The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-17
FLOOD IN SOUTH BUFFALO.
800 HOUSES FLOODED AND $500 FER
SONS RENDERED HOukLESS.

SONS RENDERED HOMkLESS.
FnnIiie. Forced TO leave Their Homes In
the Night In y Furious WIND and Rain
Storm-Some Were Rescued In Bnnt- AVID
Others Escaped on improvIsed Raus.
BUFFALO Dec. 1O.--The greatest flood that
has struck South Buffalo in score OF years
occurred last night and this M rnng Swellcd
by tho heavy rain and thaw Of tho past twenty
four hours. Buffalo Creek overlooked its banks
md flooded Ave square miles Of territory. The
magnitude OF the disaster can hardly he an
rreciated as yet. Five hundred houses have
been inundated, aEd $500 people rendered
homeless. Tho flooded district extends from
the intersection OF ELK and Seneca streets. at
the bridge. over the river westward to tho
Lehigh Valley bridge on Seneca street. dis
tance OF q mile and a hail. and thence south-
ward about two miles to the crock
The Hood Logan on Seneca street last night
and sleep for the thousand people living within
the boundaries mentioned was out Of the
question Casanova Creek became n raging,
roaring torrent. rising ovor its hanks In the
country. but its main body OF water was dc.
posted into the already swellcd and rapidly
rising Buffalo River, half II mile below the
Seneca street bridge Tho streams OF rushing
waters met In n lowlnnd and the overflow
found eGress toward tho populated section in
people living in the lowlands had to ny for
their lives The food came so suddenly that
household effects we're left behind.
The waters RAPIDLY covered tho unoccupicd
territory lying south OF Elk street. which Ia
traversed only 10y the Delaware. Lackawanna
and western Railroad. whose tracks were also
flooded. As the rain Increased the food be-
came higher and huge cakes OF Ice floated
about. People living on Elk street were
warned In time but many thought the waters
would promptly recede. They were mistaken.
and in nm hour they wero compelled to seek
refuge in the second stories.
The waters crossed Elk street and flowed
without interruption to Seneca street. COM
pletely inundnting Fisher. Dole. Maurice. and
Orlando streets. and tho southern end OF Bah.
cock street. The water rose to n depth OF four
feet. and entered houses and swept away many
movable articles Live stock and fowl were
drowned before their owners could libcroto
them. People rushed to the upper floors for
safety. and there awaited rescue.
All this took Ilace amid the fury OF wind and
rain and in deep darkness. which added to the
terror of the people. Word was sent to police
station No. q. and squad OF police set to work
TO rescue those imprisoned by the rushing
waters. Securing boats. they padded from
house to house and took inmates to places Of
safety. Fortunately q majority OF the people
owned boats and escaped in them. Others
built improvised RATS and with clothes poles
families had to leave their homes 10 tho mercy
OF the waters. Daylight was we coined by ali.
and by nearly ali had been rescued ana
50 far as known, no lives had been lost. Kind
neighDors on the higher lands opened their
homes 10 the destitute people and gave them
shelter
In every direction tho sea Of water stretched
md within It's confines everything was flooded.
The Barber asphalt works on Elk street were
IN the midst OF It. Tho Atlas refinery on tho
ySrn sh works, Far "vor to the 60 lott was VAS
Evans glue factory surrounded by water and
waves dashing against II. Among some
carried OF its foundation. little way east
ward from the Lacknwanna tracks was tho
Bailey avenue. The water was nearly IN to
the beams. Tho asphalt pavement on Bailey
street ruined. At the IacIawnnna bridge.
near Abbott road. men were Stationed with
;tse[S e hs dSe water
Plate EoqRester and fittsburSh, and western
complctely, under water and trains are being
run with danger, u the flood keeps on the
that the water will subside until the wind
turns and the weather changes.
mate the lossto property and streets. but It will
certainly exceed SlUnWO. Every family In the
Gf Sn to shppinr IL the hsTbof
The rushing water caused the big steamer
Emily J.. Weed 10 break from her ,moorngs.
She dri'tel down the stream ut lively rate.
breaking through the Michigan street bridge.
She was caught by n tug at the foot OF Main
street. The new steamer Mohawk also broke
away and pursued a SINH ar course TO the
Weed, carrying With her Tie steamer H. ";
grounded at tho old dumping ground little
below the harbor entrance. Several tugs also
broke loose. The Mohawk and Sibley were
gotten oil this afternoon and tied up again.
None OF the vessels sustained any material