The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-22
WilliAmsporl, Pa, in Imminent
Danger Of Being Swept or
the Map.
Three Days OF Inoossant Rains
Have Mado Rivers OF
All RlVulota
The Rains Cover n Wide Territory aud
All tho streams AFe high and
ONsTHawinG.

WnuAMsPogr. Pa, May 2l.-As nigbs
approached And darkness settled down. the
tsrrora Of tho ilood iaofeAhad. The yellow
torrent, rushing down the hill sides, fed by
a thousand mountain stteAms ana growing
With each passing minute, assumed now
tefrors, and stricken people looked forward
with dread TO tho ordeal through which
they must pass before morning. Cut OF
from the ieat Of the world. no railroad
communication. aud with no avenue %
Telegraph or telephone communication save
the wirs over which this message ls speed
ing. surrounded on every hand BY q slowly
rising destroyer which has already swept
away a million dollars worth OF property,
aud may sweep away q million more. tho
condition Of Williamsport 10 indesi pitla-
bic.
With thirty three feet more water In its
channel than its normal hsiRhth. thB north
branch Of the susquehanna triss 20 snguf
tho town. Every foo, Of atound in tho
city is under four feet OF water. and most
OF II is fifteen feot beneath the surface Of
the stream. Many families are homeless.
Humid eds more expect 10 be diyen from
their houseI 10 the second stories OF which
they have found refuge, befors morning.
and unless the food ceases no power on
earth can avert q greater disaster than has
already como upon the helpless city. The
gas aud electric light plants arc under wa
ter and the city Ia without liRh,a Every
one is desperate. terror stricken aud dis
couragsd. u
just after midnight big log boom gave
wav with q crash and vent rolling aud
tumbling down stream. As II passed the
four bridges below the CITY the logs crashed
and banged against the piers With roar
that could be heard miles. The Market
ST. ee, bridge wss carried away and thee
or four spans Of the magnificent struoturs
succumbed. As the day grew old. and
when light was dim, dozens OF boats aud
hundreds OF wagons vere brought into
requisition and merchants began 10 move
tnsir goods TO places Of safety. 10 wac
seen that every store vas In danger. and
efforts we're made to save all possible.
Househ hold goods were moved TO the sso-
ond, aud sometimes 10 the third, stories Of
residences and hasty preparations weio
made for q prolonged staY, and at this
writing the entire population OF williams
port 10 In a condition Of cxoitsment and
anxiety over the eneroaohmenta Of water.
| Not train has entered or left the city
for twsnty-four hours, and every wire is
down. Tbe telegraph Office 10 four feet
under water and the telsphons exchange 10
almost as bad. The only means OF reach
ing the outside world 10 one telephone wire
Tho water now seems 30 be st q stand-still
but there are grave fears the end Ia nos rec
In sight. G
JoHNsrowN. Pa. May 21.-Johnstown 10
experiencing the most disastrous aooc
since the big food OF May 81. 1889. The
damage will amount al least to fs0O000.
The Pennsylvania railroad 10 the hsaylcst
loser. IL has been raining for three days,
and the last cloudburst occurred near Ei-
lensburg. swelling the Conemsuah 10 many
times its natural size.
CHIcAoo. May 2l.-Reports from many
points In Penns,lvsnis, Ohio. Virginia and
New York tell OF rising ST. cams and foods
The Mississippi 10 Iising rapidly a. 81.
Paul.