Letter from Peter Evans Force to Uncle Manning Force

1208 K Street
Washington DC
Feb 27, 1881

My dear Uncle,

Cousin Mamie told me that she got a letter from you and you said that you wanted me to write to you and tell you about the flood that I saw. The flood took place on the 12th of February. In the morning I went out with James Phillips to get some valentines and we thought as we were so near the water we would go and see it.

We went to 11th and C Streets and there the water was not very deep until you go out a little way but if you went a few squares east the water came up the Avenue and at the corner of 9th, the cars were taken off the track and turned around and their horses for hire. I did not go any further as I was getting hungry and it was about lunch time then.

In the evening I went to see it with Cousin Innie to see the flood and found that the water was a great deal deeper and where it was perfectly dry in the morning some men were wading up to their knees after things that were carried away. If you went near a resteraunt you could see wine kegs and whiskey bottles and a variety of other things floating in their areas.

The 7th and Avenue went through the water up to their platform. The market was moved to the north side of the street where the butchers set up some barrels and laid a plank on them and laid their meats to the best advantage and they got some rope and tied their scales that were being built for the inauguration. I hope you are all well.

Your affectionate Nephew

Peter E. Force

(added to the letter)

I looked for the Doc. His. and we have one unbound complete set, but as that is all that we have except the set offered to Mr. Spofford, don't you think we ought to keep it? Some of the plates are missing in the unbound set.

C. F.

Translation notes:

Peter Evans Force (1868-1930) is the author of this document. At the time of the letter, Peter is living with his paternal uncle, William Q Force in Washington DC. The country is preparing for their next president, James A. Garfield. See More. Peter's grandfather was the famous printer and historian Peter Force whose personal library and collection of historical materials are now a part of the Library of Congress.