The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-21
AT AND NEAR PITTSBURG.


PITTSBURG, April 2O-This city is a
center of a widespread and disastrous
storm. For a radius of $50 miles in west
ern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West
Virginia rain or snow has been falling al
most without intermission for three days
Mountain streams have become torrents
creeks are swollen and out of their banks
and the big rivers are oceans of turbid
water. Flood records, it is expected. will
be broken before the water subsidies.
The financial loss cannot be estimated
In addition to the hundreds of thousands
and perhaps millions of dollars it will cost
to put large manufacturing plants in COM
mission again, tens of thousands of skilled
workmen are thrown out of employment
and lose their wages just at time when
all the iron and steel mills are rushed with
orders.
While a few unauthenticated reports of
loss of life have been made, disease and
death will follow in the wake of the flood.
Tonight thousands of people are lying in
the upper rooms of their water-soaked
houses, without heat, light or food. Where
gas fuel is used the pipes are flooded and
cut off, and what coal there may be is I'M
der five to ten feet of water.
At Schoenville, the home of the Pressed
Steel Car Company, the little town is COM
pletely surrounded by water. The workers
and their families constitute a community
of several thousand people. If the flood
does not quickly subside the company store
will be unable to meet the demand for food
of a multitude beleaguered by a flood.
Wheeling, w. Va, fears the most disas-
trous flood in its history The weather wise
say the river will make a new high rec
ord at that point. The mountain streams
OF the war-born State gushing down
the hillside with resistless force Behind
this comes the flood tide of the Ohio, fed
by the Monongahela, the Allegheny, the
Beaver and other tributaries. From forty
five to fifty feet of water is feared at
Wheeling, which means an immense loss
OF property, followed by restitution and
sickness for those least able to bear 1t.
EFFECTS OF THE STORM.
In many parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio
probably the heaviest snowstorm ever
known at this season Of the year has been
raging for two days. At Oil City the Oil
Exchange went out Of business temporarily
because it was impossible TO secure quo
tations from New York. Pittsburg and
other points Reports from Ohio towns
have to be abandoned. and in communities
where gas is their fuel dealers are making
arrangements 10 deliver coal tomorrow
In one division of the B. & o. several trains
are stalled, with little immediate chance of
moving In the meantime the passengers
must depend on nearby farmhouses for
sufficient food TO keep them from starva-
ton Business, religious service, comfort
and health are at the mercy of the storm.
Several narrow escapes from death have
been reported. and IL Is probable that when
the food subsidies 1t may reveal a number
OF CHASTITY secrets. 1t is Saturday night.
and many workingman has started for
home with Drain more or less muddled.
In thousands of places I'm the storm
stricken district 1t is but short step from
safety TO death.
To estimate the financial loss at this time
Is impossible and what appears as a reason
able guess is appalling In its immensely.
Steam and steel railroad tracks are buried