The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-28
PENNsYLyANIA,s POUR.
Heavens Flood.Gates Opened-The Town
OF PetrOIia Nearly SubmerEed-Im-
mense Damage 10 Crops and Property
nj Othcr Points.

AASNNCA ~ OpGAEu-AhG IOWu
OF PetrOIIa Nearly SubmerEed-Im.
mense Damage 10 Crops and Property
ut Other Points.
PErRoLIA, Pa, July 26.-This section Of
the country was visited by one of the
heaviest freshets ever known. About 10
o'clock this morning the rain began fall.
ing. Heavens food.gates opened wide,
and the black and angry clouds tossed
and trembled in the clamorous heavens,
surging to and fro as If engaged in mortal
combat, and seemingly givingventto their
anger in mighty torrents Of water. Bear
Creek seemed to be miniature ocean.
The waters being restrained the valley
was completely inundated, sweeping
away houses, derricks and fences, destroy
ing gardens, and playing sad havoc with
everything in its pathway; devastating
property in Harms City to the amount oi
S., 900, and endangering many lives.
1t rushed on its course OF destruction 10
Petrolia. Bear Creek runs Immediately
under the business portion OF the town.
The north side OF Main street consists
Of large buildings. When the rising wat
ers struck the piles on which they were
constructed they rapidly floated across the
street, smashing and carrying along all
the buildings from the railroad up 10 the
Central Hotel.
The buildings on the east side Of Rail.
road street, commencing at the Sink
House, were all swept away.
The Oil Exchange was considerably
damaged.
The postoffice was thoroughly drench-
ed, receiving no particular damage.
The loss is estimated at 100000.
The following merchants are the princi-
pal losers: About twenty-five business
houses on Railroad street were complete.
ly destroyed, while on Main street the
contents of the Central Hotel, Lots bill.
lard room, Pettigrew's drug store, Marks
dry goods store were badly damaged,
Below the Central Hotel, Foote'S drug
store, Barthold's clothing store, Levine's
cigar store, Botner's jewelry and cigar
store were completely destroyed, the own.
ers not being able to save their stock.
The postofiice building and news room
were slightly damaged.
Little's jewelry store, Lamotte & Dew.
ey's boot and shoe store, Benedict's dry
goods store, the Oil Exchange, Standard
Oil Company's office, Taylor K Co. s Office
and all the offices in the rear OF the oil
Exchange were badly damaged. Ireland'l
large machine shops were badly damaged
The large Coliseum was completely de
stroyed. a walking match was going OF
at the time OF the flood, and the contest
ants and spectators barely escaped.
Mothers, with babies in their arms ant
half.grown children clinging 10 thei
skirts, were seen on porch tops, their pail
and haggard faces plainly telling thei
deathly agonies, Men were seen combat
ting bravely for life in the muddy tor
rents,
The Parker and Karns City and Butle
Railroads suffered q loss Of ten thousan,
dollars, all their trestles being damage,
and the tracks torn up for miles. The
expect to have trains running In two O
three days at the iarthest.
a great many are destitute OF homes
Men, women and children are rushin
j through the streets, filling the air wit
J their mourntul and piteous walls. Th
J majority ot them have loGt all OF thi
worlds goods. Immediate steps viii
taken to relieve the sufferers.
Our once brilliant town is pitiiul ol
iect TO look upon. Main street presents
! muddy chaos Of sediment and debris. OF
Ionce happy and prosperous merchan