davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
Worst Flood In Thirty Years

ALLENTOWN, Pn.. Dee. 16.--The
very worst flood in the Lehigh valley
since 1862 started yesterday, following
a two days drenclling rain which melt
ed the snow In the mountains. causing
the Lehigh river to become raging
torrent. The traction cOmpany's power
houses are flooded with seven feet Of
water which drowned fires under the
boilers. No trolley cars were run after
10 o'clock in the morning, and Allen
town was in darkness last night. The
Adelaide silk mill sustained a loss OF
over $4,000 by flood. Eight feet Of
muddy water is OH the first floor, com
pletcly covering the warping and wind
ing machines and running all the silk
on the machines. The American Steel
and Wire company's wire and nail
plants are under water and thousands
Of dollars damage has been done there.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
Alaskan improvements.

SEATTLE. Wash, Dec. 1G.-MajOr
w. II. Abercrombe, who for -four years
has been supervising and directing the
United States government development
and exploration work in the Copper
River valley, has arrived here from
Alaska. He has been consigned to the
command Of the Thirteenth infantry
In the Philippines. AS n result of his
work the town of Valdez has sprung
into existence. from which point the
military road has been constructed 23l
miles to the interior A stretch of 40
miles of telegraph from Valdez to the
interior Is also up and in working or
der In the construction Of this all
American highway to the Yukon the
government has expended S121 600,
and already gold to the value of $780,
600 has been taken out.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
DELIGHTFUL PARTY.

A very delightful party was given
Saturday evening at the home OF Mr..
and Mrs. Zane, 405 West Twenty
ninth Street.
Music and games added to the en-
joyment Of the evening. Miss Ida
Mckay sang the Holy City. Late In
the evening all were irvted into the
dining room to partake Of a chicken
supper.
Among the guests were; Harry
Darby, Clara West, Bertha Drum
mond, Manship Hurlock, Mr.. Gordy,
Mrs. Leonard, Mrs. Boyer, Miss V.
Leonard, Mr.. Gem, Ann Laws, Miss
NJ. Parson. l.. Parson, Mr.. Lott, Mr..
Ingram. Miss Walker. Mrs. Bothum,
Ray Minshall. Clarence Minker, Mr..
and Mrs. Armstrong, Mr.. Colvin,
Misses Ida Mckay, Elsie Darby Ida
Woodrow, Ml. Col'inson; Mr.. and
Mrs. Zane, Mrs. T. }. Drummond,
Mrs Woodrow. Mr.. and Mrs. Tom.
linson, MIR. and Mrs. Brooksand fam
lily, Mrs Preston and family and Mr..
Mousley.
At a late hour the guests departed
for their homes thanking Mr.. and
Mrs. Zane for their kind hospitality.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
Grenf DamaEe af Ithnca,

ITHACA, N. Y. Dec. 16.-The most
disastrous flood Ithaca has experienced
since 1867 resulted from the heavy
d0wnpOur. A conservative estimate of
the damage caused to property in this
city places the loss at S15O,000, and it
Is highly probable the total loss will
aggregate $2O0.0OO The destruction
was greatest along Six Mile creek and
Fall creek gorges. BY midnight these
streams We're torrents, and their vol
ume was swelled to ten times normal
proportions. On the north side of Six
Mile creek. just at the foot Of State
Street hill. one dwelling house was
carried away, and this morning not
trace of it could be found The power
and lighting plants of the ltliaca Street
Railway company were washed out.
and two trolley cars were swallowed
up In the torrent. All street car traffic
was suspended and the city left In to-
tai darkness. In addition all the gas
mains were flooded, and last night the
only available source of light for the
residents was found in oil lamps.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
PERSONAL.
MENTION
Interesting Paragraphs
About Visitors and
Home Entertain.
mentS.
HELD ENTERTAINMENT.

