Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-05-22
FLOODS SUBSIDlNG.
Water Begins Going Down at
Williamsport.
MAKES A NEW HIGH TIDE RECORD.

rhirty-f1ve Feet Above I.Ow-Water Mark
Is the Figure and the Destruction
Amounts to 81 800. OOO-A Load Of Terri
BILE Anxiety Lifted from the City's Peo-
ple-NO Loss Of Life Eecorded-Six
schooncrs Swept Away in the Schuylkill
Other Damages.
WHLIAMsPoIT, Pa, May 22.-As night
approached and darkness settled down
at this place the terrors of the food in
creased. The yellow torrent rushed down
from the hillsides. fed by 1000 mountain
streams, and growing with each passing
minut g assumed new terrors and the
stricken people looked forward with dread
to the ordeal through which they must
pass before morning. Cut off from the
rest of the world-no railroad communi-
cation and with no avenue Of telegraph
or telephone communication, save the
slender quivering wire over which this
message is speeding-surrounded on every
hand by the slowly rising destroyer which
has already swept away 81 ,000W,O worth
of property and may sweep away 81 100000
more, the condition of Williamsport is in
deed pitiablc. With thirty-three feet
normal height, the North branch of the
SusQuehanna threatened to engulf the
town.
The Whole City Under Water.
Every foot of ground in the city is four
feet under water and much of it is fifteen
feet below the surface of the stream.
Many families are homeless, hundreds
more expected to be driven from their
houses, in the second stories of which
they have found refuge, before long, and
unless the flood ceases there is no power
on earth that can avert a greater disaster.
The loss of property cannot even be ap-
proximated until the waters recede and
accounts are cast up. The gas and cleo
trio light plants are under water and the
| city is without lights. Every one is des-
| perate. terror-stricken and discouraged.
The breaking of the Log Boom.
The breaking of the log boom was n
| terrifying spectacle. IT. occurred just aft
| er midnight and the logs went rolling
| and tumbling 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.
The bridge at Montgomery street was
left intact, as was also the Pennsylvania
| roads span across the river. The Market
street bridge was carried away and three
of the four spans of the Maynard street
| structure succumbed to the rush of water.
| AS the day wore on dozens of boats and
hundred of wagons were brought into
requisition and merchants began to move
their goods to places of safety. 1t was
seen that every store in town was in dan
ger and herculanean efforts were made
| to save all possible. Household goods were
moved to second and sometimes to third
stories of residences, where hasty prepare
tons were made for protracted stay.
Six Feet CT Dampness on the Average.
All over the business portion the city is
| submerged to an average depth of six feet.
Not train has entered or left the city for
twenty-four hours and every telegraph
wire leading out of Williamsport is down.
The telegraph office is four feet under
water and the telephone exchange is in
almos: as bad n condition. The only means
| of reaching the outside world is one tele-
phone wire. The water at this moment
| appears to he Mt standstill, but there are
grave fears that the end is not yet in sight.