The New York herald., 1875-03-18
THE SUSQUEHANNA.

THE WORK OF DESTRUCTION ALONG ITS BANKS
wILKEsBARRE, PLYMOUTH AND OTHER TOWNS
THREATENED WITH COMPLETE INUNDATIoN.
PITrsroN, Pa, March II. 1875.
AT three O'Clock this morning there was not 3
cloud IN the sky, and the moon and stars looked
calmly down upon the work or destruction com.
pleted by the flood during the previous six hours
At daylight the streets were frozen and covered
with light mantle Of snow. standing on the
only remaining span OF the new bridge, the scene
which met the eye was dreary ana
desoate one. The river was clear OF Ice, except
along it's margins. but IL rushed by with tremen-
dous Jury, leaplng tossing Its yellow waters
as wildly AS the HUDSON when a northeaster stlr3
1t up. The current mad dropped down consdera-
bly, but this was caused by The change In the
weather. winch closed up the many mouutain
tributaries.
THE WORK OF THE FLOOD.
Looking over the vast sweep OF the susque.
hanna, the track OF the terrible nood is plainly
seen in the huge slabs Of solld ice piled up along
the banks and in many places tossed up INTO
rugged promontories twenty feet hlgn. The
grounds of the elegant residences along the
river point on the west side are terribly
disdgured by the uncOuth accumu!ations len
by the angry nood. In ana around tue
junction there are painful evidences OF destruc-
ton. Houses have been wrecked, outbuildinga
swept away, fences removed, trees up>
rooted and vast deposits OF Ice left In the low
bottom lands just above the junction mag.
nlfcent iron bridge spanned the Lackawanna
River. which empties into the Susquehanna at
this point This, too, lell prey TO the hood,
and was completely demolished. Scarcely yes
tige remains OF the handsome structure, which,
though small, cost nearly $4,000
The back water from the Susquehanna carried
it away. Of the three large bridges which were
swept into the current, and whose mammoth pro.
portions passed out or sight intact not . beam or
grder IL to be seen from the river banks
Shortly after they went down q terrible crash waa
heard below. where they probably struck on .
small island which lies just opposite wyoming, IN
about the centre OF the river.
ANOTHER VISITATION FEARED.
Although the bridges are gone and the river has
subslded considerably, there exist great aos
prehensi0ps with regard to supplementary
nood, which will undoubtedly set in with warmer
weather. 1t has been ascertained that all the 100
has not gone out yet. Indeed. gorge OF unusual
proportions and strength has formed since lass
night, beginning At point about two miles above
this place and extending up the river beyond
Ransom, which s about eight miles iroa
here. This gorge is In extent abous
half mile wide, and II goes up tue
| Susquehanna st least ten miles. II not iurthsr.
The whole distance Is covered with vast acres of
crystal slabs from three 10 four feet thicx' anu
massed In irregular conformations TO the average
! height OF twenty ieet Looking down upon u
| from a bridlepath In the mountain below Camp
bells Ledge tonight, the scene Is one oil terrific
Arctic grandeur. The rugged peaks OF the crystal
blocks stand Ike giant spears and reflect the pale
| rays OF the moon with spectral significance Thia
! gorge IS lodged here between TWO lofty mountain
! ranges almost perpendicular in their formation
ard now covered with two or Three feet OF snow.
COMMUNICATION CUT OFF.
"A
road COMMUNICATIONS are cut Oh. The Lehgn
Valley road wnicn touches mere, IL covered with
water aud Ice TO the depsn OF several 'eet. a Ths
CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGE