The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-22
THE WATERS SUBSIDING
Williamsport in a Pitiable
Condition.
All Avenues of Communication
Cut Off.
Houses Washed Away and Other
Property Destroyed.
The Railroads tho Heaviest Sufferers.
Tracks Washed Out and Bridges
Demolished-AiI TRAFFIC
Suspended.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA, May 2l.-Advices from
Williamsport say that at 8 O'Clock the
water has fallen one foot and the danger
is thought to be over. At Remove the
fall is seven feet and at Lockhaven three
feet.
AT wILLIAMsPORT.
WnLIAMsPoRT. Pa, May 21.-As
night approached and darkness settled
down, the terrors of the food increased.
sides, and growing with each passing
minute, assumed new terrors, and the
striken people looked forward with
dread to the ordeal through which they
must pass before morning. Cut
off from all the rest OF the
world, with no railroad communica-
tion, and with no avenue of telegraph
or telephone communication save the
quivering wire over which this dispatch
is speeding, surrounded on every hand
by the slowly rising destroyer. which
has already swept away q million dol
lars worth of property. and may sweep
away a million more. the condition of
Williamsport is indeed pitiable. With
33 feet more water in it's channel than Is
its normal height, the north branch of
the Susquehanns threatens to en-
gulf the town. Every loot OF
ground in the city is under four
feet of water, and most of it is feet
beneath the surface OF the stream.
Many families are homeless. Hundreds
more expect to be driven from their
houses in the second stories where they
have found refuge. before day, and un-
less the food ceases, there is no power
on earth that can avert greater disas-
ter than has already come upon the
helpless city.
THE LOSS OF PROPERTY
cannot even be approximsted until the
waters Iecede and accounts are cast up
The gas and electric light plants are
under water and the city is without
lights. Everyone is desperate, terror
stricken and discouraged Just after
midnight the big log boom gave way
with a crash and went rolling and tum.
bling down the stream. AS it passed
the four bridges below the city the logs
crashed and banged against the piers
with roar that could be heard for
miles.
A BRIDGE CARRIED AWAY.
The Msrket-street bridge was carried
away and three or four spans of the
magnificent structure succum5ed. As
the day grew old and when the light
was dim, dozens of boats and hundreds
of wagons were brought into requisition
and merchants began to move
their goods to places of safety,
it was seen that every store
was in danger and efforts were
made to save all possible. House
hold goods were moved to second and
sometimes to third stories of residences,
and hasty preparations we're made for a
prolonged stay, and at this writing the
entire population of Williamsport is in q
condition of excitement and anxiety
over the encroachments Of the water
All the business portion OF the city is
submerged to an average depth of six
feet. Not train has entered or left the
city for the past "a hours and every wire
is down. The telegraph Office is four
feet under water, and the telephone ex-
change is almost as bad. The only
means of reaching the outside world is
one telegraph wire. The water now
seems to be ut standstill, but there are
grave fears that the end is not yet in
sight.
HOUSES SWEPT AWAY.
OLEAN, N. Y, May 2l.-A large num-
ber of houses were swept away during
the night. Lumber was carried away in
piles. The bridges of the western road
were carried out, and all stores and the
postal telegraph Office are under water.
The water has driven scores of people
from their homes and ruined their
household goods. Crops in the valley
are ruined.
| OTHER RIVERS RISING.
EAsToN, Pa, May 21.-The Delaware
and Lehigh rivers are rising rapidly.
The Lehigh is higher than at any time
since 'S9. This people living along the
banks of the latter stream have been
compelled to move all their goods to a
place of safety. Tonight $50 feet
Of the wall OF the basin of the Lehigh
| Coal and Navigation companv's canal,
at the mouth OF the Lehigh, gave way
and fell into the Delaware river. and the
great body Of water thus let loose caused
the Lehigh to fall fully two feet. Shortly
! afterwsrd it began to rise again, and
! more trouble is apprenended.
THE FLOOD RECEDINa.
BUFFALO, N. Y, May 2l.-A special to
the express from Bradford says:
The food has subsded and the heavy
downpour OF rain has ceased.
At Riverside park, few miles below
the city, the Buffalo, Rochester and
Pittsburg track has been washed out fol
a quarter of a mile.
NoRRIsrowN, Pa, May 21.--Trafic on
all railroads is suspended, and the
tracks are covered with water. All the
houses ON Front street, in Bridgeport
are half covered with water, and the
inmates are moving out.
Tooth brushes. A complete line, and
We sell them at 10, l5, 20, 20, 80, 40 and
| M cts and 0uaYantaa avarv hruah Lit