The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-03-08
DESTRUCTION By FLOODS.
Great Loss Of Life and Immense
Damage to Property.


Last Saturdays dispatches gave details of
the great loss of life and the destruction of
property throughout this country. Following
is partial summary:
Many puiilions in money lost, tens OF thous-
ands Of people thrown out of employmentand
hundreds of families homeless make up the
appalling record of the floods in Maryland,
Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
New York. New Jersey, Connecticut, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
A remarkable but fortunate feature of the
widespread destruction is the small loss OF
life. Ten persons were drowned, several
were killed in railroad wrecks caused by wash
outs, but considering the rapid rise of the
waters in some sections, engufing and sweep
ing away numbers of houses, it is astonishing
that there were not more fatalities.
Most of the rivers have begun to slowly fall,
but the floods have left ruin and desolation.
Hundreds of poor people, particularly wo-
men and children, are likely to suffer serious
illness because of exposure. Driven from
their homes and compelled TO founder about
for hours in mud and water and saving but
little clothing or household goods, many are
in distress.
In the vicinity of Pittsburg and about Phil
adephia the sweep of the floods caused enors
nous damage to property. Numerous towns
along the Western Pennsylvania rivers are
under water, houses being undermined and
stores and factories completely ruined.
The Schnykill River spread out over wide
section Of Philadelphia. The tracks of the
Reading and Baltimore and Ohio Railroads
were covered with water. The Baltimore and
Ohio Station at Twenty fourth and Chestnut
street, was flooded four feet deep. On Twen-
ty-fourth street, facing the station, over a
hundred families were taken from their homes
in boats.
In the Far Northwest terrific snowstorms
are ranging. Two lives were lost in rail
road collision near Blanchard, N. d., the en-
gineer of one train being unable to see the
signal lights on account ofthe frost and snow.
Towns in the Genesee Valley and other
parts of New York State are flooded by the
rapid rise in streams from rain and the melt
ing snow and ice.
The waters began to recede on Sunday, and
the following is a summary of the Geographic
dispatches
The floods continue their destruction of life
and property. The fatalities now number
between 80 aud 35. The property losses pile
up in the millions. The distress and suffering
caused by hundreds of thousands of bread
winners being thrown out of work and thous
ands of families flooded out of their homes
have never been equalled since the widespread
freshets at the time Of the Johnstown disaster.
Two large piers of the camel back bridge at
Harrisburg were washed away. 1t was the
oldest bridge on the Susquehanna River.
South Harrisburg is under water, the people
in that section living in the upper stories OF
their houses. The Pennsylvania Steel Works,
at Steelton, Pa, have closed down because of
the food.
Four men we're drowned ut Colts Neck,
l-11 II H. 10. ont
a dam from breaking. The structure gave
way and they were swept to their death by the
rushing waters.
Paterson, N. j., few Sundays ago swept
by fire, was covered by water. Hundreds of
families were driven from their homes by the
floods from the Passaic River. A reservoir
which supplies water power for the mills is III
danger of giving way Should it be necessa-
nv, mines of dynamite will be touched off to
blow open a new channel to divert the I'M
mense volume of water from flooding the mills.
In the vicinity of the Rogers Locomotive
Works 600 families have had to vacate their
homes ON boats and barges.
The Delaware River has overfowed the
lowlands OF Pennsylvania and New Jersey,
and the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad
between Trenton and Bordentown are covered
with water.
Inc LenlgH Vailey, Jersey Oehl al ISSao
ing and other railroads in New Jersey, Penn.
syIvania and New York have lost bridges and
miles upon miles of trackage. The losses to
the railroads alone will aggregate many mil
lions.
Within the last three days nine lives have
been lost in the floods in the vicinity Of
Wilkesbarre, Pa In the mining regions work
has been stopped in many colleres.
Seven lives have been lost and considerable
property DESTROYED in Western North Carroll
ma. In the town of Marshall, on the French
Broad River, five persons were drowned. The
county Jail was swept from its foundation. All
the prisoners were removed, except one wo,
man, who is reported missing. The village OF
Hot Springs, west of Marshall, is reported
swept away.
MANY trains are stalled by the floods along
the line of the New York Central between
Albany and Buffalo The entire southern
section of Albany is submerged.