermost fibre of feeling, and excite in the bosom of philanthropy the most painful emotions….

“…the rain commenced on Friday evening, and on the following morning poured from the firmament in torrents, and continued until twelve o’clock, after which it gradually subsided–before two entirely ceased–and about three o’clock the deluge was at its height. The streams tributary to Jones’ Falls, though comparatively insignificant, replenished their common receptacle with large bodies of water, and even the little rivulet became suddenly swelled into a gigantic stream, sweeping away every thing within its reach, and with astonishing velocity, bearing them triumphantly into the Falls. The latter consequently rose to the height of from fifteen to twenty feet above its usual level, and its progress was marked with devastation and ruin, presenting a scene truly awful to behold, and impossible faithfully to delineate.

“The upper bridge over the Falls was swept away with the utmost facility by the impetuous current, and carried to a short distance above the next bridge below, crossing at the intersection of Bath street. The last mentioned ridge was also taken from its abutments, and arrested in its course by the stone bridge in Gay street, which latter received great injury, the upper part of it, with the iron railing, being completely demolished. The stoppage of this bridge, with the accumulation of vast quantities of timber and floating wood of every description, and even buildings, that had been precipitated from their foundations by the strength and velocity of the current, so interrupted the stream in its natural course, that it sought a passage in another direction, forcing its way through the lots at the west end of Fish street, through which it rushed impetuously into Gay, Frederick and Harrison streets, down the latter to Market street, through the latter to Market space, into the docks–involving the market houses in its flood, and compelling the inhabitants to seek safety in the upper stories of their dwellings.

“The overwhelming deluge was so sudden in its course, that in most instances it was not observed in sufficient time to enable the people to remove their property from the lower, even into the upper stories of their houses. South Frederick street, from Second street to the wharf, was also under water, and the whole section of the city termed ‘The Meadow,’ was completely inundated.

“The pavements, in some instances, have been torn up, and whole side walks swept away, leaving the entrances to the houses from six to ten feet from the ground. In Fish street, north Frederick street, and at the intersection of Gay and Harrison streets, the destruction was the most general. The houses such as are not completely destroyed, have experienced very serious injury, in consequence of the immense quantities of timber, &c. that have been precipitated against them by the impetuous current–which carried off in its course house, trees, fences, furniture of various descriptions, horses, cows, and hogs, and a carriage with two horses fastened to it was taken up afloat near the Fish Market, the owner of which has not yet been ascertained.

“The large frame distillery of Dr. White was carried completely away, and the extensive brewery of Mr. Marcus McCausland has suffered very extensive injury. In several instances, houses on the Falls have been so completely swept away as hardly to afford a relic to mark the spot on which they stood. The foot bridge crossing from Ploughman street and the one at the Fish Market are entirely gone, leaving the Falls clear from Market to Pratt streets. The bridges at the two latter streets are neither of them seriously injured.

“On account of the injury the Water Company’s canal and works have sustained, the city will be deprived of water from the hydrants for a considerable time hereafter. Pennington’s mill dam, the roiling and splitting mill, and the bridge at Ellicott’s upper mills, have been carried away, as also most of all the mill dams on Jones’ Falls. The bridges on Harford run, crossing from Pitt, Dulany and King George streets, are so nearly demolished as to render them irreparable. On Gunpowder Falls Mr. W. Patterson’s saw and plaster mills are entirely destroyed, with 200 barrels of flour. The bridge on the Philadelphia road, and two others above, have also been swept away.

“The number of lives lost has not yet been ascertained. Mr. Daniel O’Rourke, of Holliday street, and an apprentice of Mr. George Miller, were drowned, and search has been made and is still making, in Fish street for the bodies of several persons supposed to have been overwhelmed in the ruins of their houses. We hall probably be able to present further particulars to-morrow….” (Hagerstown Herald, MD. “Baltimore, August 11. Awful Calamity!!” 8-20-1817, pp. 2-3.)

Quinan: “Aug. 8. Flood in Baltimore, 6 lives lost.”

Pennsylvania

Hagerstown Herald, MD: “York (Pa.) August 11. The 9^th of August 1817 will be a memorable day in the history of this place [York PA]. The borough of York has had to bear heavy calamities on former occasions…but on Saturday last [9^th]…the angry floods arose, and swept along with them not only the houses and furniture of many of out citizens, but the lives of some were involved in the destruction.

“On Friday night the most prodigious fall of rain was experienced in this county which has ever been known by the oldest inhabitants now living; the rain continued to fall until Saturday about noon, in torrents, with little intermission. All the streams were raised in a little time to uncommon heights; even the small branches were swollen in large creeks, sweeping away fences and in some instances cattle.–Plantations are torn to pieces, and some of them have the soil almost swept away. Heavy losses have been sustained by Millers. Dams carried away, races filled up and broken, and even Mills and Waterworks carried off.

“The water rose five feet higher than ever known before in this town–where two breweries and five tanneries are swept away, and left nothing but a bare bleak shore–where instead of the hum of industry nothing is now to be heard but the howling of winds and the rustling of water.

