Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-02-11
bER WICK BRIDGE
BURNED

- y - a - -
BY y O'Clock last night the water
here had fallen nearly a foot. while
reports from up the river all Indicated
fall, with the exception of at Wilkes
barre where a rise was reported as a
result of ice gorges formed further
down the stream. At Bloomsbury and
Catawissa, where the water began to
recede yesterday morning, the river
had fallen eighteen inches. At Ber-
wick the water fell between four and
five feet during the day. The ice,
however, stopped running at that place.
An immense gorge was piled up which
held the water back causing the river
to rise at points above it. Not only
does the ice gorge take the place of
the bridge, permitting the people TO
walk backwards and forwards upon it,
but even the telephone wires are strung
over it on improvised poles sunk IN
the ice.
The river bridge at Berwick, swept
away by the food Tuesday, was ser on
fire and destroyed yesterday afternoon.
As stated in yesterdays issue six
spans of the big structure lodged in
the ice at Briar Greek, two 0 miles away,
while one span lay stranded nearly OPP
posita Berwick.
The immense hulks lying in the
channel were menace to the safety OF
every othor bridge below them 2n the
North Branch. 1t was fortunate cir
cumstance that they happened to lodge
in the ice, as thus they were still kept
within reach.
From the first there was a sentiment
in favor of burning the bridge before
it should break loose and start down
the river on its mission OF destruction.
The Commissioners of Columbia Coun-
ty yesterday took the matter in hand
aud ordered the bridge burned The
two sections were set on fire at 3
O'Clock yesterday afternoon by mem
bers of the Reliance Fire Company of
Berwick, who walked out ON the ice
to where the bridge lay. The bridge
was an old one, having weathored the
storms for quite three-quarters OF a
century and its timbers dry and we'll
seasoned readily fell a prey to the
hungry flames
Arrangements are being made to IN
stall ferry between Berwick and
Nescopeck to take the place of the
bridge carried away until new struc-
ture can be built.
At high noon yesterday the great
flood upon the North Branch which
has wrought such havoc along its
course reached high water mark, when
the river at this place registered %
feet and six inches At that hour it
began to recede and by O clock it bad
fallen three inches. At Little Roaring
Greek at / o'clock in the afternoon it
had fallen nearly foot
1t was with a feeling of keen relief
that our citizens noted the gradual sub
sidcnce Of the flood, as the high water
had covered the limit of safety and
any additional rise must place many
homes in danger and jeopardise valu
able property.
At II O'Clock Mahoning creek filled
with back water had attained an enor
nous height lying on level with the
top of the aqueduct and with the can
al, also bank full, formed an unbroken
sheet of water. At the Reading Iron
Works the Mahoning creek was out of
its banks and the water was pouring
into the eastern end of the mill i'm an
unbroken sheet when the tide TUNED.
The dwellings below the creek on the
North side of Northumberland street
were surrounded with water. y por
tion of Center street also was flooded
Much of the land at the South East
ern part Of the Borough was submerg
ed The river with the flooded area
attained an enormous width and John
Keim's brick kiln on the river bank
seemed to protrude from the water in
midstream. The food had already sur
rounded several dwellings which from
their exposed position stood a fair
chance Of being swept from their
foundations should the ice gorge break.
Those houses in view of what might
occur were vacated, the families re-
moving with them every bit of furui-
ture. On Cooper street alone there
were five families who decided to be
on the safe side by removing. They
were: Millard Myers, John Wertmau,
Samuel VanKirk, Isaiah Dawson and
Thomas Wray.
An incident worthy OF mention oc-
Cured in connection with the rise OF
water at the residence OF Patrick
Griffin near Foust and Mowrcy streets.
During the forenoon the water flowed
into the street and slowly crept up to-
ward the cellar windows The family
watched the advancing water with anN-
ious eyes hoping that the tide might
turn before their house was flooded.
Just as the hour of noon approached