The Washington herald., 1913-03-28
swollen RIVERS
Threatening in
Pennsylvania
Reports Reaching Pittsburg
Tell Of Many Deaths and
Great Suffering.
TEMPERATURE IS LOWER
Smoky City Has Stage Of Thirty Feet,
with Water Still Rising-Wheel-
ing, w. Va, Inundated.


throughout Western Pennsylvania created
by the floods were not improved tonight.
Slight reoessions are reported from some
streams but In most instances rivers are
rising. Rain continues to fall south and
west OF here. The temperature dropped
suddenly this afternoon A gale is howl
ing through P1ttsburg and driving a
light, cutting snow. Similar weather re-
ports come from north and east OF this
city.
The decline in temperature has intensi-
fed the suffering OF thousands in Pitts
burg and surrounding communities, who
are homeless because Of the raging
waters. Kittanning reported this evening
before the telephone wire went down
that the Allegheny is higher than ever
before. Scores OF families were COM
PEELED TO abandon their homes and take
20 the hills.
Oil Creek has risen until a large part
of the business section OF Oil City is
under water. The loss to business is
tremendous Families in the rural dis
tricts in the Clarion and Kiskominitas
Valleys have fed TO the hills TO escape
such floods as were never seen there be-
fore. The whole Beaver Valley remains
dark and cold. Bursting gas mains un-
der the Beaver River compelled the shut
ting off Of the gas supply. All the the
aters are closed. Not a wheel Is turn
Ing in all the great Industrial plants.
Fifty Reported Drowned.
Sharon and Newcastle are practically
isolated. and no authentic news can be
had. 1t is reported that since yesterday
morning fifty persons have been drowned
In the Shenango and Mahoning Valleys.
But confirmation OF these reports can
not be got Both rivers have set new
flood marks.
Most of the manufacturing plants are
submerged. Forest County is deluged.
Scores driven from home have gone TO
Tionesta the county seat. seeking shelter.
The women are providing for the refu-
gees.
Franklin is dark tonight. French
Creek quenched the fires in the light
plant. Kittanning was beginning prepara-
tions to clean up the flood litter when
the Allegheny fell two feet this morning.
Tonight the flood mark OF 1865 was passed
A cloudburst up the river brought an
other rise Meadyille reports an abate-
ment of the flood conditions. The Ohio
Valley is getting the brunt Of the food
tonight. The Ohio today backed up the
swollen Beaver River. Within an hour
two steel spans of the Pennsylvania
Railroad were pulled out. The company
said here tonight this will probably stop
all traffic west OF Pittsburg. The Penn
syIvania was the only line open to Cleve-
land and points west OF there.
Congo, w. Va, is under twelve feet of
water. Two hundred families are camp
ing on the hillsides, without food or fuel
New Cumberland, W. Va, is under four
feet of water. Practically the entire city
of Wheeling is under water tonight The
river gauge shows fifty-five feet. About
1000 persons are marooned IN their
homes.
PittsburE Begins TO Suffer.
Moundsville, W. Va. is practically all
submerged. Pittsburg suburbs down the
Ohio all are partially inundated. Am
brose. Woodiawn, Sewickley. Corapolis
and Mckees Rocks residents were forced
to desert their homes or take the upper
floors
Pittsburg is feeling the effects of the
food seriously tonight The expected
twenty-six-foot level became thirty feet
tonight, and the three rivers are still
rising There is fear of repetition of
the 1907 food when a tkirty-six-foot stage
swept millions OF dollars worth of prop
erty down the Ohio.
The Twenty-first Street and the Bru-
nots Island powerhouses of the traction
company are in danger a rise or three
feet will stop the cars IN a large part o.
the city and suburbs.
Nearly two square miles of the North
Side Is a lake. Motor boats and skiffs
are plying the streets.
Down town the pumrs are working in
most Of the hotels, theaters, and office
buildings Business is nearly at stand
still Hundreds of thousands worth or
store goods have been ruined The ex-
position music hall is holding four feet
of water Weather Forecaster Pennywitt
announced tonight a five-foot rise in the
Monongahela at Fairmont. w. Va. The
crest will be reached in Pittsburg tomor-
row morning.