The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-08
THE SWOLLEN RIVERS
MONONGAHELA, ALLEGHENY AND
OHIO on THE RAMPAGE.
Damage at and Near PittsburE-Gov-
eminent Dam in DanEer-Fenrs Of
Cincinnatians AlIayed.

PITTSBURG, Jan. 7.-Rivar men We're
alarmed to-day over the probability of a
big flood at this point. The Monongahea
came out with a rush this morning. and
with the breaking of the ice in the upper
pools the damage to boats began. Immense
coal fleets were threatened with total de-
struction. The Allegheny is also full of
ice and is running like torrent A great
amount of wreckage is coming down, in
dicating damage at points above. River
men said to-day that they expected a stage
of thirty feet, with prospect of going still
higher. In the great flood of 1884 the Allie
gheny rose to thirty-three feet and great
damage was done.
There was intense excitement along the
Monongahela wharf all day. All the boats
in the harbor had steam up and do
ing all they could to keep out of the way
of the rapidly rising water. The channel
was full of ice and snow and the current
very swift. The docks at McKeesport and
the boat bottoms tied up along the river
gave way early this morning and went
rushing down the river. The ferry boat
H. p. Sinclair broke away from her moor
ings and fioated down the stream. She was
caught in the harbor here and towed safely
to shore. The report of twenty-five feet at
lock No. and twenty-three feet at Nor
coal operators and most of the clerks and
employees were ordered out of the offices
and stationed along the river at different
points to look after the safety of the craft
and make reports to the general offices.
There were several million bushels of coal
on fleets in the harbor here and every
effort was put forth to keep the fleets from
being wrecked. Several coal barges,
house boat and a swinging ferry boat broke
from their moorings and Went down with
the current. The most serious damage in
the Allegheny will be done to the govern
ment work at Hers island, where the
new dam is now in course of construction;
The water is now the Golfer dam and
it is likely that all of the work will be
destroyed.
The railroads both East and West are be-
ing troubled by the, high water, although
no serious damage has been done. any
of the lines. At Mcdonald, the Pan
handle, the Union News Companys stand
was washed away this morning. The build
and when the ice broke the piles were
knocked out from under it and the building
h0ated down the stream. No trouble was
I. reported on the Fort Wayne, although
close watch is being kept on all property
We're delayed by the landslide at Ben Avon,
but no serious damage was done. A land
timore & Ohio, which interrupted traffic for
several hours.
The news tonight, however is encourage
ing, and indicates that the food has done
its worst as far Pittsburg and points
above on both rivers are concerned. What
further damage may be done will be below.
twenty-three feet and rising very slowly.
The best river authorities agree in placing
the highest stage at twenty-six feet. Adj
vices from all of the up-river points show
that the water Is either recedng or about
stationary. At Morgantown il reached
twenty-five feet without doing much dam
age, and at 8 p. m. had receded to twenty
four sfeet. Kittanning on the Allegheny.
reports an eleven-foot stage, and rising very
slowly. The rainfall has stopped and II
freeze is expected tonight. The heaviest
individual loss SO far reported that at
McKeesport. where fifty coal barges were
carried from the docks and down the river,
entailing a loss OF between $4,000 and
$4,000.
Beaver Pa, reports tonight, that the
Golfer dam at the new government dam,
just below Nanport. has been swept away,
with a considerable money damage and the
loss of one life John McSweeney. stone
mason, who had gone out on the dam TO
gos his tools was caught in the crash and
his body swept away. Joseph Ledlie
rescued with much difficulty
Now that the danger here seems to be
averted. coal men making preparations
to get a large quantity of coal TO Southern
ports as soon as the ice has thinned suf-
GENTLY, which will probably be about
.s.xy