The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-08-06

| CALAMITY - HEdhI hEND4NU
SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE
NIGHT OF SORROW-PARTIAL
REPORT OF THE LOSS OF LIFE
AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
GENEROUS RELIEF TO THE
SUFFERERS.
PrrTsBURGH. July 29.-Half of the
thrilling incidents of the great Hood on
Butchers Run have not yet been told.
A MOUNTAIN COVERED WITH A SHEET OF
WATER. .,t,..4u u.- -i
. Mr.. A. V. Cole, one of the firm of G..
| Hooder & Co, whose glue works were
| entirely wrecked, states that when the
Aood Of water began to descend no one
had any idea that the flood would reach
the great proportions which it assumed.
/ Mr.. Cole, who, during the storm, stood
outside of his dwelling, located just in
the rear of the hill at the upper end Of
the glue-works, says that the hill had
! the appearance of an immense sheet of
water, as outlined on the opposite bank,
when lighted up by the continuous
flashes of lightning When the great
flood of water rushed down the run, he
likened the sound produced to the roar
ing of Niagara Falls,
| A FAMILY or CHILDREN SWEPT AWAY.
Mr.. Cole described the incidents at
tending the destruction of the dwelling
occupied by Mr.. August Renkauf, and
the drowning of little Emma, aged three
years, and Mary Renkauf, aged one year,
and the nurse-gir, Miss Noting, aged
fourteen. When the food began Mr.
Renkauf was visiting Il brother on
Spring Garden Run. Mrs. Renkauf
went to the front door to ascertain the
extent of the flood, and upon opening it
the waters rushed in in great volume
and was soon several feet deep. A num-
Der of articles Of furniture were piled up
against the door leading to the second
story where the children. were. She
found she was unable to get.up the stair
case, and then tried to get to the rear Of
the house if possible, to save the sleep
ing ones by the upstairs window. She
tried in vain to rouse them. As she
passed out of the front door, the side
facing the alley and river fell out carry
ing her with it. She was swept down
the run about one hundred yards, and
caught on top of some of the debris of
the glue works.
She clambered over this a distance of
fifty feet, and had to wade from that
point to the shore, distance of about
twenty yards, in water waist deep Her
calls for assistance were responded to by
several men who happened to be in the
vicinity, and did what they could in en-
abling her to reach the shore. She is in
delicate health, and the courage she dis
played was remarkable. During the time
that she was being swept away, Mr. A.
V. Cole, with his brother Isaac, went to
the rear of the house by means of pri-
vate lane leading past it, and, by shout
ing at the top of their voices, endeavOred
to awaken the children who were inn
prisoned in the upper story of the dwell
ling. The roar of the torrent drowned
his voice. and he was unable to make
himself heard above the tempestuOus
elements. He and his brother then
picked up clumps Of earth and threw at
the window, but just then the house was
swept off, and disappeared in the flood.
The three children were crushed to death
in its crumbling ruins. Their mangled
bodies were found about one hundred
and fifty yards below the scene of the
heroic efforts for their rescue.
ANOTHER THRILLING INCIDENT
which occurred in this vicinity was the
miraculous escape of the watchman of
the glue works. He thought the flood
was a small affair, and started up stairs
to get beyond the reach of it, just as
there was about foot of water in the
lower story. He had scarcely reached
the second story when the stairs gave
way. and he was compelled to jump
down to coal-house, which stood in the
vicinity of the boilers. Out Of this he
crawled through an aperture, while the
water was up to his chin. Fortunately
he secured Il plank, and with that he
made for the shore, which he reached in
safety.
| DRIVEN OUT OF BED INTO THE FLOOD.
The sudden rise of the waters in
Butchers Run is well illustrated by some
incidents related by a German family
that resided in stone dwelling opposite
TO Hoyeller's glue works. The husband
told his wife to proceed to the cellar, and
obtain some kindling for the cookstove,
MS he desired to 90 to work early on
Monday morning. The wife placed the
wood in the stove but by the time she
had completed her work the water had
reached the floor She notified her hus-
band of the fact, and suggested that they
had better leave the house, as the flood
threatened to destroy it.
The husband, who had retired, jumped
out of bed into water knee deep, and
with his wife proceeded to get the child
rem out of an upper-story window on to
the high ground in the rear. After they
had accomplished this the husband re-
turned to the bedroom to get some
clothing out of the wardrobe, but in the
meantime the water had reached such {
height as to upset it, and he found 1t I'M
possible to get the articles, being com
pelled to hastily vacate the apartment.
A HOUSE, WITH AN ENTIRE FAMILY, DRIVER
INTO THE NiAELSTRoM.
The "Evening Chronicle" has the fol
lowing: "From Ben Langold, Il German
living short distance from the Schan
apperts. whose house proved the toni
of family of six, we learned the par
ticulars Of this sad episode, Schan
apbert's house stood Immediately beloy
the oil refinery of Holdship & Co., AM
was struck by the food with fore
! enough to carry it completely from it
: foundations on Madison avenue, an
hurl it down the torrent LangolC
hearing Shrek upon shrek rend tn
air. looked out from an upper window.
= The doomed house was carried alon
within a stones throw. AT the uppe
window stood poor Schsaappert and HI
. wife. each holding a child over the ral
I inc water, and shrieking, "God a
u u mighty help u.s." "God save us" In
u few seconds the building reached tn
: bend. where the food hurried south
!, the foot efIBuenna Vista street. Hel
y y it struck against u slaughter house, an
Z J;sooI,.,d ike n nile ofrSnOW in the bon