The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-05-24
CITY UNDER WATER,
WILLIAMSBURG, PA, IN DANGER
OF DESTRUCTION.
The Entire City Is From Four to
Fifteen Feet Under Water and II
Further Rise Is Fcarcd-NIh ~ Fam
jliex Are Homeless. I

approaches and darkness settles down the |
tel1ors of the flood increase. A yell
low torrent PUSHES down from the hill !
sides, fed by thousand mountain
streams and growing with each passing
minute, assumes new terrors and the
stricken people look forward with dread
to the ordeal through which they must
pass before morning Cut off from the
rest of the world; no railroad communi-
cation and with no avenue of telegraph
Or telephone communication, save the
slender quivering wire over which this
message is speeding, surrounded on every
hand by the slowly rising destroyer which
has already swept away million dollars
worth of property and may sweep away
a million more, the condition of Will
Transport is indeed pitiable With thirty
three feet more water in it's channel than
is it's normal height the North Branch
of the Susquehanra threatens to- flood
the town. Every foot of ground in the
city is four feet under water, and much
of it is fifteen feet below the surface of
the stream. Many families are home
less. Hundreds more expect to be driven
from their homes in the second stories
of which they have found refuge, and
| unless the flood ceases there is no power
|, on earth that can avert a greater dis
| aster than has already come upon the
| helpless city. The loss of the property
cannot even be Appropriated until the
waters recede and accounts are cast up.
| The gas and electric light plants are I'M
der water and the city is without lights.
| Every one is desperate, terror-stricken
and discouraged. Just after midnight the
! big log boom gave away with crash
and went rolling and tumbling down the
| Str no docs
below the city the logs crashed and
banged against the piers with roar that
could be, heard for miles. The bridge at
| Montgomery street was left intact, as
was also the Pennsylvania roads span
across the river. The Market street
tri6ge was carried away, and three Of
! the four spans Of the Maynard street
structure succunbed to the rush Of
| waters.
The flood reached it's maximum at Z
O'Clock, when it was thirty-fve feet above
low water mark on the river register
and eight feet deep on the pavement of
the court house in the center of the city.
Fer an hour the water hung at that
point, and then to the intense relief of
the thousands of anxious hearts it be-
gan slowly to recede.
Philadelphia, May %. - A telegr, m
from General Manager Shepard, of the
Penn sylvania railroad, reports that the
rain continued to fall Until 2 o'clock,
causing much trouble along the line east
Of Altoona. At Mill Creek, Vandyke,
Mexicon, Port Royal, The Narrows,
Lewiston Junction, McVeyton and
Marcyunk bridges the tracks next the
river are net passable. and at one OF
| ~ h.
ms. At Remove, Heating and Kart
house, about sixty miles from Williams
port, the river has fallen over two feet
Montgomery bridge, the mile-long struc
ture which spans the West branch, jus
) rorth of Watsontown, is weighted will
hes Willy laden freight cars, and until thu
water recedes no traffic will be allowed
: to cross the bridge. The Pacific express
l which left here at 11:2O last night, j,
l held at Watsontown, and may not b,
able to proceed until late this evening
, The Pennsylvania road has large forces
of men on the ground, ready to repai
, all damage as soon as the water falls
e Three train loads Of west-bound Knight
l Templar are held up in this city awaitin;
S the opening of the line to Pittsburg
l. They may not be able to proceed befor
I tomorrow morning.
q Pjttsburg, May 22.-Two lives wer
lost in the flood to-day. Adrian Weiche
aged thirty-fve years, was trying t
rescue team of horses near Etna wle1
S his feet caught in the harness and Ii
Il was drowned. A few minutes later a
:. unknown boy about fifteen years of az
d was drowned in Allegheny while catchin
e driftwood. Both bodies were swept dow
S the stream.
h Bradford, Pa, May %. - The waite
d which covered twenty of Bradford
e streets to the depth of several feet is II
l. cediIg, and it is believed the flood ha
spent its force. The property loss her
is at least $4,000. There was no los
Of life, but there were numerous mario,
+. escapes.
It |