New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-18
DEATH IN RAGING FLOODS.
rol.RTErN LIVES LOST AT CLEVELAND.
Az IMMENSE AMOUNT or PROPERTY SWEPT
AWAY by THE CUYAUOGA-sl 900 600 DAMAGE
AT ERIL. PTNN.-R\ILEOAD TRAFFIC
At \ sTANDSTILL-LAKE SHORE
SUFFERS GREATLY.

AT sTANDsTILL-LAKE SHORE
SUFFERS GREATLY.
Cleveland. Ohio, May 1.-THE storm of rain
md wind which began ~ noon Monday, and has
continued almost without cessation until this
evening has produced hoJd Unprecedented in
the history of Northeastern Ohio and Northwestern
Ponnsy lvana. Thus far fourteen lives have been
lost great damage has been done to shipping, and
the loss 10 other property will amount 70 hundreds
of thousands of dollars II had ralned
OH Saturday, and on Sunday there were
light showers. Late Sunday night there
Was a heavy rainfall. accompanied by thunder
and lightning. vt noon Monday the wind vecred
around into the northwest. and a steady downpour
began. The sky for hity-siN hours has been of
dull csden color. and the low hanging AMI
scurryins clouds which were hurled along by
the northwest gale seemed 10 have every drop
of water shaken ont OF them The wind. which
al times reached a velocity of more than fifty
miles an hour. drove the rain horizontally and
in Sheets making it almost impossible for pc
destrans TO get along the streets.
The storm was bad enough on Monday night
and Tuesday forenoon. but by Tuesday evening
there came warnings OF trouble and everybody be-
gan 10 wonder when it would stop BY Tues
day evening more than two and a half inches OF
water hai fallen. and il still coming down
in torrents Then it that feara OF flood
began TO he realized. In this city every sewer
was pouring Il torrent into the usually sluggish
CuyahOga, which came down from the hills of
summit County swollen 70 more than twice its
normal size. Along its banks are the Valley and
Cleveland and Canton and Southern rail
ways. This morning the water was away
over the rivers banks. The torrent was seek
ing the nearest way 10 the lake and
half dozen lumber yards in its course could not
bar the way Whole piles OF lumber We're carried
along on the stream and swept ont into the
lake, or lodged against the abutments of bridges
further down. Millions OF feet OF building mate
rial from the yards of the Cleveland Sawnll
Company, y. Mills n Co.. W. Monroe and Fred
llcmpy d Co., on its way tC Canada,
and more OF it is still coming down the river.
The tracks Of the Valley and G. &. and :. Il. X.
companies submerged to the depth of ten
feet and all traffic was suspended, was work
in score of factories in the flooded district.
Owing TO shaky bridges, traffic was suspended
on all railroads running east.
This afternoon while great crowds were watch
ing the floods, the first disaster happened here.
Captain Stanley Flanagan and Michael lie Blonde
were going down the river in rowboat used
TO peddle milk along the docks. When the
mouth of the raging stream one OF lie Blondes
broke. and the two men were ielt 10 the
mercy of the water They were quickly carried
out into the lake by the rushing stream, and IA
il was evident that their frail craft could not
live in the angry coming in from the NORTH
preparations were quickly begun for their rescue
by the lifesavng crew. Seven men manned the
lfeboat and pulled away toward the east pier
of the brea;watcr. toward which point the boat
containing Flannigan and lie Blonde hac drited
NC
mouth Of the river an broke. and In an
instant the corll-like vessel swung about to toss
upon the angry waves. The men in the iieboat
were totally helpless and before assistance OF
any kind could be rendered their boat was over
turned and all the men were thrown into the
water. Three of them succeeded in catching
hold of the overturned boat, where they hung
on until they were rescued in terribly eN-
hausted condition. -Four of their fellow llie-
savers were to,sed about mercilessly By the
wild waves that they were unable 10 swim back
10 the liieboat. and. after vanly battling for Il
few moments with tie clements they were over
come, and the battle for life had TO he given
up.
Flanagan and lie Blonde. the two men whom
the lfe-saving crew were attempting 70 rescue,
were also drowned. Their bodies have not yet
been recovered.
Erie Penn. Nav II CSpecan.-Thc deluge Of the
last forty-cight hours is subsidng but has wrought
Il million dollars damage IN the city Of Erie.
while railroad traffic in all directions has been
cut Of for nty-four hours The Lake Shore
and Michigan Southern Railroad began tonight
70 transfer a thousand storm--taycd eastbound
passengers at Harbor Creek. All other ROADS are
crippled, and will not be operated for several
days. The Nickel Plate has two OF Its largest
bridges condemned.
The greatest damage in Erie resulted from the
gorging and blocking of culveris in Mil creek
by the buildings which were swept from their
foundations The heaviest losers among the manu-
facturers who were in the valley Of destruction
were the Flheim pianing mill, Mlllers Koches'er
bottling works, loung's Rag Warehouse COMPANY
Lcmhcins carriage works, Watsons paper thiis
Atlantic Oil Refining Company, Ball engine WORKS.
Jarccki Manufacturing Company from
s., ,OCO 10 $4,000 each.
Hundreds OF families lost their all 9y being
driven from their homes by sudden bursts OF
food and drift, but happily only one life was
lost. although frcmen. policemen and an army
Of volunteers worked all night rescuing meh
and women by boats, ladders and ropes Inc
citys loss by damage TO city Improvements Is
certainly not less than Sj00,000
The Anchor Line steamer India is ashore four
miles from Erie and is III great danger oil soi"s
10 Pieces The steamer is on reef four miles
from the shore and has large number oil pas
sengcrs on board. She is valued at Slooooo'
Tie life-saving crew has gone 10 the rescue
Mcadvillc Penn. May I7.--This city is under
going the most complete inundation in it, history
Rusiness is Practically suspended and the day has
been one of terror and despair. There are several
feet of water in the New-York, Pennsylvania ana
Ohio dcpot, and the train service has oeeh
abandoned Residents Of Vallona, Company
Islani and the lower part Of the city were taken
from thcir homes in boats. The Miller and
Siblcy racetrack i, covered with four feet OF
water The new railroad bridge the French
Greek 10 the racetrack has been swept away and
other bridges are in danger Of going The