The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-07-26
A CLOUDBURST
Causes the Disaster at Johns
town, N. Y.
Four bod les Observation-Disclosures and
Dams Dcst to Rail
Il n IA L. IIx-I,. Iln

Four Bodies IsccOvcrcd-Bridgcs and
Dams Dcstroyed-DamaGet to Rail
road and Other Property Heavy
A special from Johnstown, N. Y, says:
The water which came up over this village
has subsidized greatly, but has left scenes of
desolation in every direction. The water
rose fifteen feet and overflowed everything.
1t hos now fallen about eight feet below its
highest point. Ton people arc thus far re-
ported missing. The bodies of four have
Leon recovered. Thees four are all Johss-
town people. 80 ,.1;%sss, Xs q
Those whose bodies ars fsSovesssI ~
Charles Fgeor and tVo 81 btr hsaa 6S<ned
Aeoak3cy ana xruSs ana Is foufscsys yeaie e6S{l
boy named Steadwell. - '''-' ''s~a'-i'''-
The drowned and missing people wcro
among crowd of from thirty to fifty per-
sons who stood on the stone bridge crossing
the river at Perry street Watching tho rising
waters.
They seemed regardless OF danger until
tho bridge gavo way and thoy were precipi-
tatsd into the flood.
The bridge Was about twenty feet high and
fifteen or twenty feet wide. 1t was a single
arch structure and was crossed by a street.
Car track. Tho stone bridge was swept
away at about seven o'clock in the cvcninr
Two iron bridges Of tho Johnstown, Fonda
anl Gloucester Railway were wrecked and
seven or eight other bridges were carried
away.
Two tauncries owned by Simon Scribcr
we're swept away, and tho Schriber and
Anderson dams were broken down.
The water in tho Cayadautta creek began
to rise at 4. 10, and tho stream was soon CON
verted into raging torrent.
Or tho men, women and children who
we're thrown into the water by the breaking
fhf. ln~.r
saved by means Of ropes thrown to them
from the shore
The final and fatal rise In tho Cayadutta
was worry sudden, and il attributed to tho
effects or q cloudburst.
Besides tho sweeping away of the brfdpes
and the tanneries, there is much damage to
buildings which are yet left standing.
Tho electric light plant was washed out
AMI the town loft i'll darkness for the night.
Among tue bridges carried away was an
iron bridge at Stewards leather mill, and
the iron railroad bridge ut Fonda. Tho
Cayadutta creek was never before so high.
The creek rose from IL to Is feet in 30 min
utes. BY the washing away Of bridges on
the Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversyilie Rail
road, both north and south of Johnstown.
that placs is completely shut Off from rail-
road communication.
The Cayadutta empttcs into the Mohawk
at Fonda, and Fonda is Hooded. Great
damage has been done to hay fields, which
are Hooded. Two bridges Oh the Mohawk
turnpike were carried away. Travel is
stopped, and tho Central Railroad and
Johnstown Railroad bridges were both de-
stroyed. Passengers are transferred.
q; +; Mills q Co.'S plaster mill was
monsvinr, roui 1u.co poIow Jonnsrown, Il
water wheel ut Big Mill was carried away,
but no other damage was done.- e.-
at Berryville q mile below SammonsviIlo
the dam at Clapper's shoddy mill ~ae was,iod
out. the general belief is that the flood
was caused by cloudburst near Johnstown.
This theory Il confirmed by the fact that at
Hale's mills. 81 miles up the creek no dam.
age was done, aud the dam at that place is
all right.