The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-01
Damage Will Amount to Hum
dreds of Thousands of Dollars.
'UT ONE LIFE LOST.
Michael IgOl Drowned in His
Own Kitchen.
Water Began to Recede at Six
O'clock This Morning.
Thousands Made Idle by High
Water at Pittsburg.

Philadelphia, March 1.-What is said
to have been the greatest flood that has
ever been experienced along the Schuyl-
kill river, certainly the most disastrous
in recent years. tore its way down that
stream last night and early this MORN
ing and from its source 10 its mouth
120 miles-damage that will reach into
hundreds of thousands of dollars has
been done.
1t was an anxious night for the resi-
dents and property owners along the
river. Thus far only one life has been
lost in this city. Michael Igol, aged A
years. was drowned at 1880 this morn
ing in the kitchen of his home at Falls
of Schuylkill. The height of the flood
was searched at o'clock this morning
when the river which had expanded to
twice its width began to slowly recede-
Communication by telegraph and tele-
phone with the upper part of the river
early today was cut off and information
as to the condition in towns situated on
the river banks was meager.
The melting of ice and snow, coupled
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
a few days ago the SchuylI<ill went up
rapidly, then began TO fail slowly. Tho
terrific rain storm of yesterday, how
ever, sent it up again. The flood was
anticipated and as a result much prop
and raw material stored in buildings
along the river banks was moved to
places of safety.
Incalculable damage, however, has
been done along the course of the river
in this city. The water came within
few feet of the low girders of the city
bridges and swept back from the wharf
lines for three blocks in some places,
surrounding dwelling houses, great
manufacturing plants, inundating rail-
road tracks and causing chaotic con-
dition that will take many days to Grad
icate-
Several hundred sheep and hogs were
caught in the flood IN their pens in the
abattoir yards and drowned. The yards
are located or the west bank OF ti4S
river above Market street.
LIVE STOCK DROWNED.
When the flood began to rise above
the danger mark early last night the
cattle We're removed to a place of safe
ty,but before the attendants could reach
the other stock all were drowned Some
of the cattle too We're lost.
Probably the greatest sufferer is the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company
whose tracks run along the eastern
shore for distance of about three
miles. This road has abandoned service
over its main line and is sending its
through trains via the junction railroad
which runs along the western shore just
out of reach of the flood Its other
trains are being sent from the Sixtieth
street station in West Philadelphia The
company'S waiting rooms in the main
depot at Twenty-fourth and Chestnut
streets were under three feet of wafer
and in the train shed the water was as
high as the windows of the passenger
coaches.
The Delaware extension of the Penn
sylvania railroad on the west side OF the
river which is used only for freight was
covered with muddy water as high as
the tops of freight cars.
Lumber yards in most instances were
swept clean of their stock. the flood cor
lrrN., rrfxr
great piles. Thousands of tons of coal
and sand in the yards along the river
banks were swept down the river. Tie
city waterworks located in FairmOnt
Park are under water compelling the
stoppages of the pumps. In the vicinity
of Arch, Race, Vine and Callow Hill
streets north Of Market street and Sam
some Pine and Lombard streets south of
Market the water reached above the
first floors of many dwellings. A por-
ton of the down town section of the
city was in darkness all night owing 10
the flooding of an electric light power
LIME CAUSES FIRE
An incident of the terrible night was
the burning of a large frame building at
Vine street close to the river The
structure was filled with lime, which
began to slack when the water reached
the building and finally set the place
OF fire. The fire. department was unable
to reach it. and the building was con-
sumed to the waters edge.
When day broke this morning the
scene along the water front was one or
desolation. Great destruction was to be
seen on every side, and as the water
receded thick piles of mud and piles of
debris were left behind. Several tugs
and barges were left resting on
wharves where they had fioated during
the height of the flood.
The east and west drives of Fair
mount park are under water to the
depth of several feet
pof1 COY ri
points up the Schuylkill valley on the
Pennsylvania railroad and the Phila-
delphia & Reading railroad, which was
abandoned last night, is still suspended.
Manayunk suffered greatly from the
high water This district, in which there
are numerous mills, Is a frequent suf-
ferer from floods, but it never under
went such a night as that just passed
The water reached to the second-story
windows, and it will take some time
before the mills are in running order.
This will affect thousands of mill work.
erS.