The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-23
A SUDDEN FLOOD

striIsesYoungstown and Vicinity, Sweep
ing Everything Before It-Hoasss Sur
rounded and inmates Rescued with DIFF
ncuIty-It Is Feared that Lives were
Losi-RaIIroads Crippled.
YOUNGSTOWN, o., July 22.-At 2
o'clock tonight a terrific cloudburst
struck this town, flooding the entire
valley and causing great damage to
property, both in the city and along the
railway lines. Many people are sup
posed to be drowned. The entire county
east and west for twenty miles was
flooded and the damage will be enor-
nous, the railroads being the heaviest
losers The Erie railroad, west to War
req, fourteen miles, and north to shar-
on for the same distance, was entire
ly flooded ou, and orders were issued to
discontinue oil trains, Many residences
here were flooded out, and the occu-
pants were taken away by the police
and fire departments. The Mahonihg
Valley electric lines were flooded and all
the bridges washed away. The Catho-
lie church at Niles was struck by light
ming at the same hour and nearly de-
stroyed by fire. while business houses
and manufacturing concerns were food
ed out.
Henry Myers, tailor, while standing
ut his residence, on Mn street, was
struck by lightning and killed. He
leaves a family. The excursion trains
which left here this morning for Lake
Erie are ali side tracked Thirty miles
out, and will probably not reach the
city tonight. on every railroad Lead
ing into the city comes reports OF ex-
tensIve washouts and bridges swept
away and railroad officials say the loss
will be the heaviest they have ever
known.
At 1890 tonight came the hrst tan
gible information of the damage done
by the storm. Along Grab Greek. run
ming into the city in the northeast,
along the Erie and Lake Shore rail-
roads, and emptying into the MaheHiag
river. near the Lake Shore depot, a
cloud burst occurred about ten miles
out and the water did not begin to rise
much In the city until after . o'clock.
At about 10 o'clock the water came
down the valley into the city and form
ed into n flood, sweeping everything
that was not fastened down before 1t.
The bed OF the creek was not more than
twenty feet wide and the flood spread
out to width OF about two thousand
feet, It rose quickly and In less than
thirty minutes the water was ap TO the
second story of all the dwelling houses
in the flooded district. and was still rls-
Ing. IT Is certainty. Mt ii o'clock, that
none OF the people escaped from the
houses. The whole district was cover
ed with darkness except one small
place where a lone electric light shone
Flremen, police and others were on
hand quickly, but were powerless 20
rescue anybody. as not boat Of any
kind was to be had In that portion OF
the city. The cries of the people In the
houses were heartrendlhg TO those who
stood at the waters edge and were
forced 90 retreat slowly on account Of
the gradually rising water. II is al
most certainty that many people were
drowned. One whole family was heard
crying for help from upstairs windows,
when suddenly there was grinding
noise as II the house was being moved
from It's foundation and soon the cries
from that place ceased. The intense
darkness made II impossible 20 see
what was going on, but II In supposed
that the house and rs occupants went
down in the flood, People at The wat
er's edge heard man crying for help
who was apparently being carried down
IN the flood. The voice grew fainter
and II is supposed the unfortunate man
perlshed. Pltlful cries for help were
heard continually, but the crowd on the
shore could do nothing In the wny OF
giving aid. Police and tlremen went at
once 80 another part OF the city after
boats
1t was midnight before boats were
gotten 10 the flooded Grab Creek dis
trlct. and the work OF rescue could be
started. The boats were manned by
ilremen who went to work with Will
but could not mnkc rapid progress on
account Of the swift and dangerous cur
rent.
Nine families were taken out Of tho
second story windows within half an
hour. and many people were picked up
cilhging to debris Nothing definite viii
be known as to the loss OF life until
morning or even the names Of the pco.
pie that are IN tho Hood and perhaps
not then, ns there were several thor,
oughfnrcs through the flooded district
on which there are usually people nt all
hours ~ the night,
Al midnight the water commenced TO
rccode tapldly ana the crcolt will likely
be- back In It's natural course by MORN
lng Tho Erie and Lake Shore trains,
Including passenger and excursion
trains, worn stopped whore ihey were
caught aud will not likely be moved he-
fore dnybrenk, nv the officials refuse to
take chances of loss Of llfo Loaded
cars hive been placed ON bridges. with
the hope VI Keeping them up, nq the
Mahonlng rivcr Is hlgh and rsng rap.
Idly