The evening world., 1894-05-21
THE PEOPLE IN A PANIC.
Railway Tracks and Cars Washed
Away $50 Two Tramps
Drowned
PENNSYLVANIA ROAD BLOCKED.
Fears that the Reservoir at Kit
tanning Point Is
Weakened.
(By Associated Press.)

By Associated Press)
YOUNGSTOWN, Pa. May 21.-About 3
o'clock this morning Johnstown was
visited by the most disastrous flood
since the big flood of May, 1889. At pres
ent 1t is a hard matter to estimate the
loss. but is an assured fact that the
damage lone In the city and within five
miles of 1t will amount to from $50, 900
to $50, 900. The Pennsylvania road is the
heaviest loser, most OF its loss being the
result of a bad washout In Its track
above Conemaugh.
For several days the Conemaugh and
Stony Creek valleys have been visited
by heavy rains of an almost continuous
nature. Stony Creek reached its high
est point about 9 o'clock yesterday
morning, and after that time began to
recede gradually. By night II had fallen
several feet, SO that no serious damage
was ap~prehended. But in the evening a
heavy rain began In the Conemaugh
Valley, which continued until about 10
o'clock, when a cloud-burst occurred
near Ebensburg.
The valley in which the vast volume
OF water descended is a tributary OF
the ~Conemaugh. and shortly after the
cloud burst the Conemaugh a swollen
to many line its natural size. The
volume of water reached this vicinity
about 3 o'clock this morning. and was
accompanied by wholesale destruction.
The iood 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 Pennsylvania Railroad
used by ~eats-bound trains. For almost
two miles this track was rendered i'm
passable for trains, and 1t became neces-
sary for trains going either way to use
the one track. All trains were delayed.
The fast line. due here at 1890 o'clock,
was held all night on account of the
washout at K%ittanning.
At East Conenaugh the water beat
f~uriously against the large Pennsylvania
Railroad round-house and weakened the
foundations so greatly that 1t was found
necessary to remove all the engines to a
place Of safety. The building, however.
stood.
Several bridges and wooden structures
below Conemaugh were badly damaged.
but the greatest damage was In this
city. In the Eleventh Ward the Okla
homa House. owned by Peter Seymour.
was caught by the raging waters and
swept to destruction. A three : story
building belonging to Philip Brown was
torn from its foundation and greatly
damaged. The iron bridge at this place
was badly wrecked.
Fully SIS, 900 damage was lone to prop
erty within one hundred yards of the
Pennsylvania passenger station here.
Between the freight station inc the
river is an artificial e~mbankment on
which were five loaded cars on a siding.
The swift water undermined the bank.
which gave way about 4 o'clock. carry
ing down In the river about two hundred
feet OF track and the cars.
Two Tramps Drowned.
In one of the cars were five tramps,
who are said to be members Of Galvin's
army. Three OF the succeeded In get
ting away. but two were drowned. Their
names could not be learned. When the
| food came there was 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 West
mont and Prospect. In Woodvale the
streets were covered with water to the
depth of six feet. and small houses were
washed away.
Swanks's pottery works, located In
| the woodva,e section OF the city. caught
fire, and this c~onfiagration AIDED to the
terror OF the inhabitants. 1t was i'm
possible for the fire companies TO reach
| thebuilding, and It was ruined before the
flames went out OF their own accord. The
| Woodvale bridge is still standing, but
is so badly damaged that 1t annot be
used.
wiIIiamsport Under Water.
WILLIAMSPORT. Pa. May 81, l p.
M.-The water in the river has reached
a heighth OF thirty-one feet above low
water, one foot higher than the disas-
trous flood OF 1889. The entire city Is
! under water, which ranges In depth
I from 'fuor to twenty-feet. The water
Is still rising at the rate OF six inches
an hour. All the logs at the boom
which broke at 1 o'clock this morning
have been swept away, as well as many
saw-mills and houses In the lower part
Not a telegraph or telephone wire Is
/ working out OF the city, with n single
exception OF a shaky long-distance tele-