St. Landry democrat., 1883-07-21
DREADFUL FLOODS.

a Terrible Storm at London. Ontario-Two
Hundred Persons Supposed to Have Lost
Their Lives.
LONDON, ONT, July II.
"A terrible disaster occurred in the Thames
River Valley, around this city, thismorning.
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 yividness and thunder which
broke like a thousand parks of artillery.
The night was full of terror and dismay Cd
account of the tempest raging. Nothing
like it had occurred within living memory,
but toward morning the residents OF the
flats west OF the city traversed by the River
Thames were overtakcn by a catastrophe
which is probably unprecedented i'll 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. m. the school bell
in the village of Petersyille, suburb OF
London, began to clang an alarm, when IN
due time was taken up by the city fire
bells. The morning was calm and still
after the storm, so that citizens, when
aroused by the bells, heard the air filed
with shrieks and cries, mingled with the
sounds of a vigorous chopping with axes.
The thriving suburb named, comprising
about 1900 souls, had been suddenly over
whel1ned with torrent, caused by ire
mendous cIoud-burst some dozen miles up
the country. The water rolled down III
one resistless wave, raising the river TO
twelve feet above ordinary flood mark ana
destroying about two hundred dwellings,.
The village to-day presents picture OF
sickening ruin, brick houses being
leyeled and frame ones either carried
bodily down stream or tumbled over
and over and left in inextricable 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
neighbors found themselves borne away on
the crest of the flood, while their houses
and little ones were carried OFT by the same
mad current. One house foated down
with lights burning inside and inhabited
by lady, Mrs. Wright. 1t struck the rail-
way bridge, and the lady was taken out
raving maniac. A cradle passed down
amid confusion of furniture, containing
baby, which was dead. A little boy passed
| over the water-works 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 slo,ooo,
went over the dam and took the iron bridge
along with her. All of the iron bridges are
gone except one, and the city is isolated to-
| night. The fires of the gas-Works were ex-
| tinguisbed and the main broken by wash,
| out, and the city is also in darkness. Daniel
Collins' ice house was swept away together
| with FIVE thousand tons of ice and eight
horses. Collins Hall in Petersville IS now
| filled with refugees. The churches ana
residences on high ground are also filed
| Mr.. Jeffrey, a banker, threw open his
house on the neighboring heights, and had
tables spread on the lawn to feed the hum
/ gry refugees. The greatest sympathy IS
| shown ON all sides. A mass meeting or
citizens was held tonight to devise relief
measures The damage done will not De
/ less than 900.