Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-06-08


BEK1EFoNTR, Pa, June SIN all the
history Of central Pennsylvania there has
never pecn known such high waters and
never have they been attended with such
disastrous results as that of the last day
o. May and first 81 June. IN 1865, and
again in 1879 Center county had foods,
Int this time the waters at this place
were two feet higher than on either pre-
vious occasions.
Bellefonte il built principally upon
hills, but notwithstanding that fact. the
waters overflowed the lower streets and
filed the lower parts Of houses. The
damage at Bellefonte was very slight,
but in the Bald Eagle valley $500, 600 will
not cover the damage done.
The River a Mile wide.
From the upper end Of the valley at
Tyrona. through its entire length down
to Lock Haven, the water IL spread over
the entire valley, almost d mile in
width, and from three to fifteen feet in
depth. Where a week ago was a rich,
fertile valley, blooming with promise of
bountiful crops, there now Is nothing
but barren waste. dotted every here
and there with huge piles of stones and
and all kind OF buildings, torn 10 splin-
tiers and piled up by the relentless food.
Ia all that stretch Of valley from dis
lance of seventy miles there is not q
farm uninlured. The Bald Valley rail-
road was washed out more than half its
length but has since been temporarily
repaired and there are now trains rum
ming into Bellefonte over that road. In
Milcsburg the water filled the houses to
depth of from three to six feet, and
great damage was done. No lives were
lost, however. The iron bridge at that
place was washed away, and the Mill
helm bridge at the lower end of the val
ley was also taken.
Private Losses Amount to $500, 600.
The loss, independent of the railroad.
through this valley Is estimated at $780,
600. In Penn valley and along the line
Of the Bellefonte, Nittany and Lemont
railroad the worst damage in the county
was done. Wilhelm was under water
to the depth Of three feet, and being
very level, sustained severe damage,
every business house losing one-half of
their stock.
But at Coburn the waters reached
their worst. II spread over the entire
town and in some places the waters by
actual measurement were thirty feet
deep. To add to the horror of the situa-
ton was the fact that it was at night
and pitch dark while the rain descended
Ia torrents. Families who had not time
to take to the hills climbed on the tops
of houses only to find their place Of
refuge topple and themselves Fall into
the foaming cauldron of seeming certain
destruction. There were drowned a
aNw1 snhs
but had 1t not been for prompt assist
ance scores would have persisted.
An Entire Family Drowned.
Atone place thirty-five persons were
pulled from the foaming torrents and
many others succeeded in effecting a
landing for themselves. Simon Phoust
was IN Cameron county at the time, and
being notified of the fate of his family,
he started for home. In crossing the
Sinnemahoning river he, too, fell in and
was drowned, and thus the entire family
was wiped out of existence.
In Coburn there is not single house
left standing Individual losses cannot
he enumerated, but the total loss will
aggregate fully 100000. The valley is
strewn with dead carcases of all kinds
OF animals.
The Lewisburg railroad from Coburn
to Lewisburg, distance Of forty-five
miles, Is complete ruin, only fifteen
miles of track yet remaining. 1t will be
weeks before it can be repaired for travel.
At Philipsburg no damage worth mem
tioning was done.
Shut or for q Week.
BeYefonte has been completely iso-
lated ever since last Friday No mails
from east or west have reached here in
that time.
The Pennsylvania railroad Is now
running Trains ON the Bald Eagle, and it
is hoped that in a few days better ar
rangements will be made, although it
may be months before the service will
be complete as before the flood.