Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-07-31
CENTER AVENUE.

a single frame building, one family consist
ing Of a mother and nine children, were all
lost. Wagons, horses, household goods,
sewing maches and rubbish all lie huddIod
together in one immense mass. just below
this street Butchers run and Soft Soap run
come together, and houses are piled pro-
miscuOusly together, also wagons, horses,
barrel slaves and rubbish, presenting a
spectacle which is almost sickening to look
upon.
SPRING GARDEN AVENUE.
The destruction in this avenue was not
so great, only few houses being destroyed,
but number of lives are reported lost.
The water reached the second story Of the
buildings on this Centre street, and ii is
astonishing that the houses in this locality
escaped with such slight injury.
MADISON AVENUE.
The water came down at this point ter
rifca!ly and piled q lot Of wagons and
horses all in one heap. Buildings were
swept from their foundations and destruc-
tion is visabe on every hand.
Searching for the dead bodies began at
an early hour this morning, and wOrkmen
poured in from every quarter Buildings
were torn to pieces, rubbish removed,
bricks thrown into the street, and every
thing possible done in order TO recover the
bodies of the missing. Women were pre-
sent in great numbers, anxiOusly looking
on, while friends stood near at hand to
witness the exhumation of their departed
friends. The police force was ready to
preserve order, but the excitement was so
great that the crowd ran to and fro, in al
most maddened condition.
The bodies as soon as they we're recover
ed were Immediately put into wagons and
taken to the places designated in the city,
viz: Fairman q Vogt's, Sandusky street,
Messrs. Herman Il Ley's, on Ohio street,
and Vogh Il Co.'S, on North street. After
arriving with the remains at the above
named places they were washed and placed
in a row, side by side, to await recognition.
Friends and strangers crowded around -
get sight at the remains of the dead. but
are prevented from obtaining entrance by
a determined doorkeeper. Many bodies
are in such shape as to be difficult to re-
cognize, being badly bruised, while others
are fast turning decomposition having set
in. Upon the whole, however, they are in
as good a condition as could be expected.
The principal loss will be in the district
above given, but outside of this the damage
is heavy but the contrast being so great
the minor losses are hardly noticed Iu-
destruction of life is the all absorbed topic,
and every one seems to be in sympathy
with those who have barely escaped with
their own lives only 20 learn that their
families have perishcd in the maddened
waters.
! The cause of this inundation was from
/ the bursting Of sewer on Madison avenue.
The rain poured down in torrents and soon
the sewer filled to its utmost capacity, and
the pressure being too great, it gave way
carrying destruction before it, Soon the
water began to pour into the houses, and
in few moment later happy families we're
ushered into eternity.
HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPE.
/ Mr.. Randolph Artz occupied a frame
building on the south side of O'Hara street,
and family consisting Of wife and SIX
children. His oldest daughter was visiting
an aunt in another part of the city at the
time of the dreadful catastrophe. Mr..
Artz was in an upper room playing with
his children, when all at once the building
swung from its foundation, and the screams
of his children are described as heart-rend-
ing. The building lodged against brick
ediiice standing near by, when q ladder
was hoisted and the entire family rescued,
for which they express their thankfulness.
THE RECOGNIZED BODIES.
On visiting Messrs. Farman & Vogts
on Sandusky street, twenty-four bodies
were found to be in their possession.
Among those identified were the following
Henry Leopold and four children Freder-
ick Ayler cooper, Rosa Metzler, Sophia
Metzler, Conrad Greinzer, Sophia Grein-
ger, Mary COnley, one of Nh. Shafler's
children. The balance were yet unrecog-
nized.
WOODS RUN.
Nine lives were lost at Woods Run.
The following are the names of the miss
ing, five Of whom have been recovered
John German and two children, two chill
dren belonging 10 James Forden. Mr..
German is yet to be found and diligent
search is being made TO ascertain his where
abOuts. Diligent search is also being made
for the others who are reported lost \
number OF narrow escapes were made in
this quarter. Luke Dillon and family,
consisting Of three girls and two boys,
barely escaped with their lives. The loss
of property will reach $4,000 in this sec
ton.
THE DAMAGE OUTSIDE OF THE FATALI-
TIES.
Outside of the fatalities recorded above,
IlC udndSC WIS quite do CNlCuSlEC us III
Pittsburg, but in the intense excitement
prevailing at the scene of the terrible casu-
atty it is impossible to obtain definite in
formation in this regard.
Large holes have been washed in Beaver
avenue and Beuna Vista, Fremont and
Irwin avenues, Robinson and many other
streets, and thousands Of dollars will 5e
required to repair them. Large quantities
Of lumber were washed into the river
The heavy iron sewer plate in front of
the Friendship engine house, at the corner
of Arch and Jackson streets, was carried at
least a square up the former street. The
office of the KOuntz line of street horse cars
in Manchester was struck by lightning, hut
the damage resulting theretrom was slight.
At the corner of Federal street and Mont
gomcry avenue the sewers were obstructed,
and the water filled the cellar Of Druit's
drug store, extingushed the gas and reu-
dering worthless goods valued at two hun
1re1 dollars