Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-03-02
Mountains of Muddy Water Roll Down
On City of Brotherly Love-RaiI-
roads Are Submerged and Great
Loss of Live Stock Is Reported.


roads Are Submerged and Great
Loss of Live Stock Is Reported.
Philadelphia, March 1.-What is
said to have been the greatest flood
that has ever been experienced along
the Schuylkill river, certainly the most
disastrous in recent years, tore its way
down that stream last night and early
this morning, and from it's source to it's
mouth-120 miles-damage that will
reach into hundreds of thousands of
| dollars has been done.
Thus far only one life has been lost
in this city, Michael Igol, aged Al
years, was drowned at 1880 this morn,
ing in the kitchen of his home at the
falls of SchuyllIill.
The height of the food was reached
at 6 o'clock this morning, when the
river, which had expanded to twice it's
width, began to slowly recede The
communication by telegraph and tele-
phone with the upper part of the river
early today was cut off and informa-
tion as to the conditions in towns sit
uated on the river banks was meager.
Flood Was Anticipated.
The melting of ice and snow, cou-
pied with heavy rains of the past "a
hours in the eastern section of the
state, was the cause of the rapid rise
in the water. The flood was antici-
pated, and as result much property
in Xxyox Of fo c,+A n
raw material stored in the buildings
along the river banks were moved to
places of safety. Incalculable damage,
however, has been done along the
course Of the river in this city.
Several hundred sheep and hogs
were caught in the food in their pens
in the abattOir yards and drowned
The yards are located on the west
bank of the river above Market street.
When the flood began to rise above
the danger mark early last night the
cattle were removed to a place of
safety, but before the attendants could
reach the small stock all were drowned
Probably the greatest sufferer is the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company,
whose track runs along the eastern
shore for a distance of about 8 miles.
The Delaware extension of the Penn
sylvania railroad on the west side of
the river which is used only for
freight, was covered with a muddy wa,
ter as high as the tops of freight cars
Lumber Yards Washed Clean.
The lumber yards in parts of the
city were washed clean of their stocks,
the flood carrying the lumber down
the river in great piles. Thousands of
tons of coal and sand in the yards along
the river banks were swept down the
river The city water works, located
In Fairmount park, are under water
compelling the stoppage of the pumps.
In the vicinity of Arch, Race, Vine and
Callowhill streets, north of Market
street, and SAMSON, Pine and Lombard
streets, south of Market, the water
reached above the first floors Of many
dwellings,.
Horses and mules were removed
from stables along the river and kept
standing In the streets all night to
await the passing flood.
An incident of the terrible night was
the burning Of large frame building
at Vine street close to the river. The
structure was filed with lime, which
began to slack when the water reach.
ed the building and finally set the
place on fire. When the flames were
first seen the water had gone 200 yards
east of the building. The fire depart
ment was unable to reach it and the
building was consumed to the waters
edge.
At daybreak this morning the scene
along the water was one of desola.
ton, but not one Of the dozen schoon.
ers which are tied up at the several
wharVes received severe damage.
Manayunk suffered greatly from the
high water. This district, in which
there are numerous mills, is a fre-
quent sufferer from foods, but it nev.
er underwent such a night as that just
passed. The water reached to the sec.
ond story windows and it will take
some time before the mills are in run.
ming order This will affect thousands
Of mill workers.