Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-07-31
Many Persons Are Supposed
to Have Been Drowned.
DIS TRICT IN DARKNESS.
AgoniTing Cries Heard Prom Those Inn
prisoned Ina Their uomes-Thc Waters
Reach the Second Stories OF Dwelling
Policemen and Firemen Use Boats I'm
Their Work OF Rescue.

despatch from Youngstown. o., SAYS.
terrific cloudburst struck this town. flood
inc the entire valley and causing great dam
axe to property. both in the city and along
the railroad lines
Many persons are supposed 70 have been
drowned. The entire country east and west
for twenty miles was flooded and the dam
age will be enormous. the railroads being
the heaviest losers. The Erie Railroad ives;
OF Warren. fourteen miles. and north OF
sharon for the same distance. was entirely
Hooded out. and orders were issued 70 dis
continue all trains
Many residences here were flooded. and
the occupants were taken away ~ the po-
lice and IRE departments. The Mahoning
Valley electric lines were flooded out and all
the bridges washed away.
The Catholic Church IA Niles was struck
tH lightning az the same hour and nearlyde-
stroyed by fire. while business houses and
manufacturing concerns were flooded.
Henry Myers. tailor. while standing az
his residence on Mil street. was struck by
lightning and killed instantly. lie leaves a
family
Ca every railroad leading into the city
comes reports Of extensive washouts and
bridges swept away, and railroad officials
say The loss will lc the heaviest they have
ever known.
Water Up to the secons story.
Along Crab Greek. running into the city Ia
TIE southeast along the Erie and Lake shore
Railroads. and empiyi1r into the Mahonine
Aiver near the Lake shore Depot. cloud
burst occurred about ten miles out
- about 10 o'clock the water swept down
the valley and into the city. carrying every
thing that was not fastened down before il.
Tie bed q the creek was not more than
f...s mil
a width q about :. 600 feet Il rose quickly
AM 10 Jess than thirty minutes the water
vas up O. III second stories 81 the dwelling
houses ia the flooded districts
Cries OF the Drowning
The whole distric; was in darkness EXCEPT
one small place, where a lone electric light
shone. Firemcn. police and others were on
hand quickly. hut were powerless 20 erec.
rescues. - not "a boat 81 any kidd was g. I,.
had The cries 81 thu people IA the houses
were heartrenting 10 those who stood NJ the
waters edge and who were forced g. retreat
on account Of the rising water. Il + almost
certainty that many lives were los. ia this
manner
One whole family was hearl crying for
help from upper windows. when sadicnly
there WAS grinding noise a. II the house
was being moved from is foundation. and
soon the cries from that place ceased.
The Intense darkness made 1: impossible
10 see what was going on. but Il Is opposed
that thu house and it, occupants went down
in the food.
People a. the waters edge heard a mar
crying for help who was apparently being
carried down the food. The voice grew
fainter. and Il j. supposed the uufortuna;,
man persisted.
The Work OF Rescue.
Pitfu. cries for help were heard coatin-
ally. but the crowd on the shore could 4,
nothing In the way OF giving ail. Police.
and iremen went az once - another par, O.
the city after boats.
Nine families were taken out % scc0n,
story windows within half an hour. an,
many persons we've picked Up clinging 1,
debris.