, 1884-02-07
Houses and Property Swept
Away by the Flood.
Hundreds of Families Forced
to Leave Their Homes.
Business in Many Places
Entirely Suspended.

Duquesne Heights, which overlook tn
two cities, this afternoon, one could Sc
a spectacle rarely spread for view. A
the base of the hill the black firing mill
and factories we're idle, and the cloud
of smoke that ordinarily roll ub from
the grimy threaded chimneys were no
present to disturb the vision. AS fal
up the Monongahela as Havelwood ant
up the Allegheny to Sharpsburg, the
course of the flood could be watched.
On both rivers it was the same thing
The railroads along the banks had dis
appeared in many places, and here and
there a stranded car could be seen
sticking its black top out of the yellow
water. Buildings that usually stood
away back from the waters edge were
surrounded and cutoff from connection
with solid earth.
Bridges in some instances were moth
ing bat islands, and the water had pen
etrated to the low spots that exist in
almost all approaches. Steamboats,
were floating in the streets.
Looking down the Ohio river islands
could be seen shrinking to smaller pro-
portions as the waters rose up and hid
the lower portions from sight. From
shore to shore the water was covered
with ice, with here a log and there the
remains of a barge or float whirling in
the midst Of it. The grinding ice and
strength of the waters tore everything
apart.
Skifs and floats were flying to and
fro and had many patrons. Union
bridge was deserted and surrounded by
water. Sixth bridge, with water run
ming by it at either end, vas lifted up
higher, and Hand street bridge, with
the ends of Its arches in the water,
seemed almost ready to fioat off to Gin
cinnati.
A line of umbrellas, looking like huge
mushrooms touched by frost, could be
seen moving along the banks wherever
the water left a foot of room.
Pittsburg, Pa, February e. The
river is thirty-one feet. and rising eight
inches per hour at IL O'Clock this
morning.
Pittsburg, February 6.-The Monon-
gahela river is stationary, but the Allie
gheny is rising. At Brownsville,
Greensboro and other points up the
Monongahela it is falling.
Pittsburg, February GO p. m.-
The Allegheny river is thirty-three feet
two inches, and the Monongahela thir-
ty-two feet four inches, and rising six
inches an hour. The city is cut off
from its gas supply by reason OF the
high water.
Pittsburg, February 6.-The rivers
at this point passed the danger line
last night and at noonte-day had reached
thirty-one feet and six inches, the high
est stage since 1852.
Dispatches from the head waters OF
both rivers report that the water is still
rising, while here 1t is creeping up on
to the streets at the rate of eight inches
an hour. Miles of property in this city
On the south side and in Allegheny il
submerged, and hundreds of families
have been compelled to vacate their
houses. All mills and factories on the
banks of both rivers have suspended
operations, and the connection between
Pittsburg and Allegheny is entirely cut
OF. The schools in the First and
Fourth wards are closed, and the water
is within one foot of the first floor in
the Duquesne department.
The merchants on Water street have
moved their goods to the second floor
%precaution never before ssary.
Railroad traffic on all the river lines il
greatly retarded. Great suffering anC
da mage is reported in the Yough re
giou, where mining hamlets and por
lions OF towns are lying on lowland
that have beer inundated, and hun
dreds Of families have been forced T.
leave their homes and fly before til
coming flood.
In some places 1t is found necessary
10 anchor dwelling houses to trees ant
cocks to keep them from drifting off t
Total destruction. The scene along til
route of the great gorge, which 'es
Tended thirty miles up the Yough river
peggars description. The streets an
door yards were piled full, with th
dreary heaps in many instances iftee
and twenty feet high, standing as siler
monuments to the might of the ioot
AS near as can be learned, there is n
loss OF life, but the damage will reac
thousands Of dollars.
~ Pittsburg, February 6.-Midnigh
NJ Ihe rivers, it is believed. reached the
highest point at 10 O'Clock, and al
now stationary, with the MonongaheI
Y AT 80 feet . inches and Allegheny {
q leet 6 inches. The latest news new
from the headwaters report that I'll
waters are receding. 1t is still rainin,
out very light. One fatality has juI
oeen reported. Thomas Kelley, a gr,
Ger OF the south side, was trying To 8
cure drift wood, and fell In the Mono
IL Rahela and was drowned. Anothl
IA msn' name unknown, went down Il