The morning call., 1893-05-04
IN WILD ALARM.
People Flee to Escape a
Flood.
BREAK IN A RESERVOIR.
A Catastrophe That Is Strongly REM
inisCent of the Great Disaster
at Johnstown.
BREAK IN A RESERVOIR
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

URBANA, Ohio. May 5. = The greatest
calamity that ever came TO the people OF
Logan and Hardin counties occurred last
night. when the Lewiston reservoir broke
and turned an immense flood of water upon
the residents along its course. A break
200 feet wide occurred, and the water came
rushing down in flood ten feet deep and
three miles wide, completely submerging
the country around and carrying every
thing in its way In the course CT the food
stood the houses of Jack Smith and William
Devaoult. and large number of tenement
houses and the cabins of squatters and
bachelors.
All Of these were submerged, though for
tunately every body managed to escape from
danger. The people fed in terror from
their homes, while the swift-rushing food
came on down the valley taking everything
before it, \ portion of the town Of Port
jefferson was badly fl ioded. and Qancy.
LogansYile, Degraff. Piqua, Troy and Day
ton were also In the course of the flood and
suffered considerably.
Hundreds of families left their homes and
fed out OF the reach of the coming torrent.
So far 10 loss of life is reported, but when
the foods subside it will likely be revealed
that more than one unfortunate has per-
! ished. 1t is impossible to give an estimate
| of the loss. but the farmers are financially
| ruined. The latest reports tonight from
the scene of the flood are reassurng and it
| is believed that such repairs have been
! made as will prevent further breaking of
| the reservoir, but the entire lower bank is
! saturated and is in very dangerous con-
| dition. Should further rains fall no human
| power can stay an awful catastrophe.
| Telegrams have been sent to the authori-
ties at all threatened points to prepare for
the worst as we'll as they hastily can and to
hope for the best.
LIMA. Ohio. May 3-There was a break
| in the banks of the Lewistown reservoir.
| Logan County this morning. The Cincin-
natl, Hamilton and Dayton Railway tracks
are already submerged. The reservoir is
the second largest in the country, covering
| 1000 acres.
1t is reported several lives were lost by
! drowning in the Miami River, down which
the food finds an outlet.
| DAYTON. Ohio, May Slater news from
/ Lewistown says the break In the reservoir
is not serious, and the Miami River is fall
ing. with 40 further fears of a flood.
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio. May 3.--fhe loss
occasoned by the overflow of the Scioto
River. between this city aud Waverly, will
aggregate 100000 by damage to crops ana
| bridges.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio. May 3.-Two hun
dred houses were flooded aud their furni-
ture ruined by the high waters here.
ST. LOUIS, May 3-The river is station
ary here, but at Madison and Venice. on
the east side, there is deep water, making
many houses uninhabltabe. The Venice
ferry WAS busy all day removing residents
to st. Louis. The northern half Of East
Carondelet is still uninhabitable. -
LITTLE Rock, May 5.-The river at this
place continues to rise. Several large barns
and outhouses and much debris went down
the stream to-day. The water is pouring
into the fields along the river as far west as
Conway, doing great damage to the cotton
crops.
ST. PAUL May3-Dispatches from South
Dakota show no seeding has been done.
The early and late snow and rain were
beneficial. The prospects appear good for
heavy crop. while the wheat acreage will
probably exceed that of last year. North
Dakota reports are fairly favorable Mime
sofa suffered the most, not over per cent
being in. The acreage devoted to other
cereals and potatoes will exceed that OF last
year.