The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1894-05-26
J0HNSTOWN A SUFFERER.
Disastrous Flood sweeps Down the
Valleys OF tcntrai Penn
SyISaHI1.


JoHNsTOwS, Pa, May 2I.-Johnstown
has been visited 10y the most disastrous
food since the big flood of May u +,
1889. At present it is a hard mat
ter to estimate the loss, but it is an
assured fact that the damage done
the city and within five mites OF it, Will
amount to from $50, 900 to $4,000
The Pennsylvania Railroad Is the
heaviest loser. Most of its loss Is the
result of n bad washuut in It's track
about Conemaugh.
For several days the Conemaugh and
Stony Creek Valleys las been visit
ed by heavy rains Of almost continu-
Gus nature. Stony Creek reached its
highest point about . O'Clock Yesterday
morning and after that time began to
recede gradually. BY night It had fallen
several feet, so that no serious damage
was apprehendcd. But in the evening
heavy rain began in the Conemaugh
Valley which continued until about 10
O'Clock, when a ClOudburst occurred
near Ebensburg. The valley in which
the vast volume of water descended is 4
tributary of the tonCmaugh, and short
ly after the CiOudburst the COnemaugh
had swollen TO many times Its natural
size
The volume of water reached this
vicinity about o'clock this morning
and was accompanied by wholesale de
struCtion. The flood was first felt at
South Fork, where numerous small
buildings were swept away. Further on
IN the course of the stream the water
undermined the track of the PennsYi-
yanXl road used by nOrth-hOuud tralnR
For almost two miles this track was rem
dered impossible for trains, and il be
came necessary for trains going either
way to use the one track. All trains
were DELAYED. The fast line due
here at 1910 was held all night on ac-
count of the washout at kjttaning. At
East Conemaugh the water beat furi-
ously against the large PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad roundhouse and weakened
the foundation so greatly that it was
found necessary to remove all the en-
gines to a place of safety. The build
ing, however, stood.
Several bridges and wooden structures
below Conemaugh were badly damaged i,
but the greatest damage was in the city
In the Eleventh Ward the Oklahoma
House, owned bv Peter SevmOur. was
caught by the raging waters and swept
to destruction. 4 thrCc-storv building
of Phillip Brown WAS torn from its f0un-
datiOn and greatly damaged Tire iron
bridge at this place was badly wrecked
Fully $l3, 900 damage was done to prop
erty within 100 yards of the PennsylVa-
ma passenger station HolC. BE Wcen
the freight station and the river
81
were five loaded cars on a siding. The
swift water undermined the bank.
which gave way about o'clock, carry
ing down into the river about 200 feet of
track and the cars. in one of the cars
were five tramps who arc said to have
been members of Gaiyan army. Tire"
of them succeeded in getting away, bHt
two were drowned. Their names Could
not be learned.
When the food came there vas great
excitement Parties went from house
TO house awakening the occupants
whistles blew, and the city was alive
with teams and people who were taken
to WeEtmont and Prospect. In Wood
vale the streets were covered with wafer
to the depth of q feet, and some small
houses were swept away. SWank =
pottery works, located in this section of
the city, caught fire, and this COntlagra-
ton added to the terror Of the inhab-
itants. 1t was impossible for the fire
company to reach the building, and it
was ruined before the flames went out
of their own accord. The WoodvaIe
bridge is still standing, but it is so bad
ly damaged that il cannot be used.
The river is falling this afternoon and
all danger Is apparently over Three
buildings were carried away in the cen
tral part of the city and a large number
Of others badly damaged. The store
Of Anthony George at the north end
of Lincoln bridge was submerged
and although anchored with ropes
the water swept it away with all its
contents. The residences of Emanuel
James and Charles Stattler also went.
down stream. The rear of the Grand
Central Hotel caycd in, but the main
building stood. Considerable damage
was done to bridges in the vicinity, but
the worst Is now over. \ body tioatcd
past the city this afternoon, but those
who ATTEMPTED to rescue il failed