The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-08
WATERS GATHERING FOR FLOOD
MonoDgahela and Allegheny
Rivers Rage.
A Fleet of Coal Barges- Sunk at
Pittsburg.
Fears That tn > IDund alton of Ton Years
Ago VIII Be Repeated-At
Other Points.
By THE HERALD's Leased Wire.

By THE HERALD's Leased Wire.
PITTsBURG, Pa, Jan. River men
are thoroughly alarmed over the prob
ability OF big food at this point. The
Monongehela came out with rush
this morning. and with the breaking Of
the ice in the upper pools the damage to
boats began. Immense coal 1eets were
threatened with destruction. The Al
legheny is alee full of ice and running
like torrent. A great amount of wreck
age is coming down, indicating damage
at points above. River men said today
they expected stage OF 80 feet, with q
prospect OF going still higher. In the
great food of 1884 the Allegheny rose
to SO feet, and great damage was done.
There was great excitement along the
Monongahea wharf all day. The chan-
mel was full of ice and snow and the
current was very swift. The docke at
McKeesport and the boat bottoms tied
up along the river gave way early this
morning and went rushing down the
river. Tho ferry boat Sinclair broke
away and floated down stream, but was
caught in the harbor and towed safely
to shore. The report of 25 feet at
lock No. A and % feet at Morgantown
caused general panic among the coal
operators and most OF the CLERKS end
employees were ordered out and sta.
toned along the river TO look after the
craft ana make reports to the general
officers.
COAL BARGEs SUNK.
There were several millions of bushels
of coal on fat boats in the harbor here,
and every effort was made to keep the
fleets from being wrecked. Several coal
barges, o house boat and swinging
ferry boat broke from their moorings
and went down with the current. The
most serious damage in the Allegh eny
will be done to the government work at
Harris island, where the new dam is
now in course Of construction. The
water ia now over the coferdam and
it is likely all the work will be
destroyed.
The residents of Etna and Sharps-
burg are alarmed.
The low ground in both towns is SUBJ
merged and the water is rising.
The railroads both east and west are
being troubled by the high water, al
though no serious damage has been
done yet
At Mcdonald. on the Panhandle. the
Union News company's stand was
washed away this morning. The build
ing was built on piles along the river
bank, and when the ice broke the piles
were knocked from under il and the
building hoated down the stream. A
landslide occurred at Connellsville, on
the Baltimore 4 Ohio, which completely
interrupted traffic for several hours.
Forsoaster Stewart of the local signal
service does not think the stage in the
Allegheny river will exceed 20 feet. He
says the only danger now from flood
js to be apprehended from the Monon-
gehela river.
AT OTHER POINTS.
WHEELING, w. Va, Jan. THE riv.
ers are still rising and considerable dam
age has already been done.
On the Cleveland. Lorain and Wheel
ing road one of the bridges was washed
away at Bruce, and one at Wheeling
creek mines. There have been no trains
north today and the train due at Bridge
port at | 80 p. IN. has been abandoned
at Uhrichsville.
The Panhandle, Baltimore and Ohio
and Ohio river trains are all right so
far.
UNIoNTowN, Pa, Jan. THE flood ia
sweeping things along the river at a
lively rate tonight. and the situation is
really alarming. Yowlerville, suburb
of New Haven, is submerged. Two-
thirds of the citizens have already
moved out, and if the water rises much
higher their homes will be swept away.
Reports from Dawson, Diokerson's
Run, Bannings and other towns down
the river show that they are all ct the
mercy of the waters and great damage is
being done.