The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-08-14
THE PENNSYLVANIA DELUGE.
dents VI alse ftOod -Some wiraeu-
IONS Eseapes--A Scene of Deyasta-
ton.


PirTsBuRG, July 2g.-Thousands of
,,eople are visiting the scene OF the recent
treat disaster. At Butchers Ron. last
evening. as the shadows crept over the sad
precincts, the scene was a peculiarly dis
mai one. The thousands of visitors who
crowded the ruins during the day had
turned from the scene OF death and de-
structOn. and in some portions Of the dis
trict reigncd the silence of the tomb; in
Others the careless voices Of children
sounded in close proximity 10 devastated
homes, which are now IN heaps of shape
less ruins, and which doubtless conceal a
large number OF bodies not yet discoy-
cred
The Chronicle says that one OF the most
remarkable circumstances connected with
the great Hood disaster is the fact that no
list OF the injured appears. The lists pub
lished read invariably died and missing
In the terrible rushing torrent which
swept down tlse numerous runs there was
no middle ground. and for those who
came in is course there was only one
choice-to sink or swim. Unlike "A rail-
road accident. the Hood leaves no list Of
MANNED or wounded; along it, raging
pathway the only issue l. life and death.
THRILLING INCIDENTS.
Mr.. A. V. Cole. one OF the members OF
the firm OF c. Hoodler 4 Co., whose glue
works were entirely wrecked. states that
when The waters began 10 descend no one
had any idea that the flood would reach
the great proportion IL assumed. Mr.. c.,
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 haG the appearance of
immense sheets of water as outlined on
the opposite bank when lighted up by the
continuous flashes of lightning. When
the great Hood of water rushed down the
run, he lIkened the sound produced TO the
roaring of Niagara Falls.
Mr.. Cole described the incidents attend
ing the destruction of the dwelling occu-
pied by Mr.. August Renkauf. and the
drowning of little Emma. aged three
wears. ard Mary Renkauf. aged one year,
and the nurse girl. Miss Noting. aged
fourteen. When the Hood began Mr.
Renkauf was visiting brother on Spring
Garden Run. Mrs. Renkauf went 10 her
front door TO ascertain the extent of the
Hood, and. upon opening IL. the water
rushed in in a great volume, and was soon
several feet deep. A number OF articles OF
furniture We're piled up against the door
leading TO the second story, where the
children were. She found She was unable
Ia get up the staircase. and then tried 10
get 10 the rear of the house ii possible, 10
save the little ones by the upstairs win
dow. She tried ia VAIN TO arouse them.
As she passed out of the front door. the
side facing the Allegheny River fell out,
carrying her with IT, She was swept down
the run about 100 yards. and was caught
on the top of some of the debris of the
glue-works. She clamberd over this
"a of - foot a
that point to the shore. a distance of about
twenty yards. in water waist deep. Her
calls for assistance were responded 10 by
several men. who happened to be i'm the
vicinity, and did what they could i'm en-
abling her 10 reach the shore. She il in
delicate health. and the courage she dis
PLAYED was remarkable during the time
thai she was being swept away. Mr.. A.
V. Cole. with his brother Isaac. went to
the rear OF the house by means OF a private
lane leading past il, and by shouting at
the top OF their voices cndeavored 10 awak-
en- the children who We're imprisoned in
the upper story of the dwelling. The roar
of the torrent drowned his voice, and he I
was unable TO make himself heard above
the tempcstnOus elements. He and his
brother then picked mp clumpS of earth
and threw az the window. but Just then
the house was swept of and disappeared
in the Hood. and the three children Were
crushed TO death in its crumbling ruins.
Their manglcd bodies Were found about
one hundred and fifty yards below the
scene OF the heroic efforts made for their
rescue.
Another thrilling incident. which oc-
CURED in this vicinity. was the miraculous
escape of the Waterman of the glue-works.
He thought the Hood was small affair.
and started upstairs TO get beyond the
reach of IL. Just a. there was about foot
of water ia the lower story. He had
scarcely reached the second story when the
stairs gave way, and he was compelled to
Jump down toa coal house. which stoodn
the vicinity OF the boilers. Out OF this he
crawled through an aperture. while the
water was up TO his chin. Fortunately,
he secured plank. and with that made for
the shore. which he reached in safety.
The sudden rise Of the water in Butch
er's Run j. well illustrated by some Incl
dents related by a German family that re-
sided IN stone dwelling opposite Howell
!cr's glue-works. The husband told his
wife 10 proceed 10 the cellar and obtain
some kindling for the coOk-stove. a. he de-
sired To 20 To work early on Monday morn
ing. 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 husband OF the fact. and
suggested that IA had better vacate the
house. as the food threatened TO destroy
i. The husband. who had returned.
Jumped out of the bed into the water knee
deep. and with his wife proceeded to get
the children out of an upper-story window
on the high ground in the rear. After
they had accomplished this, the husband
returned to the bedroom 10 get some
clothing ont of wardrobe, but in the
meantime the water had reached such a
height rs 10 upset II. and he found il i'm
possible To get the articles. being compelled
% hastily vicate the apartment.
The Epening Chronicle has the following