The Minneapolis journal., 1901-12-16
EAST IS INUNDATED
Extensive Damage Done in All Di-
rections.
WORST FLOOD FOR MANY YEARS
Warm Weather and Rains, Followed
by High Wind. Do Their
Work.


New York. Dec. 16.-The entire eastern
section of the country is under water,
and one of the worst floods in years pre-
walls. The floods extend from Pennsyl-
vania and Western New York south into
the Virginias and Maryland and to the
eastward through Delaware, Maryland,
New Jersey and the lower part of New
England. Damage to the extent of mill
lions OF dollars has been done, but thus
far few lives have been reported lost.
Warm weather and rain, followed by
high winds, resulted in fearful damage.
On Saturday the SHOWS in the northern
sections of New York thawed rapidly,
causing the rivers and creeks to rise and
the valleys were inundated Heavy rain
followed during the night, accompanied
by winds of great velocity. Trains were
bloekaded for many hours, landslides
were frequent, and in the lowlands and
valleys hundreds Of dwellings were flood
ed, while the damage to farm lands and
buildings is very great. In and around
New York city the wind reached a We
locity of forty eight miles an hour but
beyond minor incidents no great damage
is reported so far to property on land or
shipping. Many towns in the interior
of the state are inundated
AT Ithaca the damage is estimated at
$20O,OO The flood was the most disas-
trous experienced since 1857 The nearby
creeks became raging torrents by mid
night. A dwelling house was swept away.
and no trace Of 1t could be found. The
power and lighting plant was washed out
and TWO trolley cars swallowed ND in the
mood All street car traffic is suspended.
and the city is in darkness Syracuse
Waverly, Binghamton, Oneida. Troy. Au-
burn, Rome and other towns report great
damage. Traffic OF all kinds is nrac-
tically suspended.
Considerable damage has been done
throughout northern New York by the ex-
tremely high wind, which prevailed for
twenty-four hours, reaching the velocity
Of a tornado The warm weather Satur.
day sent the snow out of the Adirondacks
ike magic any many houses on the lower
levels are flooded.
New England and PenDsvIvaDto
In New England the floods are not as
great as they are in New York, but much
damage has been done Reports from
Pittsburg, Allentown, Susouehanna Fes
ton and other points in PENNSYLVANIA re-
port one of the most destructive floods for
nearly forty years Traction company
powerhouses are flooded, no trolley cars
nave been run at many points since 10
O'Clock this morning, and many towns are
IN darkness. Trestles on a number of
roads have been washed away and rail-
AOAu u q III Is suspended. The storm was
accompanied by a high wind which Of a
number Of points wrecked buildings.
Many towns report losses of from $50. 900
to 5000, ,OOO gON'O''
The havoc in the coal region is enor-
nous, and the loss to railroad and mining
companies will amount to millions of dol
lars. In the Schuylkill valley, forty eight
mines were flooded, and in the Lehigh
and Lackawanna regions the destruction
is equally great. Hundreds Of mules were
drowned in the collieries, and It will be
weeks before many of the mines can re-
sumo operations
In some sections the water reached the
second stories Of dwellings, and the town
of Westmore, near Wilkesbarre. is sub
merged. Many residents have left their
homes In boats. Similar conditions exist
along the Juniata river, farmers being
compelled by the steadily rising water to
abandon their homes. The food was rem
dered more disastrous by the melting OF
the snow on the mountain sides. The
storm broke With great severity Saturday,
after the rain had been falling incessant-
ly for several days.