The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-05-23
.WILLIAMSPORT'S WOE.
The Property Loss Will be as
Great as in 1899.
BUILDINGS IN DANGER OF FALLING

Dozens Of Families of Poor People Hav.
Lost All They Possessed, and Measures
of Relief WIN be Pushed Rapidiy-Bus-
iness Rapidly ResumIng.
WILLIAMsroRT, Pa, May 23.-As the
waters recede the havoc wrought by the
MOOD 10 becoming more and more appar-
ent, and careful investigation proves that
the loss to property will be as great rs it
was in 1880, Dozens of families among
Che poorer people of the city have lost all
they had in the world, and almost every
one has lost something. In fact, so wide
spread is the damage that 1t is impossible
to particularize. The greatest havoc was
wrought at Newberry, three miles out of
this city, where the Reading depot was
completely wrecked and every house in
the place was from six to twelve feet I'M
der water.
In the city proper the foundations of
many of the largest buildings in the city
are found to have been so greatly weak
ened as to be unsafe. In tho ."ase of the
Pine Street NJ +. church d oundntion
of the steeple has been impaired SO that
the structure may fall at any time. These
facts are causing great uneasiness, as
many deaths resulted from falling build
ings after the previous foods II is again
reported that several persons are missing,
who it is feared have been drowned, but
the only specific case thus far is that Of
| William Long who has not been seen
since Sunday morning.
The losses in the farming districts have
been very great, and reports from all the
surrounding towns bring tales of the loss
of thousands of dollars worth of logs and
lumber swept away in the roaring torrent.
The river, which has fallen rapidly, is
now about stationary, and is running rap
idly. The business portion of the city is
out Of water, but that part which lies
north of the Heading railroad station and
some portions of the east and west ends
are still partly submerged. Active prep
arations are in progress to resume bust
ness, hand engines and all manner of
pumps being pressed into service to clear
the cellars and lower floors of water
The most exciting scenes OF the food
were during Monday night. Hundreds Of
boats manned by the rivermen moved
swiftly through the streets. stopping at
every turn in response to appeals for help
to take from second story windows the
women and children whose lives were in
great danger. The boats were not plenty
enough, for many hundreds found their
way out by jumping on floating sidewalks.
Others waded with the water up to their
neeks, carrying the women aud children
from the dangerous localities, and acts of
heroic devotion to suffering humanity
We're performed everywhere. ... ..
The railroad officials have been equally
active, aud facilities for travel are again
in their normal condition on the philadel-
phia and Erie. The Northern Central be-
tween this city and Canton is in bad
shape, and the Fall Brook and Beech
Creek roads are in such condition that
traffic cannot be resumed for 3cve..;s;, d.
The Reading will lA:"cc-!s hA ella .c 20
much Williamsport service for at least a
week, owing TO the loss of the bridge at
Nuncy. The Philadelphia aud Erie will
probably handle Reading trains beyond
Mnncy until the bridge is rebuilt
Mayor Elliott has called a meeting for
this afternoon, at which steps will be
taken to provide for those who are in I'M
mediate need. The electric lights are still
out, and the city is in darkness, but as the
river recedes into its channel all present
discomforis are forgotten in the general
feeling OF thankfulness that it is no worse