The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-03-06
Streams Swollen by the Heavy Rains
and the Melting Snow From
the fountains, Bring
Dire Results.
Water, Water, Everywhere.

that has ever occurred in this part of
the country reached here on Sunday.
Heavy rain fell last week, and this
melted the snow in the mountains
and swelled all the small streams
tributary to the Susquehanna River
into raging torrents.
Flshingcreek reached its greatest
height t'on Friday afternoon and even
ing. Every inch of land, for the
width of block, on both sides of the
stream below the Red Rock bridge
was completely submerged, and the
widest excitement prevailed. The
sudden leap IN the stream and the
painful uncertainty as to when and
where it would end was sufficient to
drive the residents, especially the
female portion, to excitement that
bordered on frenzy. Two of the first
houses to suffer from the awful in
rush of water, are located on the
north side of First Street in the
Ralston addition, and occupied by
William Marteeny and J. H. Gross.
The water poured in on every side,
and the occupants becoming alarmed
for fear that they would be flood
bound in their homes, decided to
move out. A horse and wagon was
promptly called into service, and the
goods from the Gross house we're all
conveyed to place of safety. In the
meantime, willing hands were carry
ing out the furniture from the Mar
teeny house. When evening arrived,
both buildings were empty, and the
frightened families joined the throng
of sight seers, who watched the raging
torrents from the Red Rock bridge.
A dozen or more other families IN the
Ralston addition, suffered more or
less from flooded gardens, or submerg-
ed cellars.
Out at the power house of the
Bloomsbury Water Works, Friday
afternoon the water was up almost
level with the floor and for a time 1t
was feared that the water supply of
the town would be affected. Fears,
however, were settled, when at mid
night, or thereabouts, the climax OF
the streams wild behavior was reach
ed, and fall was perceptible.
In Ferndale many cellars were
flooded and considerable damage
caused. In some easements of houses
near the stream the water reached a
depth of FIVE feet.
BY Saturday morning the creek had
gone down and was within Its banks,
BY this time the river was showing the
effects of the storm, and began to rise
rapidly. Higher and higher it rose
until it was up to the mark 1t reached
a few weeks ago, and still it did not
stop, but gradually rose until it was
twenty.eight feet above low water
mark.
The entire fiat below town wa;
covered with water, and every farm
house was cut off from communication
except by boat.
Along the river road are the farm:
occupied by Haines Leiby, Arthur
Pursel, Stanley Bryfogle and the
family of Urbanus Mcbride. Their
cellars were all full of water, and Mr.
Leiby moved out. At Bryfogle's house
the water was within foot of the frs
floor. Some damage was done at his
green houses, all the low beds being
under water. The fire under the boil
ers was extinguished, but they were
able to fire up again on Monday nigh
SO that no damage was done by freez
ing.
At Keiter's Mill at Rupert the watel
was nearly up to the second floor. A
the Boone farm house the family were
obliged to move to the second floor.
All the low lands extending from
the river to point near Third street
including the fair grounds of the Co
lumbia County Agricultural Society
were covered with water to the dep,t
of several feet, and in some places
people had to be rescued in boats
This was the case in Magee Avenue
All the houses were flooded, the water
covering the first floor, and the occu.
pants, Harvey Gross, d. w. Colder,
Clarence Chamberlain and Thomas
Aurant with their families were driven