Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-21
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
Disastrous Floods.


rents of rain which have fallen have
caused disastrous floods along the line
of the Pennsylvania road. 1t was
stated this morning that it would be
two days before any trains could be got
through over the tracks to points east
of Johnstown. Two miles east OF
Conemaugh the tracks for distance
Of $500 feet are covered with water
from two to four feet deep, but the wa
tiers are at n stand and no further dam
age is anticipated. Arrangements have
been made with the Everson and
Hyndman road for the use of their
tracks by the Pennsylvania trains until
the damage TO the track can be re-
paired
The damage by the flood in Johns
town is estimated at about 1923, 900.
The damage along the line Of the Penn
sylvania railroad between Johnstown
and Altoona is placed at a quarter OF
million Of dollars. Two people are
known to have lost their lives in the
flood in the Conemaugh river.
READING, Pa, May 21.-Reports re.
ceived this morning show that the flood
is likely TO prove as disastrous as that
of 1885. The reports from the coal re-
gions especially say that many of the
collieries have been flooded and it may
take week to pump them out.
RUsHFoRD, n. Y, May 21.-The
Genesee valley is again the scene of a
flood fully equal to the great freshet
of June, 1889, and the loss to farmers
on the low lands cannot be estimated
Acres Of crops are washed out COM
pletely, miles of fences are carried
away and many farms badly cut up by
the rushing waters.
PHILADELPHIA, May 2l.-Since Fri
day night and up to noon to-day tour
and one-half inches of rain has fallen
in Philadelphia and there is no evidence
OF an abatement. The storm was par
ticularly severe on the Delaware river
and bay and numerous crafts are in
the lower harbor, tug-boats not being
able to handle them. High casterly
winds caused unusually full tides and
many of the wharves in the upper sec
ton of the city were flooded and the
merchandise stored on them ruined
Seamen predict that the storm along
the coast has been most severe and they
anticipate that many vessels have been
driven up on the beach by the combined
influence Of the heavy winds and seas.
The amount of damage done along the
Schuylkill river has not yet been learn
ed.
The big boom at Williamsport con-
tanning millions of feet of lumber broke
at two o'clock this morning. The river
has overlooked its banks and the lower
floors of houses and business places
near the river side are flooded. The
Western Union office there has been
washed out and Geographic communi-
cation is now entirely cut oil.
READING, Pa, May 2l.-West Mil
ton reports this morning that the town
of Million is threatened with inunda-
ton. The people are terror-strcken
and are moving out oftheir homes. At
Lewisburg the water is within six feet
Of the flood of 1889 and still rising
rapidly.
JoHNsrowN, Pa, May 21.-At 3
o'clock this morning this city was visit
ed by the highest water since the big
flood of May 81, 1889. For several
days rain has been falling continuous
ly. Last evening a heavy rain swept
the Conemaugh valley between Johns
town and Altoona, and by 10 o'clock
the Conemaugh river was rising rapid
l.. To make matters worse, there was
a cloud-burst near Eden5burg, and by
midnight the river was torrent. By
. o'clock this morning the Conemaugh
was over its banks. The alarm was
sounded by the fire whistles and bells
of the city, and almost all of the people
who live in the neignbo-hood of the
Conemaugh river left their houses and
took shelter on higher ground. 1t is
now recedipg rapidly and all danger is
past. The loss by the flood is various
ly estimated at from $75 900 to $50, 000
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
lost $4,000 At 4 o'clock this morning
the water washed into the river 200 feet
of track, carrying with it 4 box cars and
a palace car. Two of five tramps who
were asleep in the cars were drowned.
Many houses were washed away and
many bridges damaged or destroyed.
The CoXcy Case.