The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-21
Rivers Swollen Beyond Their Banks
and Towns Inundated In
Pennsylvania
Much Damage to Property In WILL
Transport, Bradford and
Elsewhere.
Families Rescued From Their EsdanEsd
Homes In boats-TskibE 20 tho
nigh Places

WTLLiAAIHPoRT. Pa, May 20-Ths people
Of this city and all through West Branch
Valley are in q state Of panic, that has
turned usually quiet Sunday into one OF
renaik ikable excitement. since Friday night
the 0Ieody down-pOuf OF rain was swslling
all The streams and late lasi night numer-
Gus eloudbursts along Pine CFsok and other
tributaries OF the vsst branch OF the sus-
quehanna hAyo made II impossible 10 con-
fine the waiers within the banks OF the
streams. II has spread ont over the coun-
try and at every point 10 pouring into the
main river. Throughout the day rain has
fallen hore and continues 20 fall tonight.
A clondburst at Heating. twenty milss
above Remove this morning. raissd
the river there twenty feet and tho river al
Remove Ia reported higher than In the
food OF 1889. when half the town was under
water. About there. and extending 20 the
hesdwsters at Clsarfeld. every town and
hamlet has been reduced by the water 10
the conditions that prevailed in 1889.
Along the PhiladolphiA a Eric railroad be-
tween this point and Emporium. trafio has
been practically suspended since last night
Trains are running between Williamsport
and Lockhavsn. bus above the latter point
lnndsliles and track washouts have swept
the tricks way and the loss will bo heavy.
The Busquehanna 10 crawling up at the
iAte of n foot an hour. Tho full strength
of the food is expected here about u
o'clock tonight when the great body of
water from up the Iivsr 10 due. he fact
that the water from up the river will rush
down upon the city In the dark hours OF
the night adds An additional elsmens OF
houor to the situation.
Fire and church bells we're runa this
morning 70 notify the people Of the i'm
pending danger and sinee that hour the
work of preparing for the worst has been Ia
progress. In hundreds of homes that were
submerged I've years ago the people are
moving out and sto ing their goods in the
housea Of those living on the high lands.
The business part Of the city was q CON-
pIete wreck nvs ears ago and bundreds OF
merchants are moving their stocks 10 places
Of safety. Conveysnoes OF every descrit-
tion are hurryinR through the streets OF the
city loaded with household goods and rusr-
chsndise. and the scene begRars description.
Regular church services were suspended
to-day and ip all houses Of worshis thoae
who attended confined themselves 70 offer
ing up prayers for the assurance OF Provi-
dsnce ia the present grave emergency.
Darkness has settled over the citv and
the rain 10 still coming down IN 90, rents.
The river 10 oc ming mp rapidly and 10 now
twenty one feet above low water mnrh. 10
will overflow the. banks within an hour.
aud 90 the certainty Of great distraction Of
property grows more apparent the general
interest increases The bsnk- OF the river
and the bridges are lined with thousands
| of people watohinQ the rise of the water,
anu those who did not move during the
day urs hurrying their belongings and
families TO places Of safety.
Il uF miles Of ths track OF the Glen Al
len Lumber company has been swept away::
The boom" at Loekhaven he's broken and
| 10. 0O0. 900 feet Of logs have been lost. The
Upper Lindsn boom also broke AZ $50 this
evening. ID contained 100000 feet Of
Ions, which have gone down. There are
about LEO. 900. COO feet Of loas in the main
boom and half as many more Ia the ciiy
millponds that may go on twenty-five
| foot food.
The rain al ii p. 10. was coming down In
heavy shssts, the wind blowing furiously.
and the river rising a. the rate OF foot an
| hour.
AZ midnight, with the ain still falling.
the river has ovsrhovsd It's bank In the
central part OF the city and ths water is
rushing up Market street. and out TO Third
aud FouIth streets.
PHILADELPHIA, May 2l.-News comes
from Miliamsport at one O'Clock this
morning that ths big lumber boom hsI
broken and the logs are going down ths
river