Daily Republican., 1889-09-18
STORM AND FLOODS.
HEAVY RAINS AND SWOLLEN
STREAMS
stoppage Of Trains-The II IIibernia Dam
Broken-The Rainfall The Heaviest
Ever Known-The Streets OF
Coatesville Overrun with
Water.
Water.

READING, Pa, Sept. IT, Last nights
heavy rain did serious damage south
ward from Birdsboro, th s county, all
through Chester County The early
Wilmington and Northern train this
morning, which lett Reading for Will
mington, was only able to proceed as far
as Springfield, owing To washouts at
Chadds' Ford, Hibern.a and Coatesville.
The train ran back, and when 1t reached
Birdsboro the passengers were trans
ferred across the bridge at Mexico, be-
cause the bridge there was considered
unsafe owing TO the high water IN the
Hay creek. One Of the piers OF the
bridge was washed away alter the down
train had crossed 1t. There were four
different washou,s on tie Wilmington
and Northern.
The FIRST at Mexico Bridge, south OF
Birdstoro, which had been repaired; the
second at Fontaine, g culvert being
washed out; the third at Hlbernis, caused
by the breaking OF the Hibernia Dam,
Ave miles this side of Coatesville. The
dam, which covered about five scres,
broke during the night. Two small rail-
road bridges below were carried away.
The track 10 60 bad that through traffic
to Wilmington may not be resumed for
several days. One OF the cuts this side
of Waynesburg Junction is filled with
mud. The rainfall down the Whining.
ton Il Northern, between Springfield aud
Coatesville, was very heavy, resembling
cloud. burst. Some FAY tho rainfall
was the heaviest ever own, aud great
damage was done on tl,e farms. The
water In the Brandywine rose seven feet
In one hour and overran the streets at
Coatesville. Much timber 10 floating
down. Hibernia Dam was built and
owned by the Kennebec Ite Company, Of
Wilmington. A large force Of men has
been out all day repairing tie damage,
Trains from Reading are only running as
far as Falls Of French Creek and Spring
field.
Last nights rain exceeded that of Sat-
urday night, when the south branch Of
French creek, passing tho old Warwick
Furnace, rose rapidly and became very
| wild. Before the waters began to sub
side Joseph Leslie, OF Downingtow n, at
tempted to ford the stream near Jona-
than Kramer's mill, but before he got
half way across, the eurglng waters car
ried the horse and buggy down into the
current several hundred yards, where
| the horse was drowned. Mr.. Leslie,
realizing his perilous position, Rrasped
some branches OF o tire overhanging
the creek aud succeeded In making hia
escape.
SWOLLEN STREAMS IN THE sCHUYLKILL
VALLEY.
PoTTsTowN, Pa, Sept. 1.-THE heavy
shower of last night and tremendous
downpours Of to-day IN tho Schuylkill
1 HaIl Il Ill a
iaceut streams. The Sfhuylkill river Il
high and still rising. The Msnatawny
Sprogeil and eanatogs creeks are greatly
swollen, ard French creek aud Pigeor
creek, In Chester County, are rushing
torrents.
SEVERE STORM AT NpRRIsTowN.
NoRRIsTowN, Pa, Sept. 17.-Norris-
town and vicinity werc visited by a pbe-
I fnomenally heavy rain storm early this
evening, accompanied by thunder and
lightning. The rain fell In such quaint.
tics that in very few mi lnutes the streets
in various sections of tile town were en-
tirely submerged and pavements covered
with water to the depth of several inches,
the sewer inlets proving inadequate for
| the reception of the great volume OF
watei that transformed street gutters into
raging streams.
| Annie Skeen, young girl, sitting near
| an open window during the storm, was
struck by lightning and rendered uncon-
scious. The electric bolt left q crimson
| mark on her arm, extending nearly the
entire length of that limb She has since
recor cred consciousness and no serious
results are anticipated.
FLOOD IN PLAINFIELp, NEW JERSEY.
PLAINFlELD, N. j., Sept. i7.-This
city was visited by another flood this
| evening. Between 9 and o'clock the
water in Green br ok rose iour feet, car.
rSing away the bridge on Somerset street,
which bad been Weakendd by the flood OF
a tow weeks ago. Cedar brook haa over
flowed i's banks, and rs BideLts of Tenth
street are greatly alarmed.
STORM AT m'KEEsPoRT, PENNA.
McKEEsroRT, Pa, Sept. 1.-THE
heaviest rain fall in years was expert
enced at this place to-day. Streets were
turned into rivers. Cellars and first
floors OF many public and private build
ings were flooded. Two houses were
overturned, whi'o number In process of
erection were so badly damaged It Is be-
lieved they will have TO be reconstructed
from the foundation up. Several OF the
streets are impossible The tracks of
the Baltimore and Ohio, Pittsbure, Vir-
ginia and Charleston, and Belle Vernon
railroads were washed out, and in several
places obstructed by heavy landslides.
30 far as learned no liyes were lost.
A STEAMER ASHORE Al LONG BEACH.
NEW YORK. Sept. 17.-The steamer
Vertumnus, with fruit from Jamaica for
this city, went ashore last night on Long
Beach. All on board were saved. Mr..
and Mis-. Sheldon and their two children,
passengers on the vessel were being taken
of In q boat, when II capsized In the
surf, but they were rescued by summer
boarders at the beach, who plunged in
and brought them athbre. Mrs. Henry
Chapman, of Brooklyn, distinguished
herself by saving q 3-year-old child in
this way. The vessel will probably be a
total loss.
ALosT SCHOONER.
NORFOLK, Va, Sept. ~. 1t Is thought
the schooner passed dH Chincoteague,
Sunday, Sth instant, Oh her beam ends,
water-logged and abandoned, is the
schooner CASTOR I. Hubbard, Captain
lnsley, which sailed from this port the
4th instant for New York with cargo OF
pine wood, as nothing has been heard OF
that vessel since her departure.
A special from Hog Island, Va, says:
On Friday afternoon last the body OF
man, supposed to be Captain George
InBley, OF the schooner CASTOR L. Hub