The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-22
Most Disastrous Flood in Years is Expected in Western
 Pennsylvania Tonight
DYNAMITE IS BEING USED
 ID BREAK UP ICE GORGES
Character of the Storm Varies From Heavy Shows in the North to Terrible Winds and Rains
 In the South.

In the South.
 Pittsburg, January 21.-The worst flood in the history of Western Pennsylvania since the establishment of the weather day night.
 Never before have the existing condi- tions and the outlook been so serious as now. Experienced river men and people who for vars have watched the river and weather conditions. tonight did not hesi- tate to state that stage of thirty-five feet would be reached, which is IT feet higher than the flood of 1884
 Rain has been falling all day. but the snow still holds a foot deep in the valley. Heeding the warnings given out by the weather bureau and from past exper- ences. residents living on the banks of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers began to move away from the impending danger
 At the weather bureau tonight it was said nothing could stop the rise. The river interests were also apprised and are making secure such property as would be damaged by water and ice. At Il o'clock tonight Forecaster Ridge way gave out the following statement: "The expected cold wave winch was headed in this direction from the north west has been side tracked from the storm center, moving northward and east ward The snow, it is believed, cannot possibly be held in check until noon to- morrow, it already having more rain than is ordinarily necessary. to release"
 Winds Are Almost Tomatoes. Memphis, January 2l-A very severe rain and electrical storm prevailed this af- ternoon and tonight throughout the cen- tral southern and southwestern states, se- riously crippling telegraphic service and swelling streams beyond their banks. The storm at midnight is central over the Mississippi delta. All telegraph wires are interrupted to that territory, and 1t is feared that other damage has occurred. Reports from Texas state that winds as- suming the proportions of tornadoes swept from the mountain ranges to the west this afternoon. At Austin, the new woman's building at the state university, was un- roofed, causing a loss of several thousand dollars.
 Much damage was done to outhouses. fences and forestry. No one is reported injured or killed.
 May Destroy River Bridge. Peru, Ind, January a.-Amboy and
  which the residents have had to move. The suburbs of Elwood and North Peru are in immediate danger or great damage. If the Wabash overfiows. South Peru will be ravaged.
 The gravity of the situation Is attributed to the construction of the new five-span bridge, the girders of which are seven feet below the high water line. Men are now stationed at this point with charges of dynamite which will be sent against the bridge to save the town from inuu
 Rain Falls for Thirty-sx Hours. Columbus, O., January 2l.-An almost continuous fall of rain for the last thirty six hours, carrying off the snow, has caused freshets in practically all Ohio streams. The danger at many places has 4 been greatly increased by the breaking up Fof ice in the streams and the formation of " gorges.
 The scotio river is out of it's banks at many points north of Columbus. It was necessary to break up the ice gorges in the river here this afternoon with dyna- mite The river at 8 o'clock was within two feet of the danger line and rising rap idly
 Snow Blizzard In Michigan.
 Menominee, Mich, January H.-The fiercest blizzard of the season is raging here today. There is a heavy snow fall
 
 the bay are keeping in the shantles and are unable to do any work.
 Great Damage Along Wabash. Lafayette, Ind, January 21-consider- < able damage has already been reported throughout the country by heavy floods in creeks and the Wabash river. The river has risen twenty-two feet the last sixteen hours.
 All bottom lands are inundated, causing great loss in fences, out-buildings and small stock. Connersville, a suburb of this city, is covered with the flood.
 It is still raining and the river is rising at the rate of foot an hour.
 Bridges Are Washed Away. Bucyrus. O.. January 2l.-The Sandusky river in this city and the Scroto south of here are at record breaking stages. The Spore bridge in the Broken Sword river was washed out today. An ice gorge at Gallon has broken the natural gas main and cut off the gas supply. Two feet of snow has been carried off by the rain. which has fallen steadily for forty eight hours.
 Part of City Under Water.
 Fremont, O., January 2.-The lower portions of Fremont are under water as a result of the freshet in the Sandusky river. and the forming of an ice gorge be- low this city. Many houses are surround ed by water and the occupants are nov ing out.
 At Evansville, o.
 ZanesvilIe. O.. January A.-The BaltI- more and Ohio railroad has loaded coal trains across three bridges of the Licking rives between this city and Dillons Fails, where the ice Is gorged ten feet high Dynamite was used to break the gorRcs and the waters of the stream a1e pouring into the Muskinsum riye,fst place in