The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-21
JOHNSTOWN SWEPT.
A ClOudburst Above the Illfated
Pennsylvania Town,
Sends a Terrible Flood Through
the City.
Scenes of May 81, 1889, Are
Repeated,
BUT NJ LOSS OF LIFE.
TheInhabitants Warned in Time
by Watchmen.
WilliamspOrt Under Water Six
to Twenty Feet.

JoHNsTowN, Pa, May 21.-About
o'clock this morning, JOhnstown was Wis
tied by the most disastrous flood since
the big food of May 81, 1889. The Penn
sylvania railroad is the heaviest loser
Most of its loss is the result of a bac
Washout in its track about Conemaugh h.
For several days the Conemaugh and
Stoney Creek valley has been visited by
heavy rains of almost a continuous ma
ture. The Stoney Creek reached its
highest point about o'clock yesterday
morning, and after that it began to re-
cede.
BY night it had fallen several feet
so that no serious damage was appre-
hended- But in the evening a heavy
rain began in the Conemaugh valley
which continued until about 10 o'clock
when clOudburst occurred near Ebens-
burg. The cloudburst had soon swollen
the Conemaugh to many times its nat
ural size.
The Water Sweeping Down.
The volume Of water reached this
vicinity about 3 o'clock and was accom-
panied by Wholesale destruction. 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 Pennsyl-
vania road used by east bound trains.
For almost two miles the track was rem
dered impossible for trains and it be-
came necessary for trains going either
way to use the one track.
At East Conemaugh the water beat
furiOusly against the large Pennsylva-
MA railroad roundhouse and undermined
the foundation so greatly that it was
found necessary to remove all the en-
gines to place of safety. The building
I,-,1 =
wooden structures below Conemaugh
were badly damaged, but the greatest
damage was in the city. In the Eleventh
ward the Oklahoma house, owned by
Peter Seymour, was caught by the raging
waters and swept to destruction.
Three Story Building Swept Away.
A three story building of Philip Brown
was torn from its foundation and greatly
damaged, the iron bridge at this place
was badly wrecked Fully $4,000 dam
age was done 20 property within the
yards of the Pennsylvania passenger
station here Between the freight station
and the river is an artificial embankment
on which we're five loaded cars on a sid
ing. The swift water undermined the
bank, which gave way about 4 o'clock,
carrying down into the river about 200
feet of track and the cars. In one
are said to have been members
of Galvin's army. Three of them
succeeded in getting away, but two were
drowned. Their names could not be
learned. With the food came great ex-
citement. Parties went from house to
house awaking the inhabitants, whistles
blew and the city was alive with people,
who were taken to Westmont and Pros
pect.
A Fire Breaks Out
In Woodvale the streets were covered
with water to the depth of six feet and
all
Swank's pottery works, located in this
section of the city, caught fire, and
this conhagration added to the
terror of the inhabitants 1t was
impossible for the fire company to reach |
the building and it was ruined before the |
The Woodvale bridge is still standing, |
but is so badly damaged that it cannot be |
used.
pm.-The rivers are now falling rap
Inly and all danger is apparently over.
Three buildings were carried away in \
The central part Of the city and large |
number of others badly damaged The /
'tore of Anthony George at the north end |
Ot the Lincoln bridge, was submerged |
and although anchored with ropes the
water swept it away with all its contents.
The residence of Emanuel James and
Charles Statler also went down stream.
he rear of the Grand Central hotel was
saved in but the building stood. Consid- |
srable damage was done to the bridges
u this vicinity. but the worst is now
,ver.
A body just fioated past the city, but
hose who attempted to rescue it failed.
wILLIAMsPORr UNDER WATER.
The Entire City Submerged From Six to
Twenty Feet.
WILLIAMsPoRT, Pa, May 81 The
water in the river has reached a height
4 thlrty-one feet above low water mark.
me loot higher than the disastrous food
II 1889. The entire city is under water.
which ranges in depth from four to
wenty feet The water is still rising at
he rate of six inches an hour.
All the logs at the boom which broke |
t 1 o'clock this morning have been
wept away as we'll as many saw
nills and houses in the lower
'art of the city. Not sim
lie telegraph or telephone wire .
) working out of the city, with the single
reception of a shaky long distance tele-
hone wire which was placed at the dis I
'osal of the Associated Press correspon-
ent.
While he was talking to PHILADELPHIA
e was driven out Of the office by the I