Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-02-10

PrrrsBURa, Pa, February 4.-The
great Oil City ice gorge, eighteen miles
long, reached Pittsburg this morning.
At seven o'clock the Allegheny river
began rising at the rate OF Two feet an
hour. The ice swept and ground every
thing before it. The great cakes of ice.
as they struck the piers of the suspen-
sion bridge, made the structure groan.
Tens of thousands of people lined the
banks and bridges, watching the terrible
sight, while river men rushed hither and
thither, frantic with excitement. Coal
barges, coal floats, boat shanties, skiffs
and other river craft could be seen in
every direction. Some were being
smashed against the piers, some were
overiurning, while others sailed calmly
out from beuea,h the bridges to steer
their own way toward the Gulf. In the
short space of ali hour over thirty barges
went down or were sunk. At noon the
cables holding the hull OF the John 2.
Dean gave way and, swinging out, she
tore loose five barges and two steamers,
the Modoc and the Cora, and all togeth-
err went with the flood. Most Of the
barges sunk or foated away in pieces.
No accurate estimate can be placed upon
the losses incurred by Pittsburg river
men. Most of the floats lost were orti-
nary coal floats, worth from $500 to
$500 apiece. The barges are worth
from $1,000 to $500 apiece. The
amount of lumber lost cannot be es!i-
mated. The loss, exclusive of lumber,
will reach 100000. Tie ice went out
OF Neshanock and SheDango at New
Castle last night. with very high water.
Some OF the streets and many of the
houses in the lower part Of the city were
flooded. The "World" was being play
ed in the Opera House last night to
large audience. When the latter were
dismissed it was found that the structure
was in the centre OF immature lake
and escorts were compelled to take their
ladies in their arms and wade through
the water. Trains OH the railroads
were suspended, the water putting out
locomotive fires. Two county bridges
and new bridge OF the New Castle
Railroad were carried away. At Kit
tanning the Allegheny is 25 feet above
low water mark. The large rolling mill
and portion of the town is under
water and the river rising rapidly. The
large bridge spanning the Allegheny at
Emleu,on was washed away and a man
named Ross carried down with it. A
hand car was procured and parties fol-
lowed him to Parker, telling him TO
keep up good heart aud grasp the
ropes which would be lowered for him
from the bridge at Parker City. He
followed instructions and was saved.
BRADFoRp, FEBRUARY 4.-Bradford
was visited last night by a disastrous
flood, which inundated about five hun
dred houses aloug Pearl, Globe, Boyls
ton, Florence, Pine, Main and other
streets. The lower part OF the city was
submerged in some cases to the depth
of ten feet. The food was caused by
the rains of Friday and Saturday and
the melting of the snow in the noun
tains. Five bridges were swept away
aud several houses along the banks of
the creek were badly damaged or total
ly destroyed. Eighty-6ve families on
the flats between here and Tarpot, living
in one-story houses, had to flee tor their
lives when the ice gorge broke, leaving
ali their effects, and many of the houses
were swept away. 1t is impossible to
estimate the loss at this time. The
waters are now subsiding and all fears
of further damage are over.