The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-25
LOSS UP IN MILLIONS.
MonongaheIa and Allegheny Riv.
ers Break All Records.
WATER Is NOW FALLING RAPIDLY.

sheny-Ihe Rivers IN the vicinity Oh
Pittsburg Reached a Higher Stage Than
at Any Time Since 1884 Great Damage
to Intricate Machinery.
Pittsburg. Feb. 25.-The great flood
has done its worst in this section and
the waters are now receding A cold
wave which came up suddenly broke
the back OF the flood, and the reports
from all points between Pittsburg and
the head waters Wednesday morning
Indicate that all danger has passed. The
rivers I'm this vicinity reached a higher
stage than at any time since 1884. The
Monongahela registered 29 #. s in. and
the Allegheny 30 IT. 8 in. about mid
night, and after remaining stationary
for several hours, began slowly to re-
cede. From now on II will subside al
most as rapidly as II rose. Hardly
point in the Monongahela valley from
Fairmont to Pittsburg escaped damage
by the flood, and in many places the
high water mark was covered.
Works Shut Down.
Mills built supposedly out of harms
way were submerged. Works along the
river were shut down and workmen
forced to flee from the rising tide. The
damage can only be approximated, but
is is not less than $1,500.000 in the Mo-
nongahela valley. From the headwaters
of the Youghiogheny also came a torrent
that brought with ii destruction to val
liable property. Railroads were unable
to move trains. In some places the
tracks being so far below the surface
that the tops of gondola cars only were
visible. The Pittsburg, McKeesport
and Youghiogheny was entirely disa-
bled, while trolley lines along the river
banks were so badly wrecked that 1t
will be several days before operations
can be resumed. Beneath several feet
Of muddy water and debris there are
millions of dollars worth of valuable
machinery. What ruin has been wrought
cannot be told until the waters recede.
Private Houses Flooded.
Private houses in the low lands in the
suburbs have been flooded, in some In
| stances within foot of the second
story windows. and are in danger OF be-
| ing twisted from their foundations. A
| any rate, they will be unfit for habita
( ton for weeks to come. The poorer
classes who lived in small houses ant
shanties along the river bank, some o
I them only few feet above low waite
mark, have been made entirely home
less, while the truck gardeners, having
| hotbeds in the bottom lands with earl,
vegetables alnicst ready for the market
have been ruined. In McKeesport tn
damage will exceed $500,000. Crooke
! creek, which in former high waters ha
been a harmless stream, rose to an un
precedented height. causing destruction
to meadow lands for three miles bac
in the country.
Cooped Up i'm Second Stories.
In this city the water covered Du
quesne way from Ninth street to tn
point. Steamboats, were moored but
few feet from the entrance to the Hote
Boyer and the exposition buildings wer
completely surrounded by water On tn
north side allegheny over 5000 peopl
were cooped up in second stories o
their homes all night, prisoners, thei
only means of escape being by boa,
Without fire or food, they receives
chunks of bread and coffee and Goa
handed through their second-story win
dows by policemen in patrol boats in
stead of wagons. On Craig, Robinson
School, Rebecca, Lacock, Ann, Corey
Kilbuck and Daragh streets, and Sout
avenue the water stood as high as knob
| on the doors.