Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-01-29

n
ryland suffered the most. At the latter place the
Ice gorged 70 feet high, and turned the water out
OF the stream, causing II to run through tho town
an the east side aud the Tide Water canal on the
west side. The banks of the canal arc torn AWAY
for several miles while the damage to Port Dc.
post Is incalculabc. The oitlzons were com.
PEELED to camp on the river hills for several DAYS.
The ice also gorgcd at shenk's Ferry, below Safe
Harbor, and caused the water to rise 50 feet al
that place. There was also gorge at Turkey
Hill, seven miles below Columbia and backed the
water up to the dam, but did little harm. The
Lancaster IHieaigeacer of the 22d says:
| AT Safe Harbor, at the confluence Of the Sus-
quehanna and the Conestoga, the waters rose yes
terday afternoon four five feet higher than ever
before known. 1t appears that the leo that broke
on the river farther up, gorgcd on Saturday, at
Mandorf's Island and n number Of smaller islands
In the susquehanna near Shsnk's Ferry, some ten
miles below Safe Ilarbor. The river being al.
ready swollen by the melting snow and the heavy
rain storm of Thursday night, backed water rap.
idly, Overlooking its banks, submcrging the Co
lumbia and Port Deposit railroad and doing con-
siderable damage to other property along shore.
by seven o'clock on Sunday morning consider.
able portion Of Safe Harbor was submerged, and
the water In the barroom Of Mlcrs Exchange
Hotel was two feet deep. The river remained at
about this height until O'Clock p. NJ, when ii
raised suddenly several feet, reaching some four
or five feet above the high water mark of tho
great hOod of 1864. Although the Conestoga was
greatly swollen, the mightcr volume of watcr in
the gorged Susquehanna forced IA L~eL~.,d amt
compelled il to run in raging torrent up stream
First, the newly erected abutment of the bridge
of the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, near
the mouth of the Concstoga, was split in two and
the piers in the stream were greatly damaged.
Then, the great masses Of ice and volumes of wa
ter, still rushing up stream, struck the bridge that
spans the Conestoga about mile above its mouth,
lifted 1t from its foundation and carried il for
considerable distance up stream, finally breaking
1t in two, and landing one-half of II on the Man
or side aud the other half on the Conestoga side
of the stream.
About this time the barns of Edward Hess and
Mrs. Campbell, built at what was considered a
safe distance above high water mark, were swept
away and carried up stream, while the frame sta.
bic of Benjamin Hess was lifted from its founda-
,ion, carried away for distance Of 100 yards and
then set down again without apparent damage.
AT Rockville, some three miles above Safe Har-
Dor, the waters Of the conestoga backed up until
they overfowcd the banks and stood from one to
ttga fpaf in ,,o Erat
llerrs Hotel.
At Safe Harbor, the banks of both the Susque-
hanna and Conestoga arc piled with great masses
Of ice from S to 2S feet in height Many build
ings are flooded, but the following are the only
losses we have heard of; DR.. J. q. Gatchell's Of.
fee was flooded and nearly all his drugs and med
icines destroyed Maynard Hess drug store wa,
flooded and his oss is thought to be quite heavy.
Miller's Exchange Hotel was flooded almost to
the ceiling of the first Zoos, his bar turned over
and considerable quantity Of bis liquors lost
portion Of his shedding was also carried away,
but his loss will not exceed slOO.
The most exciting secno connected with the
aood was the danger and escape Of Mr.. John e.
lis and family, who live on an island in tho sus-
qachanna, opposite Safe lIarbor As the waters
rose the island was almost entirely ovcrHowed,
and all Mr. Ellis stock, consisting Of two horses
twelve head of cattle and number of hog., were
swept away and drowned. There being every
probability that the waters would continue to rise,
Mr., Ellis and family resolved on tho desperate
venture Of crossing from the island TO the shore
on the mighty gorge of ice, through which and
under which the great river was struggling for
passage. Over this unsubstontial and trcaehorous
bridge of irregular masses Of ice, with all the
ierrors Of death staring them in tho face, Mr.. Ell.
lis, with his wife, two daughters and son, seven
or eight years old, started afoot and reached the
Lancaster county shore in safety about three
s'clock yesterday afternoon.
About two o'clock this morning tho ice gorge
broke with terrible crssh and the waters rcceded
rapidly. At . o'clock this morning the river was
only about 5 or feet above It's usual height at
Safe Harbor, and no further damage is anticipated
AT Turkey Hill the water rose 25 or 80 feet and
flooded the cabins built along the line Of the Co.
lumbia and and Port Deposit Railroad for the sc-
commodation of the workmen, many of whom
had to take boats and enter the upstairs windows
in order to save their effects
AT Columbia the ice passed from the dam with.
out doing any damage, and no damage is now
expected
Many river men supposed there would be
great gorge at the narrow neck of the susquc-
hanna near McCalrs Ferry, but thus far their
fears have not been realized.
When the ice broke up on the conostoga on
Friday, 1t gorged badly on the dam at tho Slack
water paper mill on the Concstoga, south of this
city. The ice was piled up on both sides of the
creek near the breast Of the dam, and for timo
the mill was in danger, but fortunately the ice
on the dam broke about noon and passed of with
out doing any serious damage, except the carrying
away Of number OF fences. Although tho froshet
was higher at Slack kwatcr than ever known before,
the injury to the dam can be repaired for $500.