Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-05
Ruin and Death in the Sus-
quehanna Valley.
IN THE IUNIATA ALSO.
The First Definite Reports of the Loss at
WIIIlamsporr-YelIs of Agony When the
Market Street Bridge Gave Awny-Lots
of Lumber Gope-some Mighty Mean
Men.
ESPECIAL rrLrenAM TO THE DrspArcu.,


suNBURY, june 4.-From Remove to
Sunbury this whole valley of the Sus-
ouehanna is a clean sweep of desc
lation and ruin. Famine, death and
obstruction are on every hand. The
waters began rising on Friday. and by Saturday
night had reached height of 35 feet above the
ordinary level The most imperfect conmuni-
cation exists with Wflliamsport, while
from beyond there the only informa-
tion received is from the voyagers who
have hoated down the river in boats.
Williamsport was under water, and steam
boats piled on Third and Fourth streets, the
principal thoroughfares, all day on Sunday
Families moved up to the second stories Of
their dwellings in their flight from death. The
current washed through the streets at the rate
of IL miles an hour carrying with it great logs
that struck the houses, frequently moving
them from their foundations.
The Loss of Lumber.
The great boom, containing about 200, 200, 900
feet of timber. valued at over $4,000, 900, was
carried away About 800 boys and men stood
on the Market street bridge watching the tim
ber go floating down stream, when suddenly
cry arose that the bridge was giving way.
Everyone rushed for the shore. Dozens were
thrown down and trampled under foot, and
in the midst of the tumult came the awful
cracking that foretold the fall of the bridge.
In another instant the bridge had fallen
and several souls were swept away into
the raging current and were drowned be-
fore the eyes of their relatives on the shore.
The death list in Williamsport may reach 40 or
so. Reports from Lock Haven state that the
people are on the verge Of starvation. Bread
sells at so cents loaf and -four at S5 sack.
A. aoaI z1n had lirfah
to the roofs of their houses.
Something of Flood.
Boatmen rowed about rescuing people from
the second story windows and demanding fancy
prices for their work. One heartless wretch
demanded $50 for removing one family, and
upon the refusal Of the man to pay the sum
was about rowing of, when the frenzied hus-
band drew pistol and threatened to shoot the
boatman unless he rescued the family. Sim
liar scenes are reported in other places. Every
bridge between this city and Remove is
wrecked and will not be repaired for week.
The Reading engineers expect to repair their
bridge here by Thursday morning. The COM
pany's losses will foot up $500, COO. The total
loss in the Valley can't be estimated, for much
of it has not yet been heard from, The loss on
lumber in Williamsport alone is about
S5,OOO,OOO, while the goods in the
stores are mostly ruined and several
thousand families are homeless. The same.
condition of affairs exists at Lock Haven, and it
is known that as far up the river as Clearfeld
the food did tremendous damage. Tomorrow
1 shall be able to get much further up the river.
A dispatch from Huntingdon says: The ter
rible destruction of life and property through
out the entire Juniata Valley by the food Of
Thursday and Friday, can't even at this writing
be approximately estimated, though the loss Of
property is certain to reach millions of dollars.
Between Tyrone and Lewestown the greatest
devastation is seen, especially below this city.
ut the confluence of the Raystone branch and
the Juanita river.
One Continuous Pour.
During the preceding days of the week the
rain.filled clouds swept around the southeast
and on Friday evening met an op-
posing strata Of storm clouds at the up
per end of this county, which resulted in
an indescribable downpour of rain OF
II hours duration. Many believed
water spout had burst as the water increased
in volume and destructiveness. The surging
tributary adding its raging flood to the stream
until there was sea OF water between the
parallel hills of the valley
Night only added to the terror and confus-
ion. In this city and especially in the SOUTH
ern and eastern suburbs the inhabitants were
forced to flee for their lives at midnight on
Thursday and by daybreak the chimneys OF
their houses alone were visible above the rush.
ing waters. Opposite this city the people of
Snithfield found safety within the walls Of the
State reformatory and for two days they were
detained under great privations. Some con-
ception of the volume of water in the river may
be had from the fact that it was S5 feet above
low water mark, being eight feet higher than
the great food of l847.
Many of the inhabitants in the low sections
~; I'D Wis hair
homes, were rescued before the waters sub
merged their houses with great difficulty.
Huntington, around which the most de-
Is . sy Ie seen o any Of sne IN
all communication with the outside world, as
all the river bridges crossing the stream at this
point are washed away.
One Bridge In the County.
There is but one bridge standing in the
county, and that is the Huntingdon and Broad
Gap Railway bridge. which stands isolated in
the river, the trestle on the other end being de-
stroyed and not county bridge is left, and
this loss alono will approximate 100000 The
gas works were wrecked on Thursday night.
and the town since has been left in darkness.
To add to the sufferings of the people,
Huntingdon merchants raised prices of nearly
every necessary of life. Four cases OF drown
ing were reported in the immediate vicin-
living along the Raystown branch. whose
home was swept away, are still miss
ing Mr.. Joseph Logan, who, with
her husband and two little grandchildren
sought safety in their barn, was drowned while
trying to swim on horse to the little children
who remained in the barn. They were swept
mile down the river with the structure when it
left its foundation, but with their grandfather
were finally saved.
Miss Mary Frew, age 10 who was left alone at
her home two miles below here was carried
down with the wrecked house and lost.
The bodies of Mrs. Logan. and Miss
Frew have been recovered. Sailing along
on mattress were the bodies of two small
children who belonged to family still un-
known. In the absence of any communication
with the country along the branch, it is feared
that the loss of life has been greater than 50 far
thought possible.