The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-24
RIVERS ROLL RUIN
An Ice Gorge is Forming
at Pittsburg.
Five People Reported Drowned in
Rising Streams. Pittsburg AL
ready Estimates Damages
100000.
(By the Associated Press. J

Pittsburg, Pa, Jan. 22.-Midnight-
Lulled into sense of security in the early
evening by the rapidity with which the
Allegheny was carrying the ice and water
from the upper stream into the Ohio,
Pittsburg went to sleep tonight with the
belief that the warnings of danger from
the rivers had been exaggerated. but at
this hour a new danger has arisen. The
Monongahela has broken loose. Huge
masses of ice less broken than that which
came rushing down the sister stream all
day, are choking the harbor. Both rivers
are steadily rising. The Allegheny is al
ready three feet higher than her consort
stream, and as a conseque He, a danger
Gus ice gorge is now forming between the
Wabash and Smithfield street bridges, just
above the confluence Of the two rivers.
Business men. mill owners. residents
and river men are included in the list of
sufferers. The people in some of the low
lying sections of the two cldes may be
hemmed in their homes until late Sun
day night. Until the waters subside it
is likely the damage will continue. for
there is ice enough in both rivers at this
time to keep both the Allegheny and
Monongahela rivers well filed until Sun
day morning, and perhaps later. Fore
caster Ridgeway in a statement issued at
II o'clock tonight could give no hope of
a subsistence. for there was none in sight.
Early in the day, owing to the vlgor,
Gus warning sent out in regard to the
danger from the Allegheny all of the coal
barges and steam boats were sent to the
Monongahela to gain the better protec-
ton of the pools and consequently stiller
water. Already a barge containing 4O,OOO
bushels of coal has been sunk and the
whole fleet, with nearly 275.000 bushels
on board is likely to go down.
At midnight the mark showed twenty
eight feet of water in the Allegheny at
Herr's Island and 25.S feet of water IN
the Monongohela at Market street.
There was daring rescue of valuable
property on the Monongahela tonight,
when the barges Maine, Chester and Mis-
sissippi broke from their moorings and
swept out the ice laden stream apparently
to certain destruction. The three barges
were loaded with railroad iron. valued at
$1S0,000. A distress signal was sounded
from the point bridge and three tugs tried
to check them. For two miles down the
ce-choked river three boats. battled to
the rescue. After a had and gallant
struggle they were brought under control
and landed at the head of Brunots Island.
Many mills have been compelled to shut
down, railroad bridges are in danger, street
car service has been interrupted and re-
ports from nearly every section tell OF
damage to bridges and other property.
The total loss in property of all kinds here
so far is estimated at S1.O00000 No loss
of life has been reported.
Cincinnati, o., Jan. 22.-The break up
of the ice gorges in the Ohio River at
this point has been accomplished with
comparatively small loss. SO far a few
barges have been crushed and a few
Others torn from their mornings. This es-
cape from heavy damage is largely due
to the fortunate breaking of the gorge
below the city first. The ice is being
carried down without injury to craft.