Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-07
THE RIVERS STILL RISING
MANY CITIES SUBMERGED AND
THOUSANDS HOMELESS.

PITTSBURG. Feb. 6.-The river at this
point passed the danger line last night,
and at noon to-day had reached 81 feet
inches, the highest stage since 1852. Dis
patches from the head-waters of both
river report that the water is still rising,
While hereit is creeping up into the streets
at the rate of s inches per hour. Miles of
property in this city on the south side and
III Allegheny are submerged, and hun
dreds Of families have been compelled to
Yacate their houses. All the mills and
factories on the banks of both rivers have
suspended operations, and connection be-
tween Pittsburg and Allegheny by street
cars is entirely cut off. The schools in
the First and Fourth wards have been
closed. On Duquesne Way the water
covers the office furniture in the Robinson
House, and is within one foot Of the first
floor of the Duquesne depot.
MERCHANTS ON THE DEFENSIVE.
The merchants on Water street have
moved their goods to the second floors, a
precautiOn which has never before been
necessary for them to take. Railroad
traffic on all river lines is greatly re-
tarded, and the Baltimore and Ohio, the
Pittsburg and Lake Erie, Pittsburg and
Western, Pittsburg, McKeesport and
Youghiogheny, the West Pennsylvania
and Allegheny Valley Roads have either
suspended entirely or will be compelled
to before evening. SOfar the damages are
confined exclusively to the flooding of
property.
FAMILIES FORCED TO FLEE.
The greatest suffering and damages re-
ported in this vicinity is in
the Youghiogheny region, where
mining hamlets and portions of the
towns lying on the lowland have been in
undated and hundreds of families forced
to desert their homes and fly before the
coming flood. In some places it has been
found necessary to anchor houses to trees
and rocks to keep them from drifting off,
The scene along the route of the great ice
gorge, which extended thirty miles up the
GoughiOgheny river beggars description,
The streets and door yards were piled full
OF ice, in many instances heaps being Is
and 20 feet high. So far as can be learned
no lives have been lost, but the pecuniary
damages Will be immense.
STRANGE SCENES IN PITTsBURG.
PITTsBURG, Feb 6, II 80 p. Nat 9:3O
O'Clock tonight it was still raining. and
there was no immediate prospect of clear
ing weather. The MOnOngahela stOpped
rising for couple of hours this evening.
but commenced swelling again at s
O'Clock, and now shows 80 feet inches.
In the Allegheny river the water is over
the marks, but stands at about "a feet 7
inches, and is still rising. In this city the
district bounded by Duquesne way on the
north and Water street on the south, and
from the junction of the two rivers on
Sixth street, including Pennsylvania ave-
nue., Liberty street from First to Sixth
streets, Ferry and Short streets. is almost
entirely submerged, and every street south
of Pennsylvania avenue to Sharpsburg. a
distance of miles, is under from to 10
feet of water.
THEATRES CLOSING.
The management of Library Hail. on
Pennsylvania avenue, where Lawrence
Barrett is playing, has been compelled to
suspend operations until the water re-
cedes. The museum on Sixth street is
still open, although surrounded by water.
and the manager offers free transportation
to and from the museum in boats.
THE CITY IN DARKNESS.
Tonight the city is in a state of semi
darkness. The water is up to the gas
works, and, while the gas is still burning,
it is very dim on the south side. Every
street south of Carson, from CHARTERS
creek to Thirtieth, is inundated, while all
property within three squares of the river
IN Allegheny IS submerged.
THE LOSSES.
AT this time it is impossible to estimate
the loss, but it is safe to say that it will
not fall short of 100000 and may greatly
exceed that amount. The individual loss
IN some instances will reach $50, 900, while
a few hundred will cover others.
5000 FAMILIES HOMELESS.
Fully 5000 families are rendered home
less by the flood. Arrangements have
been made to shelter them in the public
halls tonight, and tomorrow morning.
in accordance with the proclamation of
Mayor Lyon, public meetings will be held
for the purpose of making some provision
for them until the flood subsidies sufli-
ciently to permit them to return to their
homes.
TRAVEL SUSPENDED.
Travel was suspended this evening on
every railroad running out of the city, eX-
cept the Pennsylvania Central, and MANY
persons who left their homes in the
suburbs this morning were compelled to
remain in the city over night. The morn
ing newspapers are suffering great incOn-
yenience from their cellars being flooded.
The Times, Post and Commercial Gazette
will be unable to print editions in the
morning Oh their own presses. The Times
ana Commercial Gazette will use the
Leader press, and the Post has arranged
to run its edition off on job press.
AT CINCINNATI.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 6, s P. M.-Conserya-
tive men who yesterday were unwilling
to admit that last years flood would be
duplicated cannot be found to-day. There
is no longer any doubt that the water will
reach last years height, but on the con-
trary, with the rain which is still falling
and the mild weather, the only question
now is by how much last years flood will
be exceeded. The most alarming feature
OF the present situation is the rapidity of
the rise. Last year, when the river reached
its present height, 1t was rising less than
an inch per hour. AT noon today the
gauge showed 80 feet. This shows what
a prOdigiOus rainfall there has been.
With last years experience merchants
and manufacturers will lose much less
than last year. No time is
now wasted in pumping water
from cellars where the water may en-
croach. Every available man and team
is employed in placing goods on the
higher floors or removing them to higher
grounds. Business is completely sus-
pended throughout all the lower part of
the city.
EFFECTS ON THE RAILROADS.
The Grand Central Depot is abandoned.
The Ohio and Mississippi Railroad has It's
eastern terminus at Aurora, Ind. They
will run steamers between that point and
Stores Station and then by omnibus to
Cincinnati. The Washington and Balti-
more trains will use the Cincinnati, Ham,
iltOn and Dayton depot. This can be used
until the water reaches sixtv-six feet.
then trains will have to stop at the stock
yards. Bee Line trains will make that
their terminus tomorrow. The Pan
Handle and Louisville road can use their
depot till the water reaches 81 feet. The
Cincinnati Southern will not be troubled
in reaching the Mclean street depot until
the water gets higher than it was last
year, but it cannot reach its side tracks
to do its freight business. The
Cincinnati, indianapolis. St. Louis and
Chicago bids fair to be shut out
altogether unless an arrangement can be
made to reach the city via Rushville and
over the Cincinnati, R1miitOn and DAY.
ton road. The Cincinnati Northern is the
only road that cannot be reached by the
flood.
A WAREHOUSE UNDERMINED.
This morning the warehouse of Duck
wOrth's distillery was undermined and
fell into the water, causing a large loss.
Soon after cattle pens capable of feeding
1000 cattle were swept away. The cattle
had been removed yesterday. The loss,
however, is heavy.
MEASURES FOR RELIEF.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 6, II p. .M.-The Cham
Der of Commerce transacted but little
business to-day. Measures were taken to
provide a relief fund for the destitute. A
committee OF 10 was appointed, and the
Secretary was kept busy for some time
receiving subscriptions, mostly of 500
eacn. The chamber itself appropriated
$4,000 for the fund. The Health Officer