Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-24
IN orHE ER CITIES.
The Lehigh RaGing-A S4O.0OO Bridge
Decentralization in n BAD Way.

dllIlOSL llCesSduJ uOWupOul sihCG i1htui-
day afternoon, which had not spent its
force tonight, has deluged this fair sec
tion of the State. The rainfall was the
heaviest known for many years, and at
times perfect gale blew, leveling trees
and fences and prostrating telegraph,
telephone and electric light wires.
The city tonight is in partial dark
ness because the machinery at the
electric light works is flooded. The
Lehigh river since yesterday afternoon
has been raging stream and is 10 feet
above low water mark.
The Little Lehigh and Jordan are
over their banks and the meadows and
lowlands are under many feet of water
Numbers of industrial establishments
along the banks of these streams have
been compelled to shut down, their
easements and lower stories being
| flooded.
The greatest loss is the partial de-
| struction of the new $4,000 bridge
over the Lehlgh between Hokendauqua
| and Catasauqua. 1t was built by the
counties of Lehigh and Northampton
and was about to be opened to traffic.
IN AND AROUND READING.
READING, Pa, May 21.-From early
morning until late tonight the Schuyl-
kill river has continued to rise, until it
has attained height Of II feet In the
lower section of the city along the river
front the river has broken from its banks
and flooded the cellars and first stories
of the houses on Water, River and Front
streets. ..-
A numberof houses have been vacated
| Inv lpi industrial
plants have been compelled to shut
down owing to the high water
All trains are delayed either by wash
outs or by bridges being swept away.
The tracks of the Philadelphia & Read
ing railroad south of this city are sub
merged in two feet of water. Tho
Pennsylvania railroad has abandoned
all passenger and freight traffic on its
line.
The railroad bridges at Stony Creek
and nauphin, on the Pine Grove divi-
sion of the Philadelphia u Reading rail-
road, were carried away this morning.
TELEGRAPH OFFICE FLOODED.
SuNBuRY, PA, May 21.-The Western
Union Telegraph Co.'s operator at Mil
ton was driven out by the flood at 3
o'clock this afternoon, since which time
there has been no telegraphic communi-
cation north of this place.
The Reading railroad bridge at Muncy
is washed away, as is the wagon bridge
at Allenwood. The Pennsylvania and
Reading bridges at this point are still
safe, but no trains left here tonight.
coNsHoHocKEN CUT OFF.
CoNsHoHooKEH, Pa, May 2t.-The
freshet at this place is the most disas-
trous one since 1869, and threatens tc
eclipse it in volume, but has already
accomplished ten times as much ruin,
The electric light works are under
water. The gas works are flooded and
the town is In darkness, except for the
tlickering lamps and candles in the
stores.
Water several feet deep on the tracks
north and south has cut off travel from
this point on all roads.
At West Conshohocken over dozen
families have been driven from their
homes.
At Spring Mill village the population
vacated early this morning. and the rail
road stations are submerged.
Lock Tender B. L. Giles succeeded il
,, getting his family from the domiclle a
the lower locks III boats, but Locl
Tender David D. Wilkins and his family
, of seven children are still imprisoned al
the upper locks, surrounded by thu
+ seething volume coming down the river
All the mills and factories have CLOSED
down and are surrounded by water
The Mcfarland dam breast at Gull
mills burst this evening, doing considera
Bile damage along Gulf creek.
Four small Philadelphia & Reading
! bridges in this vicinity are loosenet
from their fastenings and are momen'
tarily expected to CO.
The railroad stations at Spring Mil
7 and the postoffice there are submerged.
PLYMOUTH STEAMER SINKS.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, May 20.-North
( eastern Pennsylvania was visited by
severe rain storm to-day. A great dea
4 of damage was done in some districts
Q Hundreds of trees were uprooted, fence
1 blown down and small buildings wer
$ entirely demolished. In one orchard
consisting of 49 trees, more than half 0
G them were uprooted.
Q At Nanticoke the steamer Mayhowel
u which phys between that town and Ply
i mouth, was struck by squall and sunk
| L
!. A large tree fell across the track O
!, the Wilkesbarre electric railway, nea
e Ashley, and car moving at hig
5 speed ran into it. The car was badl
i wrecked and the motorman had bot
8 legs mangled and may die. Several c
Ii the passengers were also injured. Th
}. Susquehanna river is rising rapidly, an
! it is feared that if the rain continues
| he NlOu MI n Il ri fro
7 all the truck gardens. 1t has risen owe
IS three feet to-day.
4 CIRCUS STUCK IN THE MUD.
i READING, Pa, May 20.-Therc is
food in the Schuylkill river and tn
water is rising rapidly. 1t is now thre
feet higher than it was last evening
e The Barnum g. Bailey circus is stuck i
II the mud Many of the wagons hav
II sunk in the ground up to axles and
y horses and an elephant were required
= move one of them.
G THREE DROWNED IN TIE FLOOD.
e JoHNsTowN, Pa, May 20.-Three pei
= sons were drowned here to-day by tn
floods. Two men and boy fell int
. the Conemaugh river and were drowned
u Their bodies have not been recovered.
G DIED TO SAVE HER PROPERTY.
d HUNTINGDON, Pa, May 20.-Mr
II Jacob Miller, at Saxton, while trying
C save some property to-day, was swep
e under water and perishcA.
, FIRST STORIES or HOUSES FLOODED.
- NEWPORT, PERRY County, Pa, Ma
:. 21.-The Juniata river is 25 feet aboy
low water mark, about five feet lowe
- than the terrible food of 1889. FamiliC
- IN Front straet have abandoned the