The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-02
Fifty Thousand Men Rendered Idle at
PittsburE by the Closing OF
Big Industries.
WORST is PROBABLY OVER
MONONGAHELA AND ALLEGHENY
RIVERS ARE NOW BOTH FALLING.
Much Damage at Philadelphia and
EIsewhere-SeveraIR Railways Tn
able to Move Trains.

dications are that the flood has done its
worst The Monongahela marks at the
Smithheld-street bridge showed at that
time 31.9 feet. fall OF nearly foot since
p. m. The Allegheny at Herrs island
registered 35.5. fall of a third OF a foot
since p. m At Davis island dam the Ohio
stood almost stationary at SOL feet. Earlier
in the evening it was almost a certainty
that 1913 feet. the mark made by the dis
astrous flood of 1884. would be exceeded
and much greater damage would be done
because of the many more interests af-
fected. Later reports from up-river points
are to the effect that both rivers are either
falling or stationary.
Already $4,000 men have been made tenn
porarily idle by the forced closing down of
mills, factories and other industries. and
the number is likely to be considerably in
creased by Monday. To the timely warn
ings given by the government Weather Bu-
reau officials TO all interested may be cred
ited the lack of fatalities. In most in
stances business men and residents were
prepared. consequently no drownings nor
serious accidents have resulted Up TO tnu
present.
FENITENTIARY FLOODED.
Tonight Allegheny is modern Venice.
and every sort OF improvised water craft
is in service. Every street in the low-lying
districts in the city from Herr's island to
the Western penitentiary has more or less
water in it. In some places it is from two
to four feet deep. forcing the householders
either to abandon their homes or move to
the upper floors. In numerous cases fami-
lies have taken their cook stoves 10 the
attic and have prepared to camp out. as
it were, until the waters subside
All of the railroad tracks except the Pitts
burg. Fort Wayne & Chicago are sub
merged, and many factories have been
closed down. The Western penitentiary is
in particularly bad shape. The water has
flooded the underground portion OF the in
stitution, running much fine machinery, in
cluding the air renovating and the electric
lighting plants. The building is now with
out heat, and the only light In IL is from
candles and lamps. small sized iceberg
has been deposited on the grounds and the
wardens house has been rendered unten-
able
In Pittsburg proper from the Point to
Ninth street and as far back as Penn ave-
nue., everything is Hooded. Skiffs and wagons
are being utilized to get residents TO and
ever before seen the water so deep on these
streets The Hotel Lincoln has ten feet Of
water in its basement. while the Victoria
and Boyer Hotels are in almost as bad
shape. Water surrounds the Anderson. but
no particular damage has been done.
The Duquesne Theater was forced to
abandon its performance tonight the
water completely covering the parquet.
Although the Alvin was surrounded by
water BOOu SiLtu duhltuNt itdANtH AuC
house by means Of wagons and skiffs. and
the performance proceeded. While the
play was in progress the water was, forcing
its way into the building and almost
reached the feet of the audience.
Every mill along the Allegheny river as
far as Thirty-third street is closed down.
From Twenty-frst street in the Allegheny
valley railroad tracks arc submerged and
every cellar in the district has water ia Il.
On the South Side most OF the mills
have shut down. the plants or Jones a.
I.aughlin and the Republic Steel Company
being the only extensive works 10 escape.
From Homestead TO McKees Rocks the
Pittsburg * Lake Erie tracks are under
water and the Panhandle tracks are being
used 10 get trains in and out OF the city.
Notwithstanding the fact that the South
Side is literally swamped. there Is not a
drop OF water available for home purposes
nor for fighting fire should II become neces-
sary The Monongahela Water Company
supplies this section OF the city. and this
evening the Monongahela river took pos
session OF the company's plant. putting out
the fires under the boilers and forcing =
shutdown.