Evening journal., 1889-06-08
CENTRE COUNTY'S LOSS.
The Flood Came at Night and
a Did Frightful Damage.
SCORES OF FARMS SWEPT CLEAN.

SCORES OF FARMS SWEPT CLBAN.
The Bald Eagle Valley Laid Waste for
Seventy Mnes--sinesburg, Mtllheim, Co
burn and other P1aces-Everything was
Inundated-News from other Points.
BErLEFoNrE, Pa, June SIN all the his
tory Of central Pennsylvania there has never
been known such high water or never have
they been attended with such disastrous re-
suits as that Of the last day Of May and lst OF
June
In 1865 and again in 1876, Centre county
had floods but this time the waters at this
place were two feet higher than on either pre-
vious occasion.
Bellefonte is built principally upon hills,
but notwithstanding that f@t, the waters
overfowed the lower streets and filed the
lower parts OF houses The damage at Belle
fonte was very slight, but in the Bald Eagle
valley 5000 will not cover the damages
From the upper end OF the valley, at Tyrone,
through its entire length down to Lock Haven,
the water is spread over the entire valley
almost a mile in width and from three TO fif-
been feet in depth Where a week ago was a
rich, fertile valley blooming with the promise
Of beautiful crops, there now is nothing but
barren waste, dotted every here and there
with huge piles Of stones and debris, the re-
mains Of houses and barns and all kinds OF
buildings torn 70 splintrs and piled up by
the relentless food.
Not One Farm Escaped
In all that stretch Of valley for a distance
Of seventy miles there is not one farm unin-
jured. The Bald Eagle Valley railroad was
washed out more tuan half Of its length, but
has since been temporarily repaired, and
there are trains running into Bellefonte over
that road
In Milesburg the water filed the houses %
a depth Of from three 20 six feet, and great
damage was done No lives were lost, how.
ever The iron bridge at that place was
washed away, and the Millhau bridge at the
lowest end Of the valley was destroyed The
loss, independent Of the railroad through
this valley, is estimated at $500, 900.
In Penn's Valley and along the line OF the
Bellefonte, Nittany and Lemonte railroad
the worst damage in the county was done.
hillheim was under water 70 depth Of
three feet and being very level sustained
severe damage, every business house losing
at least one-half Of its stock.
At Coburn the waters spread over the en-.
tire town, and in some places by actual
measurement were thirty feet deep To add
10 the horror Of the situation the food oe-
CURED during the night Families who had
not time 70 take to, the hills climbed on the
tops Of houses only 70 feel their places Of
refuge topple and themselves fall into tAe
foaming canidron Of seeming certain destruc.
tion. There were drowned a Mrs Simon
Phoust and two children, but had il not beer
for prompt assistance scores would have per
ished- At one place thirty five persons wer,
pulled from the fohming torrent, and many
Others succeeded in effecting a landing fol
themselves Simon Phoust was ia Cameron
county at the time and being notified OF the
fate Of his family he started for hons. II
crossing the Snnemahoning river he. too
fell in and was drowned, and thus the entir
family perished.
Not One Good House len Standing.
In Cohurn there is not one good house lei
standing Individual losses cannot be enun
Grated, but the total loss win aggregate full
$500, GEO. The valley is strewn with all kind
of dead animals The Lewisburg railroa
from Coburn 10 Iewisburg, a distance q
forty-tive miles, is a complete ruin, only III
teen miles Of track yet remaining. Il viii b
weeks before il can b. repaired ft for travel
AT Phiiipsburg no damage worth mention
ing was done.
Bellefonte has been completely isolated eve
since last Friday No mails have reached
here in that time and telegraphic communi
cation was not restored until today. Tn,
Pennsylvania railroad is now running train,
on the Bald Rage road and 1t Is hoped tina
in few days bsttor arrangements will b,
made, although it may be months before th,
service will be complete