The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-23
YOUNGSTOWN
SCARED.
Cl0udburst Made the Water in
a Greek Rise
Until it Engulfed Large Sec
tiOn of Town.
in THIRTY MINUTES
1t Was Up to the Second Story
Windows.
City Greatly Excited and Stayed
Up all Night.
No Lives Lost, but Much Dam
age Done.
IN THIRTY MINUTES
1t Was Up to the Second Story
Windows.
No Lives Lost, but Much Dam
age Done.

Youngstown, O., July 23-At o'clock
last night a terrific cloudburst struck
this town, flooding the entire valley
and causing great damage to property,
both in the city and along the railroad
lines. Many people were supposed to
be drowned. The entire country east
and west for twenty miles was flooded,
and the damage is enormous, the rail-
roads being the heaviest losers. The
Erie railroad west of Warren IA miles
and north of Sharon for the same dis
tance was entirely flooded and orders
were issued to discontinue all trains.
Many residences were flooded out and
the occupants were taken away by the
police and fire departments. The Ma
hong Valley electric lines were flooded
out and all the bridges washed away.
The Catholic church at Niles was struck
by lightning at the same hour and
nearly destroyed by fire, while busi-
ness houses and manufacturing con-
Germs were flooded. Henry Meyers. a
tailor, while standing at his residence
on Mill street, was struck by lightning
and killed instantly.
On every railroad leading into the
city come reports of extensive wash
outs and bridges swept away, and rail-
road officials say the loss will be the
heaviest they have ever known.
At 1920 last night came the first tan
gible evidence of the damage done by
the storm. Along Crab creek, running
into the city from the east along the
Erie and Lake Shore railroads and
emptying into the MahOng river near
the Lake Shore depot, a cloudburst oc-
CURED about ten miles out, and the
water did notbegi to rise much in the
city until after o'clock. At about 10
o'clock the water came down the val
flood, sweeping everything that was not
fastened down before it. The bed of
the creek was not more than 20 feet
wide and the flood spread out to a
width of about 1000 feet. 1t rose
quickly and in less than thirty minutes
the water was up to the second story
of all the dwelling houses in the flood
ed district and was still rising.
The whole district was covered with
darkness, except in small places where
a lone electric light shone- Firemen,
police and others were gotten out quick
ly, but were pOwerleSS to rescue any
body as not a boat of any kind was to
be had in that portion of the city. The
cries of the people in the houses were
heartrending to those who stood at the
waters edge and were forced to retreat
slowly on account of the gradually ris-
ing waters.
People at the waters edge heard a
man crying for help who was appar-
emily being carried down in the flood.
The voice grew fainter, and it is sup
posed the unfortunate man periShed.
Cries for help were heard continually,
nothing in the way of giving it, Po-
lice and firemen went to another part
of the city after boats.
1t was midnight before boats were
gotten to the flooded Crab creek dis
trict and the work of rescue could be
started. The boats were manned by
firemen, who could not make much
progress on account of the swift and
dangerous current. Nine families were
taken out of second story windows with
in a half hour and many people were
picked up clinging to debris.
great loss of life was narrowly
averted at the Spring common foot
bridge. Men, women and children in
sisted upon remaining to watch the an
cry waters below in spite of the fact
that the structure was unsafe. Finally
two policemen with drawn clubs clear
ed the bridge, and none too soon, for a
few second later the bridge was swept
away. Reports from the rural dis
tricts show that the farmers suffered
greatly. In Trumbull county fifteen
barns were struck by lightning and
burned. Crops were destroyed and
buildings generally damaged, but no
loss of life is yet reported.