Windsor Lodge. No. 32, Order Of
Sons OF st. George at its rooms, No.
6l2 Shipley Street, on Saturday even.
ing entertained friends with q musi-
cal and literary entertainment.
About 800 persons were present and
a most enjoyable evening was spent.
The committee in charge Of the en-.
tertalnment was composed Of Ernest
H. Martin, James b. Taylor, James
II. Roo.in, Samuel IIodgklss, George
Holgate, Charles Edwards and
Thomas Stoddard
Among those who took part in the
entertainment were: Misses Weisler.
Ann Butler, Messrs. George Horn,
Edwin Holt, Harry Downey. William
Merrick. George Smeltzer, Thomas
Kruner, J. L. Taylor, Charles Ed
wards and Messrs Krobst and Parker.
After the entertainment refreshments
were served.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
CONDENSED DISPATCHES.

Fire destroyed !iftysix houses AMI
business places at Salem, W. Va.
Colombian Liberals were reported tc
nave taken the town Of Rio Hacha.
Seventeen tiremen were injured ir q
fire which destroyed Il large cooprragt
plant in Brooklyn.
What is promised will be the mos,
important conference Of labor and cap
ial ever held will begin in New York
city
A cabiegram from Dresden to Nine
Scmbrich. now singing in this country
announced the death of her ten year
old son from consumption.
The remains of General Leaven
WORTH now buried at Delhi. N. Y, arc
soon to be removed to Fort Lcavcn
worth Kan, which place the genera,
founded.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
LAB0RERS
ESCAPE.

Gangs OF colored mon who went to
West Virginia last fall to work Oh the
new railroad escaped from tho armed
guards ana have arrived home. They
tell tslss of brutality pfivation and
murder. Toa reporter of tho Republican
on Saturday in New Stree. an interview
wns hnd with some OF the men. James
Smith told the story as follow,
Wo never wan to go to Virginia again.
We were slaves and the men who are
still there are slaves, guarded day anl
night by tnen with Wholesalers. We
we,o deceived by lhs promise: of the
agent, as wo received no money. Clark
and escaped from tha camp after two
weeks and wero captursd. We were
marched back to the camp and fines Of
Sla each wore marked up against us. TO
lie worked out before We could earn any
thing for curse Vss.
Clark, Perry and l were kept undur
guard each night by II special wntchnen.
When wo wore unable to work the bosses
would come Into The shanty and cub H.
out We had 10 work or bo the object
Of brutal treatment a. their honds, On
Sunday, November TO- we started for u
walk and we had a good one for tho
next morning we were twenty miles away
from our slave driving masters, We
walked distance of eight MI 'es before
we took 10 the noun taiEs and ihen ospt
down and ate some Of the coarse CRU wo
carried from our shaniy. We walked
oil night and after tramp of sixien
miles we roachsd Babylon tho next
morning footsors penniless and hnhgry.
Ne begged for food and two days later
reached Copeland where VII jumped IL
freight train md rode to Cumberland.
That night we struck freight for Mar
tiusburg and the next day reached Bruins
wick and from there wo succeeded in
reaching Baltimore the following morn
ing.
We wrote to our people here from
Baltimore and after knocking around.
that city we reached ahoms. Tho old
song Is II true one for thern's no place
iike home. There orc fully forty men
down tlero yet from Wilmington and
gangs ara trying TO escape tho lorture'
Of such living.
In sn wer to n question from the re.
norter CLARK and Smith stated that Ajax
apder Murray, colared. OF this city, had
been shot dead by ono Of the guards while
ho was attempting to escape. lie refn OIL
to halt whom ordered TO no SO and D"il
from the guards Winchester ended his
cal cor. Thomas Bland OF Now street,
dining the course OF a dispute was shot
and the residonti Of 'Whito Chapel
have fow hopes Of ever seeing him letnrn.
Tho mon are grateful hat they succeed
ed in getting away from camp with their
lives and they vow that they will never
20 on such trip again. 1t 10 understood
that at least thirty men from TINS city
succeeded in making 'neir escape.
Some OF them have not arrived homo
as they obtained employment in other
place. on their way home.
Several gangs Of men from Cbester
aru Philadelphia were sent to work on
The railroad about tho tim 0 the Whining
ton mon went down.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
BIG FIRE
In ELKT0N.

