Evening journal., 1895-01-08
REATENED BY FLOODS
Pennsylvania Cities and Towns
Menaced by Rising Rivers.
MUCH DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.

The Monongaheln, the Allegheny and Other
streams Are Roaring Torrents, FILLED
with Ice and wrecIsage-One Life Lost.
Two Government Coffcrdams Swept Away.
PITTsBuRo. Jan. s. River men are
thoroughly alarmed over the probability
Of big food at this point The Monon-
gahela came out with a rush, and with the
breaking Of leo in the upper pools the
damage to boats began. Immense coal
6oets were threatened with total destruo-
dion.
The Allegheny is also full Of ice and is
running like torrent. A great amount
Of wreckage is coming down, indicating
damage at points above. River men say
that they expect a stage Of 80 feet, with
prospect of going still higher In the
memorable flood OF 1884 the Allegheny
rose to 33 feet and great damage was
done.
There was intense excitement along the
MononRahela wharf all day. The boats
In tho harhor had steam up and were do
ing what they could TO protect themselves
from the rapidly rising water. The docks
ct Mokeesport and the boat bottoms tied
up at the river gave way. Tho ferryboat
II. =. Sinclair broke away from her moor
ings and iioated down the stream. She
was caught In the harbor here and tOwed
safely ashore.
The report of 20 feet at lock No, and
28 feet at Morgantown caused a general
panic among the coal operators, and most
Of the clerks and employees were ordered
out of the offices and stationed along tho
river at different points to look after the
safety of their craft. There were several
million bushels Of coal on flats in the har-
Dor here, and every effort was put forth to
keep the fleets from being wrecked Sew
eral coal barges, a houseboat and a swing
Ing ferryboat broke from their moorings
and went down with the current.
Conerdams In Danger.
The most serious damage in the Allie
ghany will be done TO the government
work at Herr's island, whore the now dam
is now in course Of construction. The
water is now over the oofferdams, and it
is likely that all Of the work will be de-
stroyed
The latest news Is encouraging ana in
dioates that the flood has done its worst
as far as Pittsburg and points above ON
both rivers are concerned. What further
damage may be done win be below.
The Monongnhela here registered 23
feet and is rising very slowly The best
river authorities agreo in placing the high
est stage at 20 foet Adyices from all Of
the up river points show that the water
Is either reoeding OF about stationary.
Kittanning on the Alleghany, reports
a ! foot stage, rising very slowly The
rainfall has stopped, and a freeze is ex-
| pected tonight
Tho heaviest individual loss so far re.
/ ported was at MoKeesport whore SO coal
barges We're carried from the docks and
down the river, entailing loss of between
S35 000 and $40, OO0
Beaver Pa, reports thattwo coiferdami
At the new government dam just below
Van Port have been swept away, with q
| considerable money damage and the losi
Of one life John McSweeney a ston,
mason, who had gone on the dam to ge
his tools, was caught in the crash, and hi
body was swept away. Joseph Ledlie wal
rescued with much difficulty.
Now that the danger here seems to bl
avertcd, coal men are making preparation
TO get a large quantity of coal to southern
ports as soon as the ice has thinned sutii
ciently, which viii probably be abou
Thursday.