Huntsville gazette., 1883-07-21
FLOODED OUT.
Terrible storm at London, Ontario-Tws
Hundre ed Persons Supposed to Have Lost
Their Lives.

Terrible Storm at London, Ontario-Tws
Hundr ed Persons Supposed to Have Lost
Their Lives.
LONDON, ONT, July e. .
A terrible disaster occurred in the Thames
| River Valley, around this city, this morning.
Last evening at six O'Clock storm broke,
which lasted until three O'Clock a.. m, at.
tended by incessant heavy rain, lightning
of startling vividness and thunder which
broke like thousand parks of artillery.
The night was full of terror and disunay on .t
account of the tempest raging. Nothing
like it had occurred within living memory,
but toward morning the residents Of the t
flats west of the city traversed by the River
4 Thames were overtaken by catastrophe
which is probably unprecedented in the ~
province of Ontario. Two hundred build
ings were overwhelmed by a torrent, and
two hundred persons are reported missing.
About two O'Clock a. III. the school bell
in the village of Petersvlle, suburb Of
London, began to clang an alarm, which in
due time taken up by the city fire
BELLS. The morning calm and still .4
| after the storm, that citizens, when
aroused by the bells, heard the air filed
with -shrieks and cries. mingled with tho
sounds Of vigorous choppng with axes.
The thriving suburb named, comprising
about 1000 souls, had been suddenly over --..
whelmed with torrent, caused by tre-
mendous cloud-burst some dozen miles up
the country. The wafer rolled down In
one. resistless wave, raising the river to
twelve feet above ordinary flood mark and
destroying about two hundred dwellings.
The village to-day presents a picture of
sickening ruin, brick houses being
leveled and frame ones. either carried
bodily down stream tumbled over
and over and left in inextricabe con-
fusion The people took refuge on the
! roofs of buildings that remained standing
until relieved by men with boats, which
work occupied six hours. Many of these
| people had to cut their way through the
roofs with axes, SO sudden was the catas-
trophe. Men who left home to rouse the
v neighbors found themselves borne away on
| the crest OF the flood, while their houses
! and little ones carried off by the same
mad current. One house foated down
with lights burning inside and inhabited
by a lady, Mrs. Wright. 1t struck the rail-
way bridge, and the lady taken out
raving maniac. cradle passed down
amid confusion of furniture, containing
baby, which dead. A little boy passed
over the water-werks dam and was en-
quilted. 1t is supposed that there is
great loss of life, as two hundred per-
sons remain tonight unaccounted for.
This afternoon the water-works pump
ing-house went by the board. The pleasure
steamer Princess Louise, costing 10000,
went over the dam anu tOUk tie iron piiJ5v
di0HS Wltn ner All Oh 5flo IRON Dltu6SS dIe
gone except One and the city is isolated to-
night. The fires of the gas-works were ex-
tinguished and the main broken by wash
out, and the city is also in darkness Daniel
b G e9 ton% house a5 te~ swept y I ens
horses. Collins Hall-in Petersvlleis now
filled with refugees. The churches and
residences on high ground are also filled.
Mr.. Jeffrey, banker, threw open his
house on the neghboring heights, and had
tables spread on the lawn to feed the hum
CRY refugees The greatest sympathy is
shown all sides. mass meeting OF
citizens was held tonight to devise relief
measures. The damage done will not be
1ess than S500,000. r.