| Elkton, Nd, Dec. l5.-Elkton was
visited late last night bya dcstruc'
tive fire, which ragged for over foul
hours on the south side of main street
in the business section. and for a
time the entire street for several
blocks was threatened with deStruc.
tion. The fire broke out shortly after
II O'Clock, and Is supposed, in the
basement of the Payne block, used as
stores and offices and owned by Mrs.
Hester s. Lewis. This building, al
together with the general store of
Charles A. Heatzig: on the east, and
Frank Frazer's drug store, on the
west, were Quilted.
The fire spread with wonderful
rapidity. The Singerly Fire Com
pany responded promptly and had
several streams playing on the fire,
but he buildings were soon mass of
flames The wind was blowing a gale
from the south and the rain fell in
torrents. At one time when the fire
threatened to sweep the entire street
for blocks Mayor George McQuilker
tclegraphed for aid from Wilmington
Del. The request: however, was
afterwam countermanded, as the
local tiremen, by heroic work, after
several hours got the fire under con-
troll and confined it to the burning
district.
Taylor McKenney, who fought
hn rni..n1Iy ftr l,,trr 4 ,.;. .,j- .f /,
life was severely burned about the
face and arms. The family of j. J.
Minister, consisting of his wife and
five small children, who occupied
portion OF the second story of the
Payne block as a residence had rctir-
ed for the night and were carried
from the building in their night cltoh-
ing, every particle of their wearing
apparel and household goods going up
in smoke.
The Office of the Eastern Shore
Telephone Company, on the second
floor of the Payne block, was burned.
Three switchboards and all the para
phernalia were damaged, Telephone
communication with nearby cities and
towns was shut off all day.
The total loss was estimated at S25
900, which is partly covered by in.
surance. The losses are as follows:
Payne block, owned by Mrs. Hester
S. Lewis, $1,000
General store. owned by Charles A.
lleatzig, and stock, $4,000
G. L. Payne, stobk of millinery,
$1,000
Otficc of Eastern Shore Telephone
Company loss $4,000,
j. j. Minister, stock of iewelry and
household goods and wearing apparel
$1,000.
j. Frank Frazer. drug store and
stock, $1,000.
The bnlding Of Edward W. Taylor
used as Il livery Office, was slightly
damaged. as was also some outbnild-
ingS ON the property OF Dr. John II.
lamar. The origin of the fire is un-
known.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD
New York and Pennsylvania
In Grip Of Great Storm.
RAILWAYS AND BUSINESS PARALYZED
Loss In These States VIII Reach Into
Millions and Take Weeks to Re-
a.. palr-Other states suffer
v? In Less Degree.

