The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-02-13


and hundreds of families forced to
desert their homes and fly before
the coming flood.
Trayel was suspended this evening
on every railroad running out of the
city, except the Pennsylvania Cen
trail, and many persons who left
their homes in the suburbs this NOR
ming were compelled to remain III
the city over night.
This morning newspapers are suf-
fering great inconvenience from
their cellars being flooded.
The Times, Post and Commercial
Gazette will be unable to print edi-
tions in the morning on their own
press. The Times and Commercial
GazeHe will use the Leader press,
and the Post has arranged to run its
edition off on lis Job press. The
Sixteenth street bridge, which it
was feared would be swept away, is
still intact.
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 dirn.
On the south side every street
south of Carson from CHARTERS
Creek to Thirtieth is inundated, while
ali property within three squares of
the river in Allegheny is submerged.
At this time it is impossible to esti-
mate the loss, but it is safe to say it
will not fall short of 81 100000, and
may greatly exceed that amount.
Fully 5000 families are rendered
homeless bv the flood. Arrange
ments have been made to shelter
them in the public halls tonight
and tomorrow morning, in accor-
dance with & proclamation OF Mayor
Lyon, public meetings will be held
for the purpose of making some
provision for them until the flood
subsidies sufficiently to permit them
to return to their homes.
In this city the district bounded
by Duquesne way on the north and
waite: street on the south, and from
the junction of the two rivers on
Sixth street including Penn avenue
Liberty street from First to Sixth
streets, Ferry and Short streets, is
almost entirely submerged, and
every street south of Penn avenue TO
Sharpsburg distance Of five miles
is under from one to ten feet of wa
ter.
At midnight the rivers are station
cry, with the Monongahela 30 feet 3
inches and the Allegheny "a feet e
inches. The latest news from the
headquarters is that the water is re-
ceding. 1t is still raining, but very
| lightly.
One fatality is reported. Thomas
Kelly, a grocer of the southslde, was
trying to secure drift wood and tell
into the Monongahela and was
drowned.
A special from West Newton, Pa,
says: The gorge in the Youghio-
gheny River here which formed two
or three days ago moved at 6 o'clock
yesterday morning, but stopped
again at Shaners. 1t again started
up and again stopped near Mckee
port, the tail of the gorge then being
near West Newton. The volume OF
water being great the gorge accumu-
lated rapidly, and in short time the
whole lower portion of West Newton
was under water Many families
had to be removed from the second
story windows of their houses, and
there were many narrow escapes.
At Coultersville a family named
IO'Donnell were nearly caught in the
food. The family of Thomas Fin
ley at West Newton, barely escaped
with their lives. Several small
houses, stables and outbuildings
were carried away, and the rivers
banks, from West Newton to McKees
port, were piled high with ice and
the wrecks of houses, furniture, etc
At Alpsville Bigieys' coal tipple was
carried away, causing loss of about
$1,000.
PITTsBURG, February THE fall
in the rivers continued all day, and
at s o'clock tonight the Mononga-
hela marks registered thirty feet six
inches, a fall of nearly three feet
since midnight. The Allegheny
marks shows thirty y-one feet, and is
falling about three inches al hour
Many streets in this city are now
clear of water, but in its stead bar
rels. twisted boards and ice are piled
several feet high, and in many case.
have been left high on dry land by
the receding waters. Communication
with Allegheny City by street cars i:
still cut off, but by tomorrow morn
ing it is thought the cars will be
able to run. The Allegheny Valley
and the West Pennsylvania Rail
roads are running trains again a;
usual
At meeting of citizens this after
noon an executive committee wa:
appointed which was instructed tC
take immediate steps to relieve al
sufferers in the two cities. Commit
tees representing leading bushes:
interests were also appointed to So
licit donations. Before these pro
visions can be made, however, the
suffering will be great among the
families, who are living in the second
stories of their houses and have been
without food or fire for tAirty-six
hours
Two more fatalities have been re-
ported: William Bowman, aged &c
years, living in the Eighth ward o.
Allegheny city, while attempting te
step out of window into a skiff
fell into the water and the swift cur
rent carried him away before he
could be rescued. Harvey GemiDg,
aged IL years, who has been missing
from his home in the First ward OF
Allegheny city since Tuesday, was
found drowned this afternoon.
The bridge at Herr's Island, two
miles below the city. has been car
ried away. Loss, s2J 900.
Upon calm review OF the sitqa-
ton to-day it was found that be.
tween 5000 aud 6.0OO buildings in