Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-06
RIVERS OF FIRE
Awful Catastrophe in
Pennsylvania.
Two Cities Flooded
and Burned,
Drowning and Burn
ing Hundreds.
Scenes of Frightful
Horror
In the Presence Of
Angry Elements
Which Struggle to
Kill and Destroy
The TerrOr-Stricken
Inhabitants.
no Pen Can Describe the Scenes of
Death and Destruction Following
in the Wake of This Unpar-
alleled Disaster.
Which Struggle to
Kill and Destroy
The TerrOr-Stricken
Inhabitants.
no Pen Can Describe the Scenes of
Death and Destruction Following
in the Wake Of This Unpar-
alleIed Disaster.

PrrrssrRG, June 5.-A Titusvllle spec
RAJ to the Tines says: Titusville was
today visited by one Of the most appal-
ling fires and overwhelming floods in
the history of TINS country. A con-
servstive estimate places the number of
lives lost At fully twenty tive from fire
and drowning as near as can be gath
cred from reports as they come in.
Loss by destruction of property will
aggregate fully $500. 900. All TINS
loss Is 10 this city. With the surround
ing country yet to be heard from.
A large number Of most extensive
and prosperous manufacturing estab-
hshments now he IN ashes, and hun
dreds Of homes and business places are
utterly wiped out. while the streets are
hlIed with a crowd of hungry, home
less, weeping and distracted people
mourning the loss OF loved ones who
have perlshed in the rush of waters or
the fire. Blllows of flame en-
quilted them almost in the twink
ling Of an eve as they were
struggling IN the vain attempt to save
their homes. At this writing the sky IS
filled with dense pitchy clouis of
smoke aTIslhg from the smouldering
runs OF feiinerles, cooper shops. furni-
turs factories, radiator works, hotels,
railroad warehouses, cars, dwellings,
etc. while the waters OF OIL creek are
rushing through the streets with al
mos, resistless tide.
The Horror Ind.serfbabIe.
No tongue, no pen, no language can
do justice TO tho scene of terror and
confusion prevailing IN TINS stricken
CITY "a The sun goes down tonight.
The Illuminating Gas works, the eiec-
tric hight plant and the city water
works are all under water, while the
natural gas mains have heen turned OFT
at OIL CRY. This leaves Titusville
without water, fuel or light, a. least
from tue sources from which these
necessities nave been accustomed to
come. Parents aud children stood by
without the power 30 ait one snothers
struggles against the clutches
OF the food until eventually
they went down 10 rise no more. As
sad and sickenlng scenes ss every trans
spired in the valley of the conemsugh
three years ago were reported here to-
day. while thousands looked on unable
to avert them.
SCENES OF Misery
One father tonighs - = msnisc over
ths loss Of his whole family of wife and
seven children, one . babe three days
old.
brother wss rescued from . burn
inx huiIding. where he was forced to
leave SISTER. her husband snd two
children TO perish.
Many sucn cases. sad IN the extreme,
are heard. Many are the fathers. moth
srs. sisters and brosners wandering
slrslessly in search of missing ones
who n ais probability Will never sgsin
be heard Of
rs4rtsan bodies have slrsady been
received IN this city. and reports from
further down Osl creek are that seven
tet,n more ko3ies have been picked up.
Eulir oue-third of the business and
residence PORTION Of fitusville - in
r,.ins. The terrible food, with q mighty
rrsr. rushss through the streets ~
n,Shs never before touched by food
WITH almost "a great fury ss when the
er.s tidal wave broke over she confines
OF sAe usually small stream.
Rvsve men with ropes tied about
tRes waists are brssstlng the terrible
earrsnt. rescning sheiuuiortuastes who
since esrty morning have patiently =
awaited their turn.
Faliy seventy-6ve people sre yet IN
accounted for.
D.tsifs f~r~s~ssss a. ts~sA
st = ar imrosst eslity. however, - xsss
st tbs time accurate nkures % tlse icss