UTICA, N. Y, Dee 16.-A phenOma-
hal raise of the Mohawk river has
caused the destruction of thousands Of
holiars' worth Of property as we'll rs
privation and distress among huA.lteds
nf families along its banks.
! Several days Of warm weather sent
the snow and water from the hills into
the river in torrents. This, coupled
with heavy rainstorm during Satur-
day night, swelled the river nine feet
above its normal water line, and the
city and its suburbs are under water
Tor miles. All trains were stalled by
'yasllhuts at Oriskany, Greenway and
l..me. One hundred feet of track and
l,,d was washed out four miles east Of
Mome, and no trains can enter the city
from that direction.
The streets in East Rome are under
three feet of water. which swept away
1000 fset Of road leading to Stanwx.
People were carried from their homes
in boats. A serious break in the canal
feeder ut Delta occurred at noon. Two
bridges were carried away, and the vol
pme OF water when it reached Ridge
Mills six miles below. swept 200 feet
of the main road into the river. Many
families are without fuel. and the city
officials are making every effort to re-
1ieyc the suffering.
= 1T Oneida the heavy rain raised Onei-
da creek until 1t overilowed Its banks
and aooded the eastern portion Of the
city. Cellars were filled. and the water
was from one to three feet deep OIL the
first floors Of residences. The Ontario
and Western railroad tracks were GOV.
cred for nearly mile. The fire in the
engine Of a passenger train was put
out, and the train stalled IN the water.
The tracks have been repaired The
damage will probably reach $4,000.
West Canada creek overflowed its
banks and washed away bridges at No
blsboro and Trenton. The dam of the
Hlnckley Fiber company at Hinck'ey,
n. T., gave way and released 10000
logs. The logs took away the false
works Of new bridge on the Mohawk
4 highway bridge between Poland and
Newport. A number Of bulkheads were
broken, grist mill at Trenton was
carried away, and many manufactures
along the creek were flooded The dam
age Ia estimated at $4,000.
The dam at the electric light plant at
MOrrisville burst, demolishing three
be In darkness for two weeks. A dis
patch from Marathon Chenango coun-
ty, reports greatest flood damages in
forty years, amounting to many thou.
sand dollars.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
ATTACKED BY
A NEGRO

Not far from the scene OF the
tragic murders Of Annie Leconey
and Annie Miller. near Merchant
vile, N. j.; some years ago, Annie
| Henrickson was brutailv alta cked
by negro on Saturday night. and
so terribly injured that there is lit
lie hypos OF her recovery.
Annie lIcndrickson is a comelv
young woman who was employed
by Henry Rodenstein, at Maple
Shade, Just beyond Merchantvillc.
She had gone to Il store 10 make
some purchases on Saturday night
and about . clock was returning
home along dark and somc " h at
lonesome path when she was sud
denly confronted by the negro, who
grabbed her arm and beld her with
vice.lke grip.
"Oh, here is my purse--take iti"
shrieked the frightened young wo-
man.
""I don't want your purse, :"
hissed the negro in het ear: II
want you and If YOU make any
noise will kill vou.'
Before Aliss Hendrickson could
make any further outcry the negro
clasped hand upon her mouth
and started TO drag her into some
bushes by The roadside. The poor
youngA woman struggled fercely
10 his grasp aud endeavored to
Tree herscli, but the man was of
unusually strong build and she
was powerless. Once, however.
she managed 10 push mis- hand from
rhc mouth and gave vent to whd
shrek oil alarm. The fen re alIZed
that he baked but with an oath
he whipped out a razor and began
to slash her. One stroke passed
across her throat on the right side
and arother cut deeply on the left.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16

cInity were found to be frozen. When
a supply of water had been obtained
by thawing out the hydrants, after Q
delay Of twenty minutes, the building
was doomed. Soon after the first
stream was directed OH the flames the
entire second story Of the building
was ablaze and fell, with about 100
open summer ears that were stored
there.
The intense cold Of the early morning
added to the difficulties presented by
the fire and made 1t necessary to work
the men In shifts, exhausted workers
being relieved by comrades who had
had short rests in neighb0ring stores,
which were thrown open to the fire
fighters.
President John NJ. Roach Of the
traction company placed the loss II,
about $13O.O0O, partly covered by In,
surancc, but the exact amount he was
unable to state.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
Twenty Bridges Washed Away.

AUBURN. n. ". Dec. lG-The terri
BILE storm did great amount Of dam.
age in this vicinity. Twenty bridges
on the Lehigh Valley railway south Of
this city were washed away. Besides
this the track was undermined in many
places and blockaded by landslides.
All traffic from this city south over the
Lchish has been suspended, and It IL
thought it will be several days before
trains are again running.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
oNEoEN,r
FRIENDS In
CONFERENCE

