Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-05-24
WATERS LET LOOSE.
A Big Reservoir Near Altoona, Pa,
Bursts It's Banks.
The Susquehanna Valley Swept by Fu-
rious FlOod-Williamsport and Other
Cities People Flee
for Safety.
A FLOODS TERRoRs.

rains of the last few days have swollen
all the rivers and streams of western
Pennsylvania TO foodtides. Boats,
bridges, houses and other property
have been destroyed. Ten lives have
been lost already. The rivers are
still rising and the damage is be-
coming worse hourly. The cellars
of all the business and dwelling
houses along the banks of the streams
are under water and people are moving
their goods to upper rooms Some of
the timid are leaving their houses and
seeking places of safety on higher
ground. Part of the exhibition build
ing is inundated and the league base
ball park is out of sight.
Losses Very Heavy.
The greatest damage done is along
the line of the Pennsylvania railroad
between Altoona and Johnstown. The
loss to the company will amount to
S1,OOO,O0O. Bridge No. 6, which was
washed away during the Johnstown
flood of 1889, was swept down again.
Several miles of roadbed and track
were washed away, part of it being
the eastern approach of the stone
bridge at Johnstown.
Flood Reaches Johnstown.
The volume of water reached Johns
town about 8 o'clock in the morn
ing and was accompanied by whole
sale destruction. The flood was first
felt at Southfork, where numerous
small buildings were swept away
Further on in the course of the
stream the water undermined the
track of the Pennsylvania road used
by east-bound trains For almost Q
miles this track was rendered impas-
sable for trains and it became neces-
sary for trains going either way to use
the one track All trains were de-
| laved.
Still Rising.
| At midnight the Monongahela, Ale
gheny and Ohio rivers were still rising
and flooding all the cellars in the lower
part of Pittsburgh and Allegheny
From 2S to 80 feet of water is expected
in the Monongahela. This will be or
8 feet short of the stage registered
during the disastrous food of ten years
ago. The people living in the lowlands
are moving all their effects to the up
per stories of their houses.
High Water at PhiladeIphia.
! PHILADELPHIA, May 22.-The storm
in the eastern part OF Pennsylvania
has been raging for nearly two days,
and looks as If it NAV continue. The
Schuylkill river began rising rapidly
Sunday and mas been gradually rising
ever since Wits every prospect of
flood. The city fronts on both sides
of the river are overlooked. The
Baltimore & Ohio tracks are
under nearly feet of water
for a considerable distance. All
the mills and factories along the
Schuylkill river from Reading to this
city, distance of 80 miles, are closed
At Norristown the water is 90 feet
deep in some of the mills. The Della
ware and Lehigh rivers are swollen
considerably and are still rising rapid
| ly. All navigate on the Delaware
d Lehigh canal is stopped, the water
covering the banks. The Reading rail-
road between here and Norristown has
feet of water over the tracks.
williamsport Under Water.
WLLIAMsPoRT, Pa. May 22.-The
river continued to rise during the
night and nearly the entire business
portion of the city is under water. The
Western Union Telegraph office, which
is situated on comparatively high
ground, has 8 inches of water on its
floor. There has been no telegraphic
communication with Lock Haven since
o'clock Sunday afternoon, at which
hour the telegraph operator was driven
from his office by the rising flood.
Loss VIII Reach Million.
Surrounded on every hand by the
slowly rising DESTROYER, which has al
ready swept away $1,000, 900 worth of
property and may sweep away $1,000
600 more, the condition Of Williams
port is indeed pitiab BILE. With SO feet
more water in its channel than is its
normal height, the north branch of the
Susquehanna threatens to engulf the
town. Every foot of ground in the city
is from to feet under water, and
much of it IS is feet below the sur
face of the stream. Many Of the fami
lies are homeless
Genesee Valley Suffers.
DANsvuI.E, n. Y, May 22.-The flood
now being experienced rs the worst that
has occurred in the Gepesee valley for
years. The water Is Q feet above high
water mark of the great freshet
five years ago. AS far as the eye
can see down the valley is a
vast expanse of water Immense
trees torn from the banks OF the
raging streams and all sorts of
timbers and wrechsge are floating
everywhere. The destruction of grow
ing and newly planted crops is COM
plste, and the damage the farmers
b ave sustained vim run up into the
hundreds Of thousands. The Bradner