Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-05-23
JOHMSTOWN A SUFFERER.
Disastrous Flood Sweeps Down the
Valleys of Central Penn


YOUNGSTOWN, Pa, May 21.-J ohnstown
has been visited by the most disastrous
flood since the big flood of May 81,
1889. At present it is a hard mat
ter to estimate the loss, but it is an
assured fact that the damage done
the city and within five miles of it, will
amount to from $4,000 to $4,000.
The Pennsylvania Railroad is the
heaviest loser. Most of it's loss is the
result of bad washout in it's track
about Conemaugh.
For several days the Conemaugh and
Stony Creek Valleys has been visit
ed by heavy rains of almost continu
Gus nature. Stony Creek reached it's
highest point about 8 o'clock yesterday
morning and after that time began to
recede gradually. By night it had fallen
several feet, so that no serious damage
was apprehended But in the evening
heavy rain began in the Conemaugh
Valley which continued until about 10
o'clock, when cloudburst occurred
near Ebensburg. The valley in which
the vast volume of water descended is a
tributary of the Conemaugh, and short
ly after the cloudburst the Conemaugh
had swollen to many times its natural
size.
The volume. of water reached this
vicinity about o'clock this morning
and was accompanied by wholesale de-
struction. The flood was first felt at
South Fork, where numerous small
buildings were swept away. Further on
in the course of the stream the water
undermined the track Of the Pennsyl-
vanIa road used by north-bound trains.
For almost two miles this track was rem
dered impossible for trains, and it be-
came necessary for trains going either
way to use the one track. All trains
were delayed. The fast line due
here at 1870 was held all night on ac-
count of the washout at Kittaning At
East Conemaugh the water beat furi-
ously against the large Pennsylvania
Railroad roundhouse and weakened
the foundation SO greatly that it was
found necessary to remove all the en-
glnes to place of safety. The build
ing, however, stood.
Several bridgesan wooden structures
below Conemaugh were badly damaged,
but the greatest damage was in the city.
In the Eleventh Ward the Oklahoma
House, owned bv Peter Seymour, was
caught by the raging waters and swept
to destruction. A three-story building
of Phillip Brown was torn from it's foun-
dation and greatly damaged. The iron
bridge at this place was badly wrecked.
Fully 700 damage was done to prop
erty within 100 yards Of the Pennsylva-
MIA passenger station here. Between
the freight station and the river
is an artificial embankment on which
were five loaded cars on siding. The
swift water undermined the bank,
which gave way about o'clock, carry
ing down into the river about 200 feet of
track and the cars. in one of the cars
were five tramps who are said to have
been members of Gaivan army. Three
of them succeeded in getting away, but
two were drowned. Their names could
not be learned.
When the flood came there was great
excitement. Parties went from house
to house awakening the occupants;
whistles blew, and the city was alive
with teams and people who were taken
to Westmont and Prospect. In Wood
vale the streets were covered with water
to the depth Of 6 feet, and some small
houses were swept away Swank' s
pottery works, located in this section Of
the city, caught fire, and this conflagra-
ton added to the terror of the inhab-
itants. 1t was impossible for the fire
company to reach the building, and it
was ruined before the flames went out
of their own accord. The Woodvale
bridge is still standing, but it is so bad
ly damaged that it cannot be used.
The river is falling this afternoon and
all danger is apparently over Three
buildings were carried away in the cen.
trail part Of the city and large number
of others badly damaged. The store
of Anthony George at the north end
of Lincoln bridge was submerged
and although anchored with ropes
the water swept it away with all it's
contents. The residences Of Emanuel
James and Charles Stattler also went
down stream. The rear Of the Grand
Central Hotel caved in, but the main
building stood. Considerable damage
was done to bridges in the vicinity. but
the worst is now over. A body foated
past the city this afternoon, but those
who ATTEMPTED to rescue il failed