The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-23
FLOOD ON THE WAY
People of Western Penn
syIvania are Warned.
The Weather Forecaster at Pittsburg
Declares There is No Limit to
the Possibilities of this Ad-
vancing Horror.
vancing Horror.
(By the Associated Press.)

Pittsburg, Pa, Jan. 21.-The worst
flood in tho history of western Pennsyl-
vania since the establishment of the
weather bureau at this point is expected
here Friday night. Never before have
the existing conditions and the outlook
been so serious as now. Although Fore
caster Frank Ridgeway tonight would
not state what height he expects the riV-
ers to rise, he admits the situation is
grave. Experienced riVermen-and people
who for years have watched river ana
weather condition tonight did not hest
tate to state that a stage of 30 feet would
be reached, which is II feet higher than
the food of 1884.
Needing the warnings given out by the
weather bureau and from past expert
ences, business men of this city, and man
ufacturing plants and citizens whose
homes line the banks of the Monongahela,
and Allegheny Rivers began to meet the
impending danger, which it was asserted
at the weather bureau tonight nothing
could stop The river railroads and river
interests are also preparing and were to-
night removing such property as would
be damaged by water and ice.
The snow which is holding back the rain
that has fallen is rapidly disappearing,
and the expected cold wave has been dl-
verted to the northward.
Forecaster Ridgeway remained at his
office all night Warning was given to
prepare for the worst and that there was
no limit to the possibilities of the flood.
Meadvile, Pa Jan. 21.-The lower bus
mess section and much of the residence
section of Meadville is inundated. The
trouble comes from mill run and follows
a thaw and light rain of twenty four
hours. The run passes under several
business blocks and streets and has be-
come completely clogged with ice, forcing
the water over the banks. A torrent is
sweeping through several stores on south
Water street and two hundred cellars are
flooded.
Cincinnati, O., Jan. 21.-The large ice
gorge In the Ohio River between Lud-
low, Ky, and the western part of this
city gave way today. AS It was below
the Cincinnati harbor no damage was
done here, but lower points have been
warned Great apprehension is felt in the
harbor here on account of ice gorges up
the river that are expected to break
soon, as it is raining today throughout
the Ohio valley.
Louisville, KY, Jan. 21.-Ice coming
down the Ohio has formed at Six Mile
Island a gorge few miles above the
city, and tug has been dispatched to
break It, Five boats are busy in front
of the city attempting to keep the harbor
clear. barge and the Juniata, small
steamer, were swept away at Madison,
Ind, today.
Fremont, Ohio, Jan. 21.-The lower por-
tons of Fremont gre under water, the
result of freshet in the Sandusky and
the forming of an ice gorge below the
city Many houses are surrounded by
water and the occupants are moving out.
AT Green Springs, Lottie Herrian, school
girl, was drowned while crossing a creek
Lafayette, Ind, Jan. 21.-The Wabash
River has risen sixteen feet since mid
night. All boats have been destroyed by
the ice, including a pleasure steamer.
The water has overlooked all the low
lands and is in the cellars OF the houses
along the banks.
Keokuk, Iowa, Jan. PA repetition of
last summers flood seems probable. A
gorge has formed at the mouth of the
Des Moines River and the water has
backed up over miles of lowlands in the
Missouri and Iowa bottoms. The ice still
holds in the Mississippi, but the water
has risen two feet in twenty-four hours.
Columbus, Ohio, jan 21.-An almost
continuous fall of rain for the last thirty
six hours, carrying off the shaw, has
caused freshets in practically all Ohio
streams. The danger at many places has
been greatly increased by the breaking
up of ice in the streams and the forma'
ton of gorges The Scotia River is out
of its banks at many points north OF
Columbus.
1t. was necessary to break up the ice
gorges in the river here this afternoon
with dynamite.