Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-09-05
CLEVELAND FLOODED
The Ohio City Ravaged BY an
Unparalleled Rainstorm.
IMPRISONED INHABITANTS SCARED.
zvssy Moment They Expected to BE Forosd
Out Into the swirling WHten-The
Life Saving Crew Called Up
on for Help.


upon scene of unparalleled devasta-
ton and destruction, caused by a
raging food. While the entire city
WAS more or less affected, the great
volume Of raging water vented its
anger over miles of the eastern por-
tion OF the city and caused an
amount of damage Appropriated at
Sl,0OO,0OO The appalling overflow
was caused by a terrific rain that
commenced to fall shortly after two
o'clock, turned into perfect cloud
burst between the hours OF three and
five and then continued with great
force until nearly ten o'clock. That
no lives were lost is nothing short of
. miracle, as many stories of thrilling
escapes from the water on several OF
the principal resident streets Of the
city are told. The surging waters
spread over an area in the east end
nearly eight miles long and a mile
and O half wide. This extended from
Woodland Hills avenue to East Cleve-
land and back to East Madison ave-
nue.. Culverts, trestles and bridges
were torn down and for hours nothing
seemed capable Of stemming the tide.
Hundreds Of residents, who were
imprisoned in their beautiful homes
like stranded islanders, were almost
panic-stricken, expecting to be called
upon to wade out into the swirling
waters at almost every minute. Dan
ger signals were flashed about the
city as speedily as the disabled tele-
phone system would allow and the
work Of rescue commenced. Row
boats piled back and forth assisting
whole families from perilous posi-
tons, but these proved pitifully in
adequate and 1t was soon found neces-
sary to go to the extraordinary pre-
caution Of calling on the life-saving
crew from the river. q distance Of
seven miles. The life boats were
quickly loaded on wagons and hur-
ried to the scene OF destruction. The
fear was greatly enhanced by the
momentary expectation that the
great Shaker Heights dam would
break loose and belch forth terrible
destruction.
Shortly before noon the torrent
succeeded in undermining score of
graves in the st. Joseph cemetery at
the corner OF East Madison and Wood
land and the bodies were soon being
tossed about in the waters.
The street railways will suffer an
immense loss, extending in varying
degrees over every portion of the
city. The Big Consolidated will have
to rebuild their tracks over different
parts of the inundated east end dis
trict and the loss is placed at $4,000.
The Superior street trestle OF the
Little Consolidated Is practically
ruined and this, with other serious
damage in the lines of the company
extending way over in the west side,
will run their loss way into the thou
sands.
si,e damage to the railways, which
will be great, cannot NE even -stl-
mated until the large force Of track
hands, sent out on emergency calls,
can be heard from, The mail serv-
ice from the east was completely
tied up from ten o'clock yesterday
morning until eight o'clock last night,
when train got through on the Lake
Shore. But the vast amount OF dam
age falls upon the householders with
in the flooded district.
The damage to houses and their
effects cannot be estimated accurate
", perhaps, for days, but 1t will reach
close TO the half million mark
Mrs. Newton and her mother, on
Willamette court, had terrible ex-
perience with the food. For three
hours the women signalled for help
from their house, which sets down in
little valley, which placed 1t at the
absolute mercy Of the rushing waters.
The barn and shed were swept from
their foundations and this added to
the terror of the two women. who
were alone in the house. As the wa
ter reached depth Of six feet and
commenced to pour into the first floor
the women became almost frantic.
No boats were at hand and as wading
was out OF the question ncighbors
called to the frightened women to
remain where they were until other
means Of rescuing them could be Sc
cured. A rude raft was hastily put
together and the women rescued.
Cleveland, o., Sept. 3.--lnstead of {
great sea Of muddy water the citizens
of large share of the east side Of
the city gazed yesterday upon tum
bled piles Of wreckage and ruins ant
long rows Of filth and dirt piled OF
streets, sidewalks and doorways
On every hand the marks of the ter
ribly destructive food could be seen
A mass Of almost understandable stuff
now lies piled in various places bchinc
the east end homes that were within
the flooded district.
Since the flood has subsidized tn,
homes Of ]. W. Smith and Norton No
BILE have fallen deeper down into tn,
mire and are now hopeless wrecks
All idea Of rebuilding has been aban
doned and the dilapidated buildings
will be hauled away and ground pre-
pared for new houses.
The houses on Winmanette cour
stood the force of the water remark