Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-06-01
RAINS, FLOODS AND CYCLONES.
Appalling Loss of Life and Great Destruc-
tion of Propertv.

halNS, FLUOUo dND O1ChONGo'
Appalling Loss of Life and Great Destruc-
ton of Property
The. food at JohnstoWn, Pa, resulted yes.
telday in an awful catastrophe. The reser.
yojr above the town broke about five o'clock
in the evening and the immense volume of
waser rushed down to the city, carrying
with it death and destruction. Houses,
with their occupants, we're swept away, and
hundreds of people ere said TO have been
drowned. Pennsylvania Railroad officials
aver that over 200 dead bodies have been
counted floating down stream ct Johnstown
alone, while along the lines mary additional
lives have b.. en- lost. Is is asserted that
there are but two houses 10 Johnstowu pro-
per entirely above the water line. Houses
are floating about and the people who are
free are panic-stricken and are fleeing to the
mountains. At point near New Florence
eighty-fve persons have been seen floating
down the river on drift wood. Bridges have
been washed agay, and all the buildings
along the Conemaugh between New Flor
ence and Johnstown have been destroyed.
The population of Jamestown is about 25,-
600. The city Is situated in Cambria coun-
w, Pa, on the Conemaugh river, aud on the
Pennsylvania Railroad, tbirty-nine miles
west southwest of Altoona and seventy
eight miles from Pittsburg It is the east
ern terminus of the Pennsylvania canal, and
Is the most populous town In Cambria coun'
ty. Here are the extensive works Of the
Cambria Iron Company, which employ
about GOO men in the manufacture Of steel
and iron rails. The population is about
eight thousand.
At Pocahontas W Va.,a water-spcut at the
head OF Laurel creek submerged the city last
night and many people bad to be taken
| from their houses on horses. Several bridges
arc reported washed away on the New River
Division of the Norfolk and Western Rail
road. and travel and traffic is suspended. A
number OF trcstes on the Richmond and AL
! laghapy were carried away, and seven miles
west OF Buchanan an engine and five cars
plunged into James river One car was car
rled down the river and struck bridge pier
| at Buchanan and went to pieces. No trains
are going out or coming In over the Shenal-
doah Valley. The destruction of growing
crops is inestimsble.
! Near Winchester, Staunton and Harrison
burg the wind blew hurricane; wheat was
tangled, houses were unroofed and fences
were laid low.
Crest damage was done corn and wheat
fields in Jefferson county, West Virginia,
and some bad Washouts occurred.
The storm seemed to have reached lis
| height in the neighborhood of BedingtoD,
! w. W., and from this point it moved to-
ward the Potomac river, crossing into Wash
ington county, near Jackson's warehouse.
From this point it followed the river to L.
dian Spring, where come slight damage was
reported, such as unroofEg stables end blow
ing down trees.
! Telephone and telegraph wires are down
ard tangled upin plumber of places. Great
damage was done to the growing crops OF
wheat. La many localities entire fields OF it
we're blown TO the ground. The rain was
constant from Thursday until late last night,
and the wheat fields have been flooded in
many instances. The farmers say their crops
will be drowned out and prove total loss.
The Jnnia!a river has ovettlowed lts
banks at Tyrone, Pa, and flooded the entire
southern portion of the city, causing great
destruction to property and the streets.
People living in the flooded district had to
he removed from their homes in wagons to
81 ices of safety. All the railroads centeriug
in the Place are greatly damaged by the
\ IlcCu. ht SUEMOuottllO uEC uiuR Won uionh
ed, and at CIearfeld two young ladies. The
Su5ouehanna river has oveflowed its banks
at Clearlisld, and the whole place is under
water aud all means of escape are cut Of.
Many people have gathered in the court
house and opera house as a place of safely
Yesterday afternoon at o'clock heavy
rain and wind storm visited Carlisle, Pa.
A bolt of lightning, or as some say, ball OF
fire, was seen to strike the pavement of the
First Presbyterian Church, SCATTERING the
pavement and throwing large pieces of
bricks some distance. During the flash
Miss Mary Kelly, Of Springfield, received
injuries, and coored domestic was thrown
to the ground and slightly injured. num-
| Der of others were burned by the flash.
The spring OF 1889 will go down 10 local
weather annals as one which has broken all
records since the signal office was establish
ed, go far as the amount of rainfall is con-
cerned. The months OF April and May es'
pecially have been marked in this section
by succession of heavy rains, which have
generally lasted for several days at time.
During the month OF April more than twice
as much rain fell as in any other April since
the signal service was established, and May
has been as bad The storm OF the last few
days originated ont in Colorado, and swept
eastward over an extensive erea.
Gettysburg Again.
The following letter from General Early