Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-06-27
YORK UNDER WATER.
lnu ouDoRI- ON rHE RAMPAGE.
4 LsEy stream Thst Rated = Mighty sight
OF trouble wnsn 1t stSrted--story ot


tue Devastation.
Tho heavy rains of "Wednesday night
caused quite an iuundation in the town of
York. At early dawn tho Cudorus was
bank full A raging torrent of angry
waters passed down tho channel witch
every moment became more frightful in
appearance. Debris Of every kind was
carried along upon the bosom of the
stream. At O o'clock the water ran over
the iron bridge at Market street and
quarter Of the bridge fell with q crash
Shortly aGterward the Princess, King and
Penn street bridges followed in rapid
succession, rushing down and catch
ing in tho whirlpool where the
Market street bridge was swept away,
striking the balcony Of Henry Hauscr's
residence and breaking it into kiudling
wood aud doing other damage to his
house.
Next tho Philadelphia street and tho
Pennsylvania railroad bridges followed,
sweeping down upon the George street
bridge aud breaking it Mp like an egg shell
The stream was tilled with bridge timbsrs,
houses, piles Of lumber, barus, haystacks,
roofs of buildings, hencoops, aud debris
Of all kinds, causing the water To rise SO
rapidly as to overflow Water street. The
flood backed up as far as DR.. Jacob Hays
house on Market street and up to a
similar dlstarce on the other streets load e
ing to the creek.
On equally low ground. ON the west side,
the OvcItlDw was still greater, and the
whole lower portion was completely in.
undated. Families occupying houses along
tho stream were in the greatest peril.
Rcscuing parties were at once formed, aud
with buatE wagons aud every species OF
life.saying implements, they boldly set to
work at the peril of thoir lives to rescue
those in danLor. Business was entirely
suspended. "a futile attempts were made
TO launch tho boats against the maGdeuiug
current it was deemed advisable to leave
people in the submerged houses, decming
them in more safety than to imperil their
lives III fail crafts
The greatest flood with which the town
was ever before visited WAS iu 1917. Again
in 1887 there was disastrous flood, but
the old citizens who witnessed these
former catastrophies say the flood Of
Thursday eclipses them all. The water
has risen TO u greater height aud more
destruction has already been reported than
occurred ever before. The great flood of
1917 was occasioned by the breaking OF the
forge dam, which covers acres OF ground
and holds an immense quantity of water.
tiOn branch of the COdOrus are gone ex
cept the county bridge at Brillhart's.
HayGe's bridge, just below Ebert's dam, is
also gone. Great damage was done at the
CodOrus paper mill. All the shedding ard
movable property, fences, etc, around the
mill have been swept away. The floors of
the mill are covered with water aud mud,
injuIiug the machinery and running stock
aud paper.
The waters rO,c 50 rapidly that many
families who live on the CodOTuS were
unable to escape. Among these were Mr..
aud Mis-. Goo. Dcrkheimer, residing at lO2
North Water street. When their premises
were flooded Mr.. Frank Center went to
their rescue on horse back and took charge
| OF Mrs BeTkacimer. \ short distance the
horse stumbled aud threw both OF. Mr.
| BeTkbeImer plunged into the water. sue
cecded in catching hold OF his wife, aud
held on to her until both were ssTuck by
| floating timber and other debris. Mrs
Berkheimer disappeared under the water
but fortunately rose again when her hus-
band told her TO cling TO something. She
| took fresh courage and struggled towards
| a tree, and catching limb succeeded 10
climbing It. MIR. BerkheimOr caught IN
another tree. Both were painfully in
| jured.
Captain John Albright, tobacconist, aud
| Frank Hubloy secured boat and crossed
| the swollen COrdOrus az a point above th t.
King street bridge, aUd passed over 10 the
west side. There they got upon the roof
of a house on Newberry street, cut hole
III the roof and rescued u woman aud her
infant. The woman hal been Conhued
but recently. After performing this &C.
the same men rescued a number Of Otheg
persons from similar perllOus situations
Inc committee Of safety learu that JOha
DlehIs family, five in number, were 10 .
| pcrilOus situation. Two Of the committee.
Chester Thomas and Ed Miller, finally
succeeded in getting a boat, aud, through
the voluntary services of William Engles,
rescued the family by the use of a large
coil of rope thrown TO the second story
window, by which they reached the boat
and safely landed.
The second floor of Billmeyer Small &
| CO.. car shops, Ou North Duke street,
was thrown open and provided with cots
and bedding aud all necessary hospital ap
| pliauces for the benefit OF the homeless
sufferers. The poor and needy, rendered
80 by the flood, will not be allowed 10 suf-
Ter by the generous people of York. Il is
impossible to estimate the loss Of property
|
ands Of dollars. The loss 70 the county is
at least So, 900.
| \ town meeting was called to devise
means for the relief of the sufferers, and
committees were appointed 10 collect and
distribute food and clothing. Chief Bur.
cess Small issued the following proc!ama.
ton to the citizens of York
| THE need of immediate relief for the
sufferers from the flo ID is urgent. Many
persons are hOuseless, homeless, without
food and clothing. Ia obedience To a
resolution passed at meeting of citizens
held in the court house, | call upon the
people of York to contribute at once such
money, clothing and food as they can
spare, to relieve the present needs of those
IN want, and to deliver at once their
contributions TO a committee in the court
house, who will be in waiting to receive
them"
There was liberal and quick response
to the call for aid, and the wants OF the
sufferers were well supplied. All the rail-
road trains are running on regular time
except the Frederick division of the Penn.
| sylyania road.
POLITICAL POINTS