The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-28
WASHED OUT OF BED.
A CLOUD DESCENDS ON YOUNGS'
TOWN, OHIO.

gives the following description of a
clounburst at that place:
AT o'clock tonight a terrific cloud
burst struck this town, flooding the en-
tire valley and causing great damage
to property, both in the city and along
the rail way lines. Many people are
supposed to be drowned. The entire
country east and west for 20 miles was
flooded and the damage will be enor
nous, the railroads being the heaviest
losers. The Erie railroad west of War
rem, IA miles and north of Sharon for
the same distance, was entirely flooded
out and orders were issued to discon-
tinue Il trains. Many residences here
were flooded out, and the occupants
were taken away by the police and
fire departments. The Mahoning
Valley electric lines were flooded out
and all the bridges washed away. The
@ trolic church II Niles was struck by
lightning and'nearly destroyed by fire,
while business houses and manufac
iuriag co Germs were flooded out.
ueary Myers, a tailor, While standing
at mis- residence On Mill street, was
struck by liz htning and killed in.
SANITY. he leaves a family.
The excursion tr.i1s which left here
this morning fer L Ike E'je are ali
sidetracked 80 miles out aud will prob
ably not reach the city tonight. On
every railroad leading into the city
reports come of extensive washouts
and bridges swept away and railroad
officials say the loss will be the heavi.
est they have ever known.
At 1870 tonight came the first tan
eible informant on of the damage done
by the storm along Grab creek, rum
ming into the city in the northeast
along the Erie and Lake Shore rail
roads. and emptying into the Mahon.
Jog river near the Lake Shore depot.
A cloudburst occurred about 10 miles
out, the water did not begin to rise
much in the city until after 9 o'clock.
After about 10 o'clock the water came
down into the city and formed into a
food, sweeping everything that was
not fastened down before it. The
creek was not more than 90 feet wide
and the food spread out to a width OF
2, 900 feet. 1t rose quickly and in less
than 80 minutes the water was up to
the second story of all the dwelling
houses in the flooded districts and was
still rising.
1t is a certainty at II o'clock that
none of the people escaped from this
immediate vicinity. The whole dis.
trict was in darkness except one small
place where lone electric light shone.
Firemen, police and others were on
hand quickly 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 perishing were heart
rending to those who stood at the wa
ter's edge and were forced to retreat
slowly on account of the gradually
rising water. 1t is almost certain that
many people were drowned. One
whole family was heard crying for
help from upstairs windows when sud.
denly there was a grinding noise, as
if the house was being moved from its
foundation, aud soon the cries from
that place ceased. The intense dark.
ness made it impossible to see what
was going on, but it is supposed that
the house and occupants went down
in the food. People at the waters
edge heard a man crying for help who
was apparently being carried down in
the flood Every moment it grew
fainter. Pitiful cries for help were
heard continually, but the crowd on
the shore could do nothing in the way
of giving aid. Police and fremen
went at once for boats. 1t was mid
night before bolts were gotten to the
flooded Crag creek district and the
work OF rescue started. The boats
we're manned by fremen, who went
to work with a will, but could moi
make rapid progress on account OF the
swift and dangerous current. Nine
families were taken out Of second sto'
nv windows within q half hour and
many people were picked up clinging
to debris. Nothing definite will be
known as to the loss of life till morn
ing, or even the names of the people
that are in the flood and perhaps not
then.
At midnight the water commenced
to recede rapidly and the creek will
likely be back in its natural course by
morning. The Erie and Lake Shore
trains, including passenger ard excur
sion trains, were stopped where they
were caught and will not likely be
moved before daybreak. Is the off.
Gals refuse to take CHANCES of loss OF
life. Lpaded cars have been placed
on 5ri1ses win the hope OF keeping
them up, az the Mahoning river is
nigh and rising rapidly.