The record-union., 1893-05-18
Water.
Special to the REcoRp.UN1oN.

rain and wind which began at noon on
Monday and continued almost without
cessation until this evening, produced a
flood unprecedented in the history OF
Northeastern Ohio and Northwestern
Pennsylvania. Thus far fourteen lives
have been lost, great damage has been
done to shipping, and the loss to owners
of property will amount to hundreds
Of thousands of dollars.
1t rained Saturday, and on Sunday
there were light showers. Monday
steady downpour began. Roofs let
the water through like sieves, and the
rain was driven between window sashes
until the people despaired Of being able
to keep it out. By Tuesday evening there
were warnings of trouble, and everybody
began to wonder when it would stop. In
this city every sewer is pouring a torrent
into the usually sluggish Cuyanahoga,
which is swollen to more than twice its
normal size. Whole piles of lumber were
carried along the streets and swept into
the lake, or lodged against the abutments
OF bridges further down, and more is still
coming down the river. The railroad
tracks are submerged to depth of ten
feet, and all traffic is suspended, as is
work in score of factories in the flooded
districts. Owing to shaky bridges, traf-
flc is suspended on all railroads running
east.
This afternoon, while great crowds
were watching the flood, the first disaster
happened here. Captain Stanley FIanni-
ond Ng{o6aol alN
down the river in a rowboat when one OF
Leblonde's oars broke. The two men
were quickly carried out into the lake by
the rushing stream, and as it was evident
that their frail craft could not live prepa-
rations were quickly begun for their res
cue. Seven men manned a lifeboat and
pulled away toward the boat containing
Flanagan and Leblonde. When the life
savers were well out of the mouth of the
river an oar broke and in an instant the
cork-like vessel swung about. The men
in the boat were totally helpless and be-
fore assistance of any kind could be rem
dered their boat was overturned and all
the men were thrown into the water.
Three succeeded in catching hold of the
lifeboat, where they hung until they
were rescued in a terribly exhausted con-
dition. Four of their fellow life-savers
were tossed about so mercilessly by the
wild waves that they were unable to
swim back to the ifeboat, and after
vaiRly battling for few minutes with
the elements they were overcome and the
battle of life had to be given up. Their
names are as follows: Chester Simons,
John Johnson, Nicholas Servis and AL
bert Currier. Flanagan and LebIonde
were drowned almost before the lifeboat
capsized.
A distressing accident also occurred
at Conneaut, about sixty miles east of
Cleveland. The tug Walter Richardson,
the dredge Continental and scow an
chored at Conneaut Harbor this morning.
The scow was carried out into the lake
with the tug. In cutting away from the
scow the tugs wheel became disabled, and
the tug washed ashore. The crew was
saved. The dredge was swept into the
lake, and Immediately capsized. Seven
persons were on board. Two of them
were washed ashore, but the five others
perished, as follows: Arthur Wilson.
Captain, aged 30years, Philadelphia; Geo.
ORourke, q, Detroit; Joseph Fife, 25,
Conneaut; Maggie White, cook, 40; a
watchman, name unknown. The sea was
running heavily. and none of the bodies
were recovered this afternoon. The
dredge was valued at $4,000, and is a total
loss.
At Ashtabula Harbor the schooner Pei
nro-1aHaJ1 frnn, ~
cred as she was entering, and sank in
forty feet of water. Three of her crew.
Peter Nielsen, John Erickson and John
Ecknight, all of Cleveland, were drowned.
The other members Of the crew were
rescued after hard and desperate battle
with the terrific sea.
At Willoughby, o., the Chagrin River
is out of its banks. Early this morning
the grist-mill of Joseph Boyce was swept
from its foundation and hurled against
the abutment of the bridge and crushed
into wreckage, which floated away to the
lake.
Reports from all sections in Northeast
ern Ohio tell of swollen streams and over
flowed farm lands, but it is impossible to
tell what the property loss in Cleveland
will be. 1t is possible that one or more
of the costly swing bridges along the
river will be swept away before morning,
as it seems impossible that they can all
withstand the terrible strain being put
upon them.
SEVEN MEN AND ONE WOMAN DROWNED.
CoNNEAUT Ohio, May ia dredge
and tug broke from their moorings this
morning and were carried into the lake.
where they capsized, and seven men and
one woman were drowned. The list OF
drowned is as follows: Captain Arthur
Wilson, James Fife. Maggie Hoyt and
three unknown men.
MAHoNING VALLEY UNDER WATER.
YoUNGsTowN (O.), May 17.-Owing to
forty-eight hours of rain the Mahoning
River is the highest ever known. The
water is still rising and all the lower Dor
ton of the city is inundated. The fire
department was busy all night rescuing
people from their homes. The entire
Mahoning Valley is inundated.
WORST EVER KNOWN,
GAINESVILLE (O.), May 1.-THE worst
flood ever known in this section is now
here. Every residence on the lowland is
inundated, and the water is still rising.
TITUsvIBLE INUNDATED,
PITTERTTRG Nav ia flor a .&oa5-