Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-03-29
HAVOC IN FOUR STATES.
FLOOD in Pennsylvania. Ohio, Indi-
and and West NirGinia.

and md West Virginia.
With an estimated property damage
OF $4,000, GOO, the enforced idleness OF
over 100000 persons, almost the COM
plete suspension of ~Pittsburg's world
famous manufacturing plants, the sac
riice of two score lives, which prob
ably will be increased train service
annulled, trolley service out of commits
zion, telegraph and telephone lines
crippled, between 10000 and 10000
| persons homeless. hundreds Of homes
undermined and ready to collapse, the
aters closed, guests marooned in hotels.
thousands Of families living in the sec
ond stories of their homes and nearly
ali the downtown section Of Pittsburg
under water, is the record established
by a sudden rise in the Monongahela.
Allegheny, Ohio, Youghiogheny, kis-
kimlnetas and Clarion rivers. which
were swollen abnormally by the COM
bination of warm weather. melting
SHOWS and general rain ~throuhout west
ern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The record of the greatest flood in
the history of P~ittsburg, which was in
1892 was passed, with the rivers still
rapidly rising at Il foot an hour. All
predictions, prophecies and guesses
have already been shattered and every
stream in western Pennsylvania and
West Virginia is on the rampage.
TO add to the confusion In Pittsburg
numerous small fires occurred in the
flooded territory, and the firemen had
great difficulty in reaching them. In
addition to this, most of the fire en-
gines are engaged in different sections
Of the city assisting in keeping electric
plants free from water in order that
lights may not fail.
The town Of Majorsville, W. Va, a
community of sixty houses, was entire
ly swept away by the waters Of Big
Wheeling Creek, all the houses were
destroyed, but the people had sufficient
time to fee to higher ground. Viola
was partly destroyed, twenty homes
being carried off by the flood, but the
people escaped to the hills.
In Wheeling and the surrounding
towns of Benwood, Martins Ferry,
Bridgeport, Bellaire, McMechen and
Moundsville 1t is estimated that the
flood has wholly or partially submerged
fully 5000 houses, and that nearly
$4,000 people, have been driven from
their homes or to upper floors.
Almost similar conditions are re-
ported throughout western Pennsyl-
vania. The losses in the Connellsville
coke region, where mines are flooded
and all industries suspended, are esti-
mated at $2,OOO,O 600. %Johnstown is re-
ported to be practically a lake, with
the stage Of water at eighteen feet, a
foot higher than any known record.
Many points in Ohio are experience
ing the most disastrous floods in sew
eral years. The Miami and Muskingum
from the flood. At GAINESVILLE three
persons were drowned. In Springfield
and vicinity more than 100000 dam
age has resulted to property and 200
families have been made homeless by
the sudden rise of Mad River and Its
tributaries. At Findlay flood condi-
lions have been serious. Lima, Hamil-
ton, Dayton and Middleton also report
great damage. Seven business houses
at Gloucester were swept away and
carried down the river with their con-
tents. All mines in hat vicinity are
flooded.