Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-23
FROM UP THE RIVERS.
ALARMING REPORTS OF HIGH WATER
AND DAMAGE.

Mills Flooded at Mckeesport and Houses
in Danger of Being Submerged-Re-
ports From Johnstowu More Encourns.
iuE-The Wafer Has Fallen a Few Feet.
kilograms to THE DISPATCH from up
river points last night indicate that the end
of the rise is not yet AT Wheeling much
anxiety is felt OF account of the reports re-
ceived from the headwaters of the Monon.
gaheIa river. Advices have been received
to the effect that the west fork oi
the Monongahela is 19 feet at Wes-
ton and is still rising. The dis
patch says that great damage has
been done above. Reports from Piedmont
are that the Potomac is booming. There is
great anxiety felt by people living on
Wheeling Island, and residents on the low
lands. Reports from about a dozen
points in the mountains of West
Virginia show that all the
streams are bank full and still rising with
rain falling everywhere. The indications
for disastrous floods tonight and tomorrow
were never better, and there is a good deal
of apprehension. Along the Tygart's Val
ley river, the Cheat and the west fork of
the Monongahela everything is afoat. AT
Weston, Lewis county, W. Va, on the
west fork, the river is 20 feet deep and
still rising. and there are reports of great
damage higher up the stream.
WATCHING BULLETIN BOARDS.
There is II feet at Rowlesburg, on the
Cheat, Is feet at Morgantown, on the Monon-
gahela, and at Phillippi, on the Taggart
Valley, the river is very high, and still
rising at the rate of foot an hour. II
Wheeling the bulletin boards in front of the
newspaper offices were surrounded by crowds
nearly all week.
A telegram from McKeesport saws: A
food in the Monongahela river is threatened,
and should it not reach here tonight it will
by morning. as it is inevitable and is bound
to come. The highest point reached this sea-
son by the Monongahela river was touched
this evening, and from the outlook genu-
Inc old-time high water that NAV reach
higher point than ever before known is ex-
pected. Rivermen, coalmen and manu.
facturers whose plants are located on the
river banks are arranging for the protection
of floating craft and property. People
living along the Monongahela and Youghio-
to prepare for submerged dwellings. Many
OF them are arranging to move out.
At the works of W. Devices Wood Com
panv the fires have all been put out and
forces of men are stationed at the mills to-
night awaiting the coming of the flood This
plant will be half submerged before morn
ing. AT the National rolling mills prepar-
ations are also being made to keep the
water out of the various departments.
1t is feared that the water
will also submerge por-
ton of the unfinished Monongahela Furnace
Compauy's plant before daylight, and if it
does the damage will be very heavy. Both
rivers are running Wild and the rise in the
Monongahela during last night was five
feet. Tonight the indications point to a
greater volume of water than has been
known in these streams for years.
JoHNsTowN IN DANGER.
THE DISPATCH correspondent at Johns
town telegraphs: "The water in the rivers
here rose continually until 10 o'clock last
feet at The Franklin bridge. 1t has
now receded over two feet, but
a steady rain has set in, which
NAV cause it to rise quickly
again. Iron street, at the stone bridge, is
still under water, and the steel works have
been compelled to shut down because of the
water backing into the pipes. The bridges
are still standing, but the one at Poplar
street is disabled, and the water has been
flowing on the street at the end of the
Cambria bridge.
The rivers at Johnstown rose gradually
until II o'clock, at which hour nearly ali
the cellars below Walnut street were over
flowing. The residents here have been
busy all night removing their furniture.
A patrol has been established along the
river bank, and if sudden rise should occur
the people will be warned. Nothing serious
is anticipated, however, as from II O'Clock
until midnight the water has remained
almost stationary and it is thought the
worst is over. A number of workmen who
lived in shanties near Gautier's mills have
been flooded out. Some of the business
houses uptown have been filled by water
backing in the sewers, and goods damaged
10 some extent. But little driftwood is 60