, 1865-03-20
THE GREAT FRESHET.
OIL CITY SUBMERGED.
Everything Pertaining to
Oil Ahoat,
Houses with Inmates Floating
in the Stream,
Great Destruction Of Property
Loss Estimated by Millions.

From the Pittsburgh Commercial, March 1o]
We are now in the midst of what promises
to be the greatest and most disastrous Fl feshet
that has ever occurred in the Allegheny
Valley since the memorable flood Of 1882, The
people residing In the immediate vicinity of
the city have been prepared tor 1t, and their
precautions will, therefore, save them the
usual disasters resulting from sudden rising
Of the waters. During the day, yesterday,
the most painful rU1nors we're at1oat In the
city relative to the disasters By the flood In
Oh City franklin and other towns along the
river. Houses with their residents were re-
ported to be carried off from Oil City. and
part Of the town Of franklin swept away by
The angry: water. The Allegheny river, at
day morning and continued to swell during
The night and yesterday at the rate Of about
six inches per hour. at dusk last evening the
water had risen to twenty seven feet, and the
lower portions Of Allegheny were completely
submerged. a large number of familles were
compelled to yacate their dwellings,, while
many others removed their effects to the
upper stories, and held communication to the
main land By m ans Of skiffs and small RATS.
The excitement Was Intense and the ahut-
ments and f0otwaiks Of the ST. Clair street
Suspension Bridge were crowded with people
anxsonsly gazing upon the rising waters.
.a AN immense S amount Of property hrs been
dollars. The river Was literally covered by
oil barrels and lumber during the day and
evening. Thu &C frame dwelling houses noarel
down during the afternoon, one OF them hay-
ing stove pipe protruaing through the roof,
from which the smoke was Issuing. One OF
the houtes was dawn By the current to the
Allegheny side Of the river, and moored in
safety near the island. A span Of bridge,
about one hundred feet in length, passed
down, together with thousands Of oil barrels;
lumber which had apparently been piled In
yards and carried from Their foundations, re-
mnlning intact ,rai,s, floats, ,derricks, saw logs.
and everything that could possibly tloat
away. The piers Of the upper bridges were
piled With RATS and heavy t1mbers, much Of
which Will he saved when the river rccedes.
4 number Of men, in skid3 we're busi1y Gu
gagged during the day In saving oil barrels
and lumber, and, although the current Was
fear'ully swift, their dangerous lubors were
1afs, laden with coal, passed the piers Of the
bridges in safety, but were followed by these
men, overhauled at Manchester, md brought
to The elorc. The persistent efforts Of these
skilfnl boatmcn to recover the lost property
attracted great attention ffom persons On
the elore, who stimulated them to greater
exertion BY hequent demonstrations Of ap-
p1tyal.
The loss Immediately around the city is
confined principally to oil barrels, large
number OF which were 1oated or WORK
men we're engaged to q late hour last night
In removing barrels from the wharf, and it
required the utmost cxert;on, in many in
rite Of the river. It is impossible to csti-
mate the damage which has been sustained,
bnt 1t will be very heavy Mr.. Strlckler, m
oil dealer, lost $40 barrels, and the Luccsco
Oil Works are also heavy losers. We did not
learn the names Of any others.
The lines Of the various railroads centering
in this clty suffered severely from the flood.
At Tipton, beyond Altoona, on the Pcnnsyl-
van:a Railroad, Il bridge over a small stream
was washed away and delayed the trains for
some hours. The damage, however, was re-
paired, and the trains commenced running as
usual. The track Of the Allegheny Valley
Rail.oad was submerged between Freeport
We learn that the liver along the liae Of this
road was swollen to such an extent, in some
plnccs, IS 10 cover an extent Of fur or fire
nlles- The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne und
Chicago Rafltoad was not incomnloded by
tue lngh walcr, and their trains We're run US
usual.
The teleg' 'aph wires along the Ohio river
were down last night, caused by the poles
supporting them being washed away bY the
flocd. Tne wires east also suffered from the
same cause.
Concerning the destruction by the ffeshct
eltEAuelE Mt HAVE Luc buU1oHtu UlSpAsc0e8.
FKANKI1S, March 17.-1'hc river Is six feet
higher at this place than ever known before.
Tie bIidge across French creek has been
swept of. The loss Is estimated at over
81 coz, eco In this section. The water is still
rising; All land Communication is cns OFT |
from here.
FRANKL1H, March l7-6r. M-The river
has risen since last night fourteen feet. Most
of the bridges are swept awny, and we have |
no communication with my place by rail. |
The whole Of tho lower part Of OH City Is |
swept away. Houses, with their inmates, |
estimate the loss and distress. Tie river Is |
1l1ed with everything pertaining to the oil |
trade. The 1allroad to Meadvll1e cannot I've |
repaired for several days. The Oil City Rail- |
road is under water. The damage Is great. /
] he Oldest Inhabltant says the river is higher /
than ever known before.
LATKR-1he river ceased rising at s O'Clock |
P. m.
ANOTHER nIsPATCu.
FRANKLIN, March II,
This is the greatest frcshet ever known In
Oildom. There is compete destruction Of
feet under water. The bridge over French
Creek is swept away. Yesterday the water
vas eight feet deep on Seneca street, OIL
City. Houses, derricks, tanks and oil bar
Iels all started on Journey last evening.
Loss estimated at over one million do1lars.
ACpO1k fN4 : IT. - AlAuOsk d AElukEs 1uE pEQ- !
pie Of On City have had to take refuge On
Lhe hills. Telegraph communica tton Is de-
stsoyed betwcc4 franklin and Oh Valley.
FIVE 0'CLocK.-Thc river is rising from
our TO six inches an hour, and thiriy-tiVe
eet Of wnter in the river.
Especial Dispatch to the Cleveland Herald.1
GREAT FLOOD II MKApv1LLE, PA.
MEApy1L1E, March 1G-0 r. A.-We are
having tremendous ffcshct in the French
Creek Valley. The water Is higher than it
aas been for ten yea.s>> All the lower part Of
he city is submerged. and many families
1aye been and are now being removed
y boats from their houses. AL
rains East from this point are abandoned
mill the water abates. A part Of the Frank
in trnck is under water. The McHenry
House Is surrounded, and the cellars are full
% within two feet Of the ground floor. 4
great deal Of property will be destroyed.
II Is hoped that The water has reached its
height, but We tear not,
The weather is growing colder, md the
ain has turned to snow. Fortunately, theres,
S as Jet, no current to the body of water,
:xcept in the rcgulnr channel Ct the creek.