The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1910-03-02
Ice GOrges Cause Trouble.

Alter the all day and night rain of Sun
day, the Ice started in the Allegheny river
shortly after five o'clock Monday morn
ing, IL being the third breakup of the win
ter. The ice gorged in the bend below
town and In short time had backed the
water over part of the flats in town. The
cellars OF many houses we're flooded and
those who were caught unawares lost
some produce and canned goods. Harry
Potter's house was flooded and he had
two good sized pigs drowned at the little
barn. Mrs. Mary Glening's house was
also flooded. Fred Shfford had nine
chickens drowned at his home up town.
The gorge did not hold for more than
an hour and the water receded as quickly
as 1t came. A big gorge formed above
the mouth of Tionesta creek al the same
time and remained till eleven o'clock
Monday night. The slash bridge and
part of the old Lawrence & Smearbaugh
dam went out with the ice. VIM. Law
rence's suspension foot bridge at the
mouth OF the creek was badly damaged,
about hundred feet of the flooring be.
ing torn out. Fred Reib's farm up the
creek was under water and he lost lot
of buckwheat, oats, corn, and chop feed
which he had stored in his barn, also
some canned goods and produce in his
cellar. He had to hustle to save his
horses from the barn. His loss will
amount TO nearly 500.
Farther on up Tionesta creek condi-
tions were very alarming to many resi-
dents, particularly at Kelleitville, where
the Ice was still holding late last night
and the lowlands in town were under
water. The trouble began early Tuesday
morning when the ice moved short dis
tsnce above town and then stopped. The
office and residence building of DR.. Harry
Davis, which stands on the bank of the
creek, was moved from its foundation
and quite badly damaged. 1t will take
$500 to repair his damage. All his furni-
ture had been removed. All the indus
tries of the place were compelled to sus-
pend operations. About twenty of the
householders on the low ground aban-
doned their homes and took to higher
ground, but were returning to their
homes last night, the waters having re.
ceded somewhat. An attempt was made
Tuesday afternoon to dynamite the ice,
but without success. The ice is very
heavy, in some places being nearly two
feet thick. To add to their other troubles
one of the gas lines is broken and many
are without gas. The s. q T. railroad has
not had through train since Saturday
and it may be several days yet before the
road will be open and safe for traffic. On
the branch railroad up Salmon creek
three or four bridges we're carried away.
Tionesta creek is clear of ice from the |
mouth to the Nebraska dam, but there |
are big gorges at Devil Hollow, Fork |
Run, Buck Mills, Fools Creek, and |
at Hastings. The last three are above |
Kellettvile and the residents of that |
town are awaiting the breaking of these |
gorges with fear and trembling, espec-
tally If the break occurs before the ice
lets go at Kellettville. Al Maybu Mon
day the families of Frank Burrows aud |
Charles Deshner were chased from their
homes by bsckwater.
message from Kellettville this morn
ing says the ice started Tuesday night
about IL o'clock, but lodged again about
mile below town, backing up the water
and leaving 1t about the same depth as
in the fiat portion of the town.
The S. & It. railroad started train out
his morning and will try to open the
'oad.