St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-18
RIVERS ARE BOOMING.
High Water in the East Causes
Immense Loss and
Disaster.
Millions of Logs Loose and
Families Fleeing From
Their Homes.
Allegheny, Monongahela and
All the Creeks Are
Roaring.
Mills, Glass Houses and Fac
tories Obliged to Close
Down.

PITTsBURG, Pa. Feb. 1.-THE pres
ent unexpected flood bids fair to rival
that of 1884, when enormous damage
was caused to business and railroad in
tereSts. The greatest flood came down
the Allegheny river, which backed up
the MonOngahela for miles. The river
has risen all day at an average of six
inches per hour, and at 10 o'clock to-
night stands so feet inches, and
rising. Allegheny City has suf-
fered the greatest, as River avenue
stands in ten feet of. water. Robinson
street is flooded and the entire area be-
tween Craig street and Allegheny ave-
nue. is under water, while at least LOCO
cellars on that side of the river are
flooded. The water was tonight the
cause of great deal of apprehension
Oh the Allegheny side, as two natural
gas explosions there have endangered
life and ruined property, and 1t
is feared others may follow, as
meters and pipes are several feet
under water and cannot be reached.
Mills along the river have shut down on
account of flooded fires, and many
thousand men are idling about the river
banks. A queer sight is presented
along the Pittsburg 81 Western line in
Allegheny, where box cars were
standing on the tracks with nothing but
Their Roofs Visible.
On the South side all the great mills
have shut down, and the tracks of the
Pittsburg IL Lake Erie and the Pitts
burg, McKeesport & Youghiogheny rail-
roads are covered with water, while the
Lake Erie tracks are touched in several
places. The Allegheny cellars and
near houses are flooded, and peo-
Allegheny neighbors did some hours
ago. DuqueSne way is under water in
several places, and Seventh street resi-
dences have water on their first floors.
Considering the magnitude, the flood
has caused very little excitement, while
the greatest damage has been caused by
flooded cellars, it being estimated that
5000 families in the cities alone have
been incOnvenienced by water.
The Limit Reached.
Any further rise, however. will do
great damage as the limit has been
reached, and even now it is reported
the exposition building and other large
down town buildings have been greatly
damaged. All street car lines be-
tween Pittsburg and Allegheny lave
stopped running, owing to the
fact that the approaches are
several feet under water. Scores Of
drays and boats are engaged in hauling
anxious people through the water to the
bridges, which they traverse only to be
hauled to land on the other side in
similar way. No estimates whatever
can be made of the losses. The
Pennsylvania railroad trains are two
washed away to Conemaugh, while the
Baltimore 81 Ohio main line passenger
trains are nearly on time, in spite of
several slides, though the West Vir
ginia divisions are badly out of shape.
Reports from the headwaterS of both
the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers
show high water and
General Distress,
and the Allegheny especially is running
wild. At JohnstOWn, the dreaded Stony
creek and COnemaugh were standing at
their highest point all day, while the
famous stone bridge backs water up
into the town, the greater portion of
which is from four to six feet
under water. Every house in Cambria
City is deserted. and swift current
flows through the street, and all day
thousands lined the banks and hillside.
The enormous log boom up Spade creek,
still holds and it is hoped no break will
occur. A wild report spread that the
peopld were about TO dynamite
the stone bridge, ard by the
request of Supt. Pitcairn, of the
Pennsylvania railroad, Mayor Rose
placed guard at that point. The
night the rivers began to fall rapidly,
though the people will not return to
their houses till morning, many staying
with friends who sheltered them during
the greater flood.