The record-union., 1894-05-21
Special to the REcoRD-UNrox.

WILLIAMsPoRT Pa, May 2O.-Wlth
the horrors of the disastrous flood of
1889, which spread death and destruction
throughout this valley, brought back to
memory by the threatened danger OF
swoop which promises to be the equal OF
that of five years ago, the people and ali
those of the west branch of the valley are
in state of panic that has turned the
usually quiet Sunday into one of remark
able excitement. Since Friday night
steady and almost continuous downpour
of rain has been swelling all the streams.
aud late last night, numerous cloudbursts
along Pine Greek and other tributaries of
the west branch of the Susquehanna have
made it impossible to confine the water
within the banks of the streams. It has
therefore spread out over the country, and
every point is pouring into the main
river.
Throughout the day rain has fallen
here and continues to fall tonight. Ad-
vices from all points up the river say the
same conditions exist. A cloudburst at
Heating, twenty miles above, raised the
river there twenty teet, and the river at
Remove is reported higher than the Hood
OF 1889, when half the town was under
water. Above there, and extending 10
the headwaters at Cleartield, every town
and hamlet has been reduced by water to
the conditions that prevailed Ill 1889.
Along the Philadelphia Il Erie Railroad,
between this point and Emporium, traffic
has been practically suspended since last
night. Trains are running between Will
transport and Lock Haven, but above the
latter point landslides and track wash
outs have practically swept the tracks
away, and the loss will be very heavy.
The Susquehanna flows south OF the
city, and while it has not yet reached the
point Of danger, it is crawling up at the
rate of foot an hour. Graffus Run.
tributary which empties into the river
below the city, overflowed its banks and
spread over a considerable portion OF the
city about noon to-day, flooding many
houses and driving the occupants from
their homes. All of the houses were oc-
cupied by poor people, and the rise was
so sudden that the sufferers lost much OF
their personal property.
The full strength of the flood is eX
pected here about II o'clock tonight,
when the great body of water from up
the river is due. The fact that the water
from up the river will rush down upon
the city in the dark hours of night adds
an additional element of horror to the
situation. In anticipation, however, of
what is expected. the fire and church
bells OF the city were rung at 10 O'Clock
this morning TO notify the people OF the
impending danger, and from that hour
the work OF preparing Tor the worst mas
been in progress. In thousands of
homes that were submerged five years
ago the people are moving out and stor-
ing their goods in the houses of those
living on the high lands. The business
part of the city was a complete wreck i've
years ago, and merchants are moving
their stock to places OF safety. Convey
-, n, 6,Nr-
through the streets of the city, loaded
with household goods and merchandise.
The regular church services were all Sus
pended to-day, and in all the houses of
worship those who attended confined
themselves to offering prayers for the
assistance of Providence in the present
grave emergency.
THE RIVER RISING RAPIDLY.
WILLIAMsPoRT (Pa.), May 20.-Dark-
ness has settled over the city, and the
rain, which has been falling all day, is
still coming down in torrents. The river
is coming up rapidly, and is now twenty
one feet above the low-water mark. 1t
will overflow It's banks within an hour,
and as the certainty of great destruction
OF property grows more apparent the
general interest increases. The banks of
the river and the bridge are lined with
thousands of people, watching the rise of
the water and those who did not move
during the day are now hurrying their
belongings and families 10 places of
safety. -Four miles of track of the Glen
allen Lumber Company have been swept
away. The boom at Lock Haven has
broken, and $4,000. 600 feet of logs have
been lost. The upper Lindenbook also
broke at $50 this evening. 1t contained
10000, 600 feet of logs, and they have gone
down. There are about l50, 900 feet of
logs in the main boom, and as many more
in the city mill ponds. President Payne
and Boom Boss Rhinehart have made the
boom here as secure as possible. Presl-
dent Payne states that all indications
point to twenty-tiy e-foot flood here,
which will reach lis hight about II or Il
o'clock tonight. Elias Dewer and other
experienced lumber men agree with this
forecast In this event the city as far
north as Market square, embracing the
main business section. will be Hooded.
The rain at IL p. NJ. Is coming down IN
heavy sheets, the wind is blowing furl-
ouslv, and the river is rising at the rate of
a foot all hour. GraffuS Run went on
another rampage, and has spread TO
larger territory than when 1t overt1owed
its banks this afternoon.
Atmidnight, with the rain still falling,
the river has overfiowed its banks in the
central part of the city. and the water IS
rushing up Market street and out to
Third and Fourth streets. In the busi-
ness parts of the city the cellars are now
full of water. The present height OF the
flood is twenty-four feet, and 1t is estl-
mated that it will reach twenty-seven
teet from the present rainfall. But as the
rain shows no sign of abatement 1t is
feared tomorrow will bring more ele-
ments of danger.
Lycoming Creek, a river which brings
more water from the north, is full and is
coming up rapidly. II comes in at the
upper end Of the city and was the source
OF danger In 1889. The height of the river
then turned 1t out OF its course and emp
tied II in from the north of the city, and
ii is feared there may be repetition of
that disaster.
WORST FLOOD IN BRADFoRD's HISTORY.
BUFFALO. May 2O.-A special to the
Express from Bradford. Pa. says: The
worst flood in Bradford's history is rush
ing through Tuna Valley to-day. Twenty
streets contiguous to the creek are innn-
dated and hundreds Of families are IN the
swim.
The east and west branches OF the Tuna
are both transformed into good-sized
rivers. Below Foreman street, at the
confluence of the two streams. the water
is quarter of mile wide ana is high
enough 10 ruin all the carpets in the
houses on Hilton and other streets in the
lower part of the Sixth Ward. The
Douglass dam is partly torn away. The
North-street bridge is gone and several
railroad and street bridges are in danger.
The railroad people are holding down
their bridges with heavily loaded cars.
In the Sixth Ward twenty families were