Chester. Dec. 10 -A0 exceedingly intsS.
| es'iEg conference was held at tho FrIspdd
MeetiDg house on Market stree at 3. 80
yesterday afternoon. under the auspiosa
| OF the Philanthropic Commit 20 of Con.
cord Quarterly Meeting.
Besides o good representation Of Chester
people there were number OF more or
less prominent Friends In attendance
from a distance. including Isaac Wilson
ministers, of Canada, and David Ferris Of
Wilmington.
In yiew Of Tho fact that Friends sH ovsr
the couairy had had their attention disee0
ed for the last three days of the past wsok
10 the great Peace Conference in Phila4st
phis 1t was thought fitting by the corr
init se to make tbs subject Of the con-
i0rencs yesterday Peace
The conference was presided owe: by
Charles Palmer, Of Ghost r, who opened
tho meeting with a scripture reading
from jeremiah
As part of ths. exercires for the occasion
number o! the pupils aud teachers OF
tho First day school bad volunteered to
prepare recitations and readings. Misses
Clara Cole aud Maud Robsr is rscited and
Misses Nevai Raw.sy and Ruth G. Mar
shall gave readings, ths latter taking an
abstract from the life bisiory OF George
Fox.
Following tho parts taken BY these Of
the Frstday school David Ferris read
Longfeii0w's poom on Th< SpriDghsId
Ar.epal." He made furtbcr remarks duv
ing the conference with reference TO tho
Phi!Ade phia conference especially.
isaac Wilson, the MIST notabls speaker
present add esse,i the iNeeting at some
lsng' b. laying espscial ennpha,ls on bis
belief that it Is largely upon Tho chillrsn
bts will roSt the re5DOuSibtIlty for hlok
ting out tho war spirit. and hs thought
parents could not do too IN nch toward In
c,ilcating peace principles In the mindso
thsr children.
War in lis every aspect was strongiy
dsnoun oed In remarks made by Sarsll
and Allen Flitcrnft and BY Loaia PAX
lhef.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
Over a Million Dollars Lost

POTTSVILLE, Pa, Dec. 16.-Schuyl-
kill county has experienced the great
est food In twenty-five years, resulting
from a continuous rain of several days
which caused the Schuylkill river to
overflow Its banks. The total loss is cs.
timated at over $1,0m,o00. Forty-cight
collieries of the Philadelphia and Read
ing Coal and Iron company and other
corporations are flooded and will be
idle for at least n week. In the Rnst
colliery at Ashland thirty mules were
drowned. A score of township and
railroad bridges were washed away,
including three In New Castle town
ship belonging to the Pennsylvania
Railroad company.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
The ChenanSo River Rampant

BlNGHAMTON. N. Y. Dec. 1G.-The
rainstOrm which ended here at 4 o'clock
Sunday sent the CheDango river over
Its banks and caused food which has
not been equaled for twenty-five years.
Hundreds oS cellars of dwellings are
flooded, that Of large department
store to such an extent that the fire
department has been called on to
pump 1t out, and much damage has
been done to business houses on the
river front. A large section Of the
First ward is a foot under water and
cut of from the rest Of the city except
BY boat. The river road up the Che.
mango is under water for Ave miles,
and all travel Ia suspended. The coun.
ty farm buildings are surrounded by
water several feet deep. Not an Erie
or I4ackawanna through train passed
through the city from p. m. Saturday
10 early this morning. The Lackawan-
ma main line is clear from here to
Scranton.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
Inquests hef d.

Coroner Fricll on Saturday
night he'd three inquests. The
iurymen returned verdicts OF death
from Conclusion ofthe BRAN caus-
ed by injuries received on the rail
road, in the cases of Hugh Magui-
re and Tomas McCabc.
A verdict Of death from shock
caused BY injuries received by
being struck BY heavy rock in a
Ninth ward quarry was rendered
in the case Of Antonio Pev!lle.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
Great Damage at Troy.

TROY, n. Y, Dec. 1G.-This city was
visited by terrific wind and rain
storm which did damage amounting to
about 100000. Roofs were torn off
buildings. trees blown down and tele-
graph and telephone wires grounded.
No electric ears were run bet this
city and Albany Sunday. owing to the
tracks at Dcvines, -four miles south Of
here, being Il foot under water. The
ice in the river has all gone out.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
RUIN IN PENNSYLVANIA TOWNS.
Floods Damage In Mining Towns
Enormous.

