Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-06-13

that way. looked up the street and
saw big wall Of water coming which
looked to be between 20 and 30 feet hiRh.
OF once gave the alarm and everybody.
including myself, ran up stairs. Just as
we reached the second story the water
struck the house, which was a two aud
q half story frame structure. The fouu.
CATIONS Of the house gave way and 1
ran to the attic, broke O skyllght
out, and myself and the other two men
assisted the woman aud child to the roof,
where we men afterwards climbed. The
house which had been swept from It's
foundations was oil this time drifting
down the street. We then crashed into
brick house on the corner, partly de-
molishing 1t. We then foit the roof
Which we were on trembling. tbs roof
OF another house came drifting by, and
although q hazardous undertaking we all
managed TO got on IL safely. We then
saw the house which we were formerly
ON 20 to pieces and the roof fall ia. Had
We remained there Ave minutes all OF us
nc doubt would have been killed by the
tsiling walls. We wero carried down the
sttoam Tor about square aud a-hAlf when
tne roof lodged on q hill below Stony
creek. II was then after 4 o'clock and
we we're all soaking wet and shivering
with cold. We all managed to get into
the second story Of partly wrecked
bulding, where We remained with about
hundred other persons, the balance of
the afternoon and ell night, in wet
clothes and without thing to eat. 1t
certainly was night Of horror. Women
and children were crying for relatives
and friends lost In the flood. No one
had wink Of sleep, and we were in
utter dRrkAesH. At Daylight tho waters
had reoeded somewhat, and we CON-
mencsd to make preparations for escape
to dry land nearly a half mile away. We
constructed large raft out Of portions
OF tbs wreckage and by 10 O'Clock our
party had succeeded in reaching the land
safely. We at once made for house on
hill which had escaped the deluge,
where we procured something to eat and
put on some dry clothing. In tho after.
noon and ell day Sunday aud Monday
was working on the streets, helping re.
cover tho dead bodies and caring for the
wounded. We left for Pittsburg, accom-
panied by my wife on Tuesday, and that
night started for New Castle over the b.
y o. railroad. Mr.. Lancaster thinks his
escape remarkable one, and says that il
there is snch thing as luck, he thinks
he has had goodly portion of it, as all
his family and his wife's family were
saved, although they lost oil the effects
thUy had in the world. Mr.. Lancaster
also says that the newspaper reports OF
the disaster are not at all exaggerated,
but emphatically denies the rumor that
the citizens were warned that the reser.
vulr had burst early In the morning.
There was no warning whatever. eeyen
persons OF the house on the opposite side
Of the street from where he lived were
drowned, and three or four out OF the
adjoining house to his also met their fate.
". II. Fairlamb has received from j. NJ.
McN4it, grand recorder OF the Grand
Lodge OF Pennsylvania, A. o. U. W., the
following response TO the telegram OF VIII
miueton lodge rendering assistance TO the
Jobnstown brethren: your telegram was
desire to thank you, and through you VIII
mington Lodge, No. l, for your prompt
Inquiry and offer OF brotherly sympathy
and substantial aid for any brother Work
men and their families Ia distress by the
terrible disaster at YOUNGSTOWN, You have
given another evidence OF the oit-proved
fact that the a. o. wv Is not o soullesa
corporation, but that L. IL great and grand
fraternity, whose membership In tho hour
OF distress stands shoulder and shoulder,
With heart besting responsive to heart
ready and willing to do their whole duty.
Again from my heart say thank you"
The West Chester Ne,gs says: 10 the
year 1913 somewhat similar catastrophe
befell the Inhabitants Of the valley of Ones.
ter creek In our neighboring county OF Del
aware. II was remarkable for being the
greatest deluge oiratn and highest inuuda-
tion that was ever known or that tradition
gives any account of; remarkable for the
sudden manner OF Its approach and for
the destruction OF human life and prop
erty. At one place In Chester creek the
water rose In perpendicular height Of more
than so feet above its usual level. On Rid
| 10y creek the height was 7 feet, aud on
| Drum creek feet above the height Of any
previously known treshet.
A letter from Williamsport, Pa, states
| that o. Sumner Shields and Nj. zabley. two
former WilmiugtoniRns, made narrow es.
cape from death IN the flood. Both will
leave that town as soon as possible with
the view OF locating In q safer locality.
| Select Commander Percy OF the Ancient
| Order Knights OF the Mystic Ohain has re-
csived an appeal for aid for the Johnst0wn
sufferers from the select commander oil
Pennsylvania and will receive subscriptions
at No. 6ls Market street. There We're IN
Johnstown i've castles aud uniformed
corps OF the order, having u membership
OF 1000. Of whom 600 persisted. Palestine
Castle OF this city has donated $50 and the
membership will make iadlyidnHl suhsrrip'
/ tIon5, Fame Castle has contributed $2s.