The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-18
Follow in the Wake OF Storm and
Flood in Ohio and PENN
sylvania
Four Life Savers Go Down At
tempting a Rescue at
Cleveland.
Five More Perish at COnnenut-Three Lost
From Foundered Hchooner-lm-
monso Property Loss.

in the history of northeast
srn Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania.
Thus far fourteen lives have been lost.
great damage done to shipping and tho
loss to other property will amount into the
hundreds of thousands of dollars. 1t
rnined Saturday and Sunday there we're
light showers. Monday u steady downpour
began. Roofs let water through like sleeves
and the rain was driven between window
sashes until the people despalred of
being to able keep IL out. BY Tuesday
evening there were warnings Of trouble.
In this city every sewer was pouring tor
rent into the usually sluggish Cuyahoga,
swollen to more than twice it's normal size.
Whole piles of lumber were carried along
the streets and swept ous into the lake or
lodged against tho abutments of bridges
further down. and more IL still coming
down the river. Railroad tracks were sub
merged to depth of ten feet and all traffic
has suspended ~ was work in score of
factories in the flooded district. Owing to
shaky bridges travel was suspended on all
railroads running east. This afternoon
while great crowds were Watching the flood
the first disaster happened here. Capt.
Stanley Flanagan and Michael Leblonde
were going down the river In row boat
whom one of Leblonde's oars broke. The
two mon were quickly carried out into the
lake BY the rushing stream and as it wts
evident their trail craft could not live
preparations were quickly begun for their
rescue. Seven men manned tho life boat
and pulled away toward tho boat contain
ing Flanagan and Lsblonds. When the
life savers were we'll out of the mouth of
river an oar broke and in an instant the
cork-like vessel swung about, the mon in
the boat totally hsl pless. Befot assistance
of any kind could be rendered their boat
was overturned and all tho mon thrown
into tho water. Three succeeded
in catching hold of the life boat. where they
were rescued in = terribly exhausted condi-
tion. Four of their fellow life savers were
waves that they were unable to swim back
to the lifo boat. and after vainly battling
for few moments with the elements they
were overcome and the fight for life had to
be given up. Tho names of the drowned
men were Chester Simons. John johnson,
Nicholas SeHvas and Albert Currier. Flan-
nigan and Leblonde were drowned almost
before the life boat capsizsd.
"A distressing accident also occurred at
Conneaut, about sixty miles east of Glove
land. The tug Walter Richardson, the
dredRe Continental aud soow anchored at
Conneaut harbor this morning. The scow
was carried out into the lake with the tug.
In cutting awav from the scow the tug
wheel was disabled and the tug was
washed ashore. The Grew were saved.
The drsdge was swept into the lake and
Immediately oapsized. Seven persons
were on board. Two of them were washed
ashore. The Eve others psrished. as fol-
lows: Arthur Wilson. captain. aged 80,
Philadelphia; George Bourke. aged 81,
Detroit; Joseph Fife, aged rs. Conneaut;
| Maggie White, cook. aged 40. Cleveland,
and the watohman, name unknown. The
sea 10 running heavily and NO bodies were
recovered this afternoon. The drsdgs wal
valued at sc. 600 and 10 total loss.
| At Ashtabula the harbor schooner Peli-
cam orc laden from Esosnaba, foundered
as shs was entering and sank in forty feet
of water. Three Of the crew, Peter Nelson
John Erickson and John Mcknight. all OF
Cleveland. We drowned. The other nom.
bors Of the Grew were rescued after hard
and desperate battle with the terrific sea.
AT WillouRhby, Ohio. the Chagrin river
is ont of its banks. Early this morning thu
erist mill Of Joseph Boyce was swept from
its foundation. hurled ageinst an nbutment
which hoatsd away TO the lake. Reports
from all sections of northeastern Ohio tel
Of swollen streams and ovorflowed farm
lands. but IL is i'm possible to make an esti-
m ate of the damage. Neither is it possibl,
to tell what the property loss in Cleyslant
will be.
1t is possible ono or more costly swim,
bridges along the river will be swep
away before MOI ming as it seems impossible
they can all withstand the terrible strair
now being put upon them.