Enormous.
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 16.-A storm
which for severity and destruction has
not been equnled in this section for
twenty-five years has visited eastern
and central Pcnnsy sylvania, causing al
most unprecedented damage and re-
sulting in the loss of at least four hu-
glons is enormous. and the loss to rail
read and mining companies will
amount to millions of dollars. The
Schuylliill. Lehixh. Susquehanna and
Juniata rivers have risen as high as
fifteen feet above their levels, and all
Of their tributaries have overhGwed.
inundating the surrounding country in
more than dozen counties.
Innumerabls washouts have occurred
on the Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and
Reading, Northern Central, Lelligh
Valley. New Jersey Central and Lacka-
wanna railroads. Bridges We're carried
away. and traffic is at a standstill. The
delegates to the convention of the
American Federation of Labor are
stormb0und at Scranton, with no idea
when they will be able to leave.
The force Of the water weakened the
supports of II bridge spanning creek
near Williamsport, and as result II
freight train was wrecked and three
men killed. At Oneida near Hazlet0n.
Il miner was swept from II bridge and
drowned.
In the Schuylkill valley forty eight
mines were flooded and In the [.ehigh
and Lackawanna regions the destruc-
ton is equally great Hundreds of
mules were drowned in the collierics,
and it will be weeks before many Of
The mines can resume operations
In some sections the water reached
the second stories Of dwellings, and the
town of Westmore, near Wilkcsbarre.
is submerged. Many of the residents
have left their homes in boats. Similar
conditions exist along the Juniata riv.
er, farmers being compelled by the
steadily rising water to abandon their
homes.
i He lloDu WAS Itilutltu Ihblc uiSuS-
trous by the melting Of the snow on
the mountain sides. The storm broke
with great severity after the rain had
been falling necessarily for several
days. At POttsville and other places in
Schuylkill county ten inches Of rain
fell in twenty-f0ur hours.
The high wind accompanying the
rain unr0ofed many houses. aud the in.
dividuul losses will be considerable.
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
A COSTLY CHICAGO BLAZE.

Traction Company Loses Car BARNS
and One Hundred and Sixty Cars.
CHICAGO, Dec. 16.-The total de.
struction of the Lincoln avenue car
barns Of the Chicago Traction compa.
ny, with more than 100 street cars, re-
suited from a fire that was discovered
at an early hour Sunday morning. Be.
sides the building ne1rly all the grip
cars and trailsrs used on tho Lincoln
avenue llns were Destroyed, The IN.
tensa cold sof the Dast two days con-
trtbutsd mnch 40 ~ spread n ~
lenss. ~ n ~ hxdranH u ~ il
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
UnOuest Oiably.

The emporium of the largest varie-
of the best quality of holiday presents
at the lowest prices, is that of Messrs
d. Ross & Son. 2O6, 20S and 2lO Mar
ket Street. These goods are especial
ly appropriate for Christmas gifts,
large invoices and special prepara-
tions, excelling all former seasons +,
having been made. The most attrac-
tive and interesting two column an
nouncement tells the story. They
are open evenings and give a sreet
souvenir to every purchaser.
Mrs. Elma b Way, 835 Morrow
strsst toll this morning and broke
n: yai Y istls ssfss Y
III III silb ia u aheeN Il \ II y II M
The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-16
The Chinese Crisis.

PEKING, Dee. 1G.-The Manchurian
question has reached n stage which
best informed Observers consider to be
a crisis in Chinese history. The Chinese
government is brset between Russia
on the one hand and Great Britain, the
United States and Japan on the other.
The government Is helpless and will
yield to that faction able to bring the
strongest pressure to bear. Prince
Ching is distinctly more friendly tc
Great Britain than was Ii Hung
Chang