“But the scenes which caused the greatest poignancy of feeling were witnessed in the dwelling houses of so many of our citizens on the western side of the bridge, being desolated by the floods. It was with painful solicitude we had to look on from the eastern side, and behold houses with their inhabitants sinking to the bottom of the stream or carried off by its force. And what equally excited feelings of compassion, was seeing those whose houses had still resisted the current’s force, retreating on their roofs and on that eminence having no prospect but that of soon following their neighbors to a watery grave. Their cries for help were heard by those on the eastern side, but none could venture to relieve them without exposing himself to greater danger than they were in themselves.

“That part of the house owned by Jno. R. Williams, in which he kept his grocery store was the first that gave way. Mr. Williams and Mrs. Williams saved themselves in the remaining part of the house; but sad to relate Mrs. Williams was injured by the fall of the storehouse while she was endeavoring to save her child–her efforts were unavailing, she had the affliction of seeing her darling offspring, living, innocent and helpless in the cradle swept away, cradle and all. Peter Reel’s house adjoining Mr. Williams is totally swept away–All the people in this saved themselves by taking refuge on the wreck of Mr. Williams’s house.

“The house occupied by Hugh Cunningham, and that adjoining occupied by J. K. Kane were carried off. In Mr. Cunningham’s house there were six persons, of whom five were lost, Mr. Cunningham and his wife, Daniel Updegraff, Esq., Samuel Eichelberger (son of Martin Eichelberger & a hired girl, Joseph Wren, a soldier of the revolution who had escaped the dangers and overcome the fatigues of some hard campaigns in the times that tried men’s souls, although he is now on the verge of 80, it seeded had not filled the measure of his days. After assisting to remove furniture to the second floor, he retired to the garret and laid himself down and slept, and the house actually went away without wakening him–it went only about 50 yards where it hung to an apple tree until the water receded.

“That neat and new brick building of Israel Gardner was thrown down.–George Lauman who occupied it had sent his family to a place of safety, himself only remaining and saving himself in the back building. The western gable end of the widow Doudle’s house fell down. The house of Mr. Scholosser is razed to the ground. Every house from Newbury street, where you turn off towards the Methodist Meeting house has been swept away, or sustained injury more or less. Some are considerably undermined, and most all have the windows broke, window cases pushed out of place or floors raised and walls twisted or bent.

“It was about one o’clock on Sunday morning before we could have any communication with the western side–The water having receded we were relieved from a state of anxious suspense for the fate of those who were surrounded by the flood. It was some mitigation to our feeling to hear that many who were supposed to have sunk with their houses, had survived. Fires were lighted in the streets, on both sides, and moved as the water fell, as signals to those who were driven to their house tops without light, and without any other means to ascertain the falling of the water. The house which appeared in the most imminent danger, kept our sensibilities most alive, by its near situation to the bridge, was Jesse Spangler’s Mr. Spangler with 5 others remained in the house and all escaped….

“Our town wears the appearance of having been the scene of military operations; as if it had undergone the assault of an enemy. Some are engaged in burying the dead, some in hunting their valuable effects among the ruins, while others are dispatched as guards to protect the property floated down the stream from falling a prey to such who seem to consider it very improperly, legitimate objects of booty.

“The corpse of Hugh Cunningham and wife, Daniel Updegraff, esq. and Samuel Eichelberger, were all found in Mr. Cunningham’s house, and buried on Sunday afternoon. The cild of Mr. Williams was found half a mile down the creek, and buried this morning. Henry Bradley, who lost his life by imprudently exposing himself in trying to same some fowls in a stable has also been found. The girl lost in Cunningham’s house, and three others whose names we have not herd, remain still in their watery graves.

“Intelligence from the neighboring counties states that a great deal of rain fell, but not half the quantity that fell here. This county seems to have been the focus, where three great rains united. One from the S.E., one from the S.W., and another from N.E. all poured down in rapid succession. Codorus creek in Main-street, raised about 50 perpendicular feet.–The bridge was covered by the water–almost the whole of the side-walls fell, but the arches stood immoveable as a rock. Five feet higher was the water than at the ‘High Flood’ in 1786….” (Hagerstown Herald, MD. “York (Pa.)…Dreadful Inundation.” 8-20-1817, p. 2.)

Source

Baltimore Office of Sustainability. Disaster Preparedness Plan. “Chapter 3: Hazard Assessment.” 2018 update (DP3). Accessed 7-9-2019 at: https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/plans/disaster-preparedness-plan/

Hagerstown Herald, MD. “Baltimore, August 11. Awful Calamity!!” 8-20-1817, p. 2. Accessed 7-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-maryland-herald-and-hagerstown-weekly-advertiser-aug-20-1817-p-2/

Hagerstown Herald, MD. “York (Pa.)…Dreadful Inundation.” 8-20-1817, p. 2. Accessed 7-9-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-maryland-herald-and-hagerstown-weekly-advertiser-aug-20-1817-p-2/

Quinan, John R., M.D. Medical Annals of Baltimore From 1608-1880, Including Events, Men and Literature, to Which is Added A Subject Index and Record of Public Services. Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald, 1884. Google digitized. Accessed 1-14-2015 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=xNcRAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] Compiled by B. Wayne Blanchard July 2019 for incorporation into: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com

[2] Hagerstown Herald, MD. “Baltimore, August 11. Awful Calamity!!” 8-20-1817, pp. 2-3.