New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-05
PENNSYLVANIA.

PmlAprIrmA Oct. A heavy rain began TO ia in
the valley Of the Schuy. late on Saturday night, and
continued this city and up the river until this morn
ing The reports from the upper part Of the valley and
on the head waters Of the principal tributaries are that
the rain was heavy, and continued during the whole Of
Saturday night Sunday and Sunday night The streams
rose rapidly, and began to overflow their banks early
last night. Tho wheels at the Paramount works were
stopped at o'clock, and at noon the water flowed In
torrent u feet deep over the Paramount dam. Boats
were torn from their fastcnngs aud swept down
the river. hurled against the piers OF bridges.
and sunk the immense stocks OF lumber on the
wharyes we're scattered and carried away; the large
warehouses on the schuykil filed with water TO
the second story The fires were put out In the gas
works, and the clay retors and ovens are destroyed
Down raging current came the fragments OF dwell
lngs the wrecks Of bridges the shattered hus or canal
boats logs lumber stacks Of hay and every evidence
OF the ruin wrought by the HOOD III us passage
the valley. High water occurred by the tde AT Que
o'clock The flats the west side OF the river above
Marketst belonging 10 the Pennsylvania Railroad are
entirely submerged aud every movable article ll WIS
upon them last night has been swept away, AH Ths
morning at an early hour the flood poured upon hese
they were carried out into the current ana hurled
against the bridges then twisted beneath them and sent
whrlng down the stream. In these cars number Oh
housecs gabonds had ensconced themselves last even
themselves in the middle OF the river Ihey al sue
ceeded In climbing out upon the roofs Of the cars hhd
from this perlous position they were rescued by some
brave fellows In boats. Twentyhlrdst thrOushout us
IL. 10
The water varying In depth from two to five feet Oh
all the property between this street ana the river
flooded There are factories, he hil''s' uiiuo d
yards. coal yards. mills and dwelhghOuses mere, anu
the damage must be immense. We have ~ TINS te no
means OF forming any estimate Of It, AZ IL o'clock me
s rising. aud 1t was lmpo.soie 10 get ' ,ne
flooded localities. The elevation or Marketst az TUG
river prevents the summers ION OF that street but ioeT
At is filled with water nearly up TO Twenty'secondst In
South Twenty thrdst behind tho gas warks there Is
depth Of about four feet Arcs is Overlooked clear up
10 seconds The cellars are all hled, ana the
people have either been driven , 10 'n o,,n n1RId
stories OF their homes, or have been rnppchs
10 desert them altogether In Races the water reaches
quite as high In Arch st. and AS the dwelling HOUSES
come down to the rivers edge there muen uoo
damage Most OF the buildings are buried halfway up
the windows Of the first floor and the people are psy
moving out upon RATS and III Donis Um se'' T ro
water has reached nearly Twenty sccondst, ana be-
tween Twenty third aud Twcnty'fonrth streets every
house ia suberged to the top OF tho first floor windows
The Inhabitants were taken out In boats. and when our
reporter left an effort being made To remove the iu
piture IL is likely that there Will DO suffering In
This locality among poor people than IN any other From
Vimest up to Callowh, Twenty fourhst, Is filed with
streets and the river is entirely ovorowed The partcu
lars OF the injuries sustained could not be oDtahed DC
was Impossible TO undertake any
st. 10 the Wire Bridge, tho houses bordering upon the
river all injured moro or less Tho water III some
instances clear TO the level OF the street. ana IN
nil the back yards there heaps OF debris oanai DOas
piled one on another confusion, uprooed trees out
houses and the million things that nave Deeh s"epl
away above all this the yellow water sweeps III
fierce Irresistible torrent every moment hmrng some
as the tide bring disaster to the
scene Out In tho current In various places no oups VI
canal boats moored together for safety upon these ao
the frightened boatmen, trying 70 maho ,men,
selves and their property more secure but
down the stream 10 certain ruin. From the wire bridge
TO dam the river one boiling torrent hea wi
multitudes OF articles. Every now ana then shany,
canal boat or some large object would come hurryng
the ripple that family Indicated inc aan anu ~ me
hdSe 10 the other TO watch the wreck go past All tho
houses aud factories on tho west aide VI Ihe river w WV