Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-17
FLOODED HOUSES FALL
Narrow Escape of Many Pitts
burg Residents.
ONE PERSON ENTOMBED
Waters Are Slowly Going Down This
Afternoon.
PROPERTY DAMAGE EXTENSIVE
PROPERTY DAMAGE EXTENSIVE
Suffering Is Great Owing to the In
- tense Cold-Charitable Organiza-
tions Giving Relief.

PITTSBCRG. February II. - With
great roar. two brick dwelling houses
located at Nos ~ and "a Penn avenue. in
the district inundated by the flood waters.
COLLAPSED early today and fell into the
street.
A score of occupants. warned by the
cracking walls. barely had time to reach
the street before tons of brick and plaster
tumbled into the streets.
L. c. Anderson was cut and bruised
by flying debris and eighteen other per-
sons narrowly escaped being crushed to
death. All but Anderson rushed to the
street in their night clothes just a mo-
ment before the three-story brick building
fell in a heap. For some time great ex-
citement prevailed, as it was reported
that many persons had been buried under
the debris.
Was Buried Alive.
hurried calls for police reserves. ambu-
lances and f1remen were sent in and a
search of the ruins begun. Anderson's
voice could be heard calling for help. and
1T was found that he was wedged be-
tween heavy timbers in the basement. and
over him were tons Of brick and plaster
braced in such manner. however. that
he was entombed. but not seriously in
jured. After several hours work he was
released and sent TO a hospital, where 1t
was later stated he would recover.
The escape of the other occupants was
miraculous. The loud cracking of the
walls a few minutes before the houses
collapsed served as warning and saved
all from being crushed The passing
flood was responsible for the accident.
Water Is Receding.
The foundations of both dwellings.
which were old. had been weakened by
the high water, causing them to col
lapse.
Other buildings in the vicinity are in
q like condition. and building inspectors
are making a thorough examination of
the places today
At 10 o'clock today the water of the
rivers has fallen to about 241k feet. 1t
is receding slowly, and by this afternoon
the water will be below the danger mark
of 90 feet.
Suffering among the victims is intense
today owing to the cold, and all char
liable organizations are engaged in al
1eviating their misery.
Reports being received today show that
the damage was widespread and heavy.
Genesee Is Clear.
ROCHESTER. n. Y. February IL
High water continued in the Genesee river
here. but while the river is at its greatest
height in years, freedom from floating ice
will stop danger of flood. At Geneseo.
however. large tree jammed against the
Genesee river bridge, near the Erie rail-
ha Of
ter and a food has followed. A flood
along Canasegra creek has made trouble
at Dansville. n. V, Many roads near
Cuylerviile, Greigsvilie and York are un-
der water Traffic on Mount Morris road
Is stopped. and trains on the Delaware,
I-ackawanna and Western railroad, Mount
Morris branch, have found it impossible
10 run on time.
Cleaning Up Factories.
Scenes of activity are in evidence every
where in the flood district today. AS
the water recedes hundreds OF men are
put to work pumping water from cellars
and clearing the debris from the streets.
On the north side patrolmen in sktffs
are distributing coal and food to the i'm
prisoned families For this purpose 1000
loaves of bread and 1000 pounds of bo-
logna were secured last night.
In the manufacturing district a general
cleaning up is in progress. and by night
fall all evidence of the food is expected to
DC obiterated and business resumed
The mills were not as seriously crippled
as In past floods, and majority of them
are In operation today.
Great amounts of goods have been de-
stroyed by water i'm the Easements of
houses in the downtown district. but goods
valued at hundreds of thousands of dol
lars were removed TO places of safety
early Saturday, and the loss in this re-
spect is much smaller than in previous
years. At western Pennsylvania points
above this city the water has receded
from the low lands and restoration
of normal conditions is under way. To
the accurate warnings and predictions of
Henry Pennywitt of the local United
States weather bureau are credited the
saving OF much property.
Food for Hundreds.
WHEELING. W. Va. February 1.-THE
crest of the Ohio river flood here was
reached at 10 o'clock with AZ 7-1O. All
trolley lines and railroads. except the
Pennsylvania and two lines of the Balti-
more and Ohio. are out of commission.
The property loss was minimized how
ever owing to the ample warning which
had been given. The board of trade and
city authorities are furnishing food sup
plies for hundreds of the destitute in the
flooded district The river is expected to
begin receding this afternoon. Conditions
are made much worse this morning by
the sudden drop in the temperature re-
sulting in the freezing over of all the
flooded streets.
Island Floats Away.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
HARTFORD. Conn, February 17.-With
as little commotion as IL it had been a
toat being launched. Dog Island. just
norti, of the Connecticut river bridge. was
swept almost bodily downstream at an
carly hour this morning, the sand OF
which il, was composed having given
away under the pressure of tons of ice
which packed up against it,
The island. which had upon il group
of trees and which was most conspicuous
as the dwelling place of Pomp Turley
blocked the passage of the ice down
stream and soon enormous bank OF
ice was formed behind and around 1t
Till the island gave way 10 the tre-
mendous pressure and broke into sec.
items, the largest locating upon the