The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-21
WATER TAKES ITS TURN
Disastrous Floods Through
out Pennsylvania.
Railroads Washed Out and
Traffic stopped.
Streets Under Water and Homes
Swept Away.
The Whole SusquehannR Valley Prac-
ticalIy Inundated-A Higher Mark
Than Ever Before Reached.
No Lives Lost.
BY tie AssooIated Press.

/
! By TIE Associated Press.
WELIAMsPoRT. Pa, May 20.-With
the horrors of the disastrous food of
1889, which spread death and destruc.
ton throughout this valley, brought
back to memory by threatened danger
OF swoop of water that promises to be
as great as that of five years ago, the
people OF this city all through the West
Branch valley are in state of panic,
that has turned the usually quiet Sun
day into one of remarkable excitement.
Since Friday night a steady and almost
continuous downpour of rain mas been
swelling all the streams, and late last
night numerous cloudbursts along the
Pine creek and other tributaries of the
west branch of the Susquehanns have
made it impossible to conine the
water within the banks of the
streams. 1t has therefore spread out
over the country and at every point is
pouring into the main river. Through
out the day the rain has fallen here end
continues to fall tonight.
Advices from all points from
up the river say the same conditions ex-
ist. A cloudburst at Heating, 20
miles above Remove early this morning
raised the river there 20 feet and the
river at Remove is reported higher than in
the flood OF 1889, when half the town was
under water. Above there and extend
ing to the headwaters at Clearfield, every
town and hamlet has been reduced by
| t.rt tNk khaa : &l,nk laA
1889.
Along the Philadelphia and Erie rail-
road between these points traffic has been
practically suspended since last night.
The trains are running between Will
Transport and Lockhaven, but above the
latter point landslides and track wash
outs have practically swept the tracks
away and the loss will be very heavy.
HOUSES FLOODED.
The Susquehanna flows south OF the
city and while it has not yet reached
the point of danger it is crawling up al
the rate Of foot an hour. Graffus Run,
tributary which empties into the
river below the city, overhowed it's
banks and spread over considerable
portion of the city at about noon today,
flooding many houses and driving the
houses are occupied by poor people and
the rise was 80 sudden that the sufferers
lost much OF their personal property.
The full strength of the flood is ex-
pected here about II o'clock tonight,
when the great body of water from up
the river is due. The fact that the
water from up the river will rush down
upon the city in the dark hours of the
night adds an additional element of
horror to the situation.
WARNING GIVEN.
In anticipation, however, OF what is
expected, the fire and church bells were
rung at 10 O'Clock this morning to noti-
fly the people of the impending danger,
and at that hour the work of preparing
for the worst had been in progress. In
Thousands of homes that were SUBJ
merged five years ago the people are
moving out and storing their goods in
the houses of those living on the high
lands. The business part of the city
WAS a complete wreck five years ago,
and hundreds of merchants are moving
their stocks to places of safety. Convey
ances of every description are hurrying
through the streets of the city loaded
with household goods and merchandise,
and the scenes beggar description. The
regular church services were all sus-
pended today, and in sll the houses of
worship, those who attended confined
Themselves to offering up prayers for
the assistance of Providence in the
present emergency.
THE RIVER RISING.
Darkness has settled over the city and
ho rain, which has been falling all day,
is still coming down in torrents. The
river is coming up rapidly. and ia now 81
feet above low water mark. 1t will over
flow is banks within an hour, and as
the certainty OF great destruction OF prop
} erty grows more apparent, the general
interest increases. The banks OF the
river and the bridges are lined with
thousands OF people watching the rise
OF the water. and those who did not
move during the day are now hurrying
their belongings and families to places
of safety. Four niles of track of tie
Glenallen Lumber company have been
swept away.
BROKEN BOOM.
The boom at Lockhaven has broken
and 175,000 feet OF logs have teen lost.
The upper Linden boom also broke at
5 80 this morning. 1t contained 10. 000.-
900 feet of logs, and they have gone
! down. There are about $50, 900, 900 feet
of logs in the main boom and half as
many more in the city mill ponds that
may go on 25foot flood.
President Payne and Boom Boss R;ne-
hart have made the boom here secure as
possible. President Payne states that
all indications point TO 20 foot food
here, which will reach its height about
IL to II O'Clock tonight.
y
lumbermen agree with this forecast. In
this event the city, as far north as Mar
ket square, embracing the main busi-
ness section, will be flooded.
The rain at IL p. M. is coming down
in heavy sheets; the wind is bio wing
iuriously and the river is rising at the
rate OF foot an hour. Graffius run