The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-07
TWO HUNDRED DEAD.
ANOTHER PENysrLyasIA HORROR
Similar TO the .Johnstown Flood-The Dcs-
truction of Property VIII Amount
10 Millions OF Dollars.

truction of Property VIII Amount
TO Millions OF Dollars.
PrTTsBURG. Pa. June Waterspouts and
cloudbursts at Spartansburg. Iownylle and
Canahdota Lake. in Northwestern Pennsyl-
vania. Saturday night, following almost con-
tinuous rain for six weeks caused the greatest
food ever known in the Oil Creek valley. ac-
companied by dreadful destruction Of life and
property.
The Spartansburg dam burst, letting loose
an avalanche Of water. which swept down
upon Ttusvil.e while the inhabitants slept.
Explosions and fires followed vast quaint
ties OF burning oil quickly spread over the
surface OF the streams. and scores OF people
were drowned and burned. The city water
works. gas-wOrks and electric-light works are
all under water and thousands OF homeless
people were without food, fuel or light last
night.
The scenes of the night at Titusyie were
repeated yesterday on perhaps even q lsrger
scale at Oil City. eighteen miles below.
Thousands Of people were watching tho flood
when there occurred An explosion that was
rapidly followed by others
Fire spread with great rapidity. burning oil
being carried everywhere by the Hood.
The damage to property in Titusyllle and
on City. and the towns along the creek be-
tween those cities. amounts 10 millions Of
dollars snd appeals for nelp have been made
to the country at large.
Two HUNDRED LIVES LOST
On CITY Pa. June 6.-An estimate made
by city official this morning places the loss
of life in Oil City at 200.
A report reached here this morning from
Iitusville that lgs bodies have been taken
from the ruins at and near that place. Wire
facilities between OIL City and Gitusyille are
very meagre and the report lacks confrma-
tion
Not until the sun arose over the hills this
morning did the people of Oil City realize
fully the terrible havoc wrought by yester-
DAYS flood and fire
This morning desolatIOn. suffering and
death IS found on every hand. The greatest
devastation Is on Seneca street. on the east
side II Oil creek There. under the dying
embers. is spread mass Of shapeless corpses
But one house remains on Seneca street n
the lower district. For three-iOurths OF
mile around 1t there Is not single habitation
standing
HFARTRFSDING SCENES.
Dead bodies are being taken out Of the
debris almost every minute and ara rapidly
conveyed 70 the several lmproyised morgues.
The Identification is traught with many heF-
rowing incidents Tears as warm as ever
flowed from tender womaus eyes weed up
from the hearts Of the brlwuy men, VINO
were the unwilling witnesses Of some partc-
ularly pathetic incident.
The dead bodies are nothing more than
sickening Jumps OF chnrred crisp flesh. retain
ing but the faintest semblance OF humanity.
Ii is believed that many cOrpses will be
found down the stream when the waters re-
no M ba1r phQnnpie
ghany river and OIL creek are now receding
rapidly. The fro at several of the oil tanks
is still burning. but 40 more damage IS antci-
psted The oil Exchange adjourned this
morning until tomorrow, and business Is
practically suspended.
INQUEST AND Relief.
Orr CRY. Pa, June Coroner J. NJ.
Snowden held an inquest on a number Of the
bodies recovered to-day owing 20 the fact
that their decomposed condition makes it
necessary 10 bury them at once A verdict in
accordance with the facts was rendered.
Everybody will sleep under roof tonight
temporary quarters being furnished by the
relief associations.
PirrsBuRG. June 6.-This afternoon Cover
nor Pattison telegraphed from Harrisburg
that he had Issued a proclamation asking for
relief for the citizens of Northwestern Penn
sylvanis.
WASTE or RUINS.
TnUsy1rrF. Pa. June G.-The citizens Of
this city are yet dazed at the horrors with
which they are surrounded There are hun
dreds Of hands searching for their miss
ing friends. Several days time will De
required 10 thoroughly search the
mountains of debris Up to 10 o'clock
this morning ffty-fye bodies had been recoy-
ered A large portion Of ltusyllie and tho
entire Oil-creek valley from itsIsource ut Can
adOtha Lake. nineteen miles above the city,
Is a waste OF ruins
At RiceyIlle nineteen miles above this city.
there is a dam across Oh creek. lt WAS the
breaking of this dam that caused the exces-
sive height OF water.
ANOTHER TANK AFIIf.
rrUsyuLr, Pa. Jnne Ga 2.500-barrel
tank at Thomas refinery at the upper part OF
town caught fire about 80 o'clock this after
noon, and the burning oil is running down
through the devastated district endengerlng
such property as was saved.