Norwich bulletin., 1915-08-04
Erie, Pa. Struck
 by a CIoudbursl
POLICE PLACE LOSS OF LIFE AT
 TWENTY-FIVE.
CITY NToTAL DARKNESS
Property Damaged to the Extent of Millions of DolIars-A Large Sec ton of the City Is Inundated.

ton of the City Is Inundated.
 Erie, Pa, Aug. 3-Twenty-five lives lost asa estimated by the police, mill lions of dollars in property damage and the city in total darkness tonight is the result of a cloudburst shortly after 6 o'clock tonight that culminated in a flood that inundated a large sec- tion of the city.
 Caused Dams to Burst.
 The heavy precipitation caused dams south of the city to burst, letting out g. flood of water that filled the main business streets to a depth of five feet and in some sections reaching to the second story windows of dwell ings. Among the first plants to go out of commission was the Erie Coun- ty Electric company, which supplied the city with light Then the Erie Dispatch, morning paper whose building adjoins the electric light plant, was flooded and all idea of get ting out a morning paper was aban- doned until midnight, when the staff was moved to the plant of the Erie Times.
 Water Up to Armpits.
 Tn the meantime the first bulletin of the flood was sent to the outside world by The Associated Press oper- ator, who waded in water up to his armptts. to the Western Union tele- graph office, a distance of five blocks and there sent out his story of the flood.
 Conduits Flooded.
 All telephone wires were put out of commission by the flooding of con- duits and it was several houra before crippled telegraph communication could be partially restored
 Imprisoned in Houses.
 At Ninth street. along Mill Creek, the flood was at it's worst. It is inn possible tonight to ascertain how many actually have lost their lives there. Many are still imprisoned in houses and the rescuers led by Mayor Stern and members of the city council have been unable to get them out. Eastern Section Cut Of. The entire eastern section of the city is cut off by the water and what conditions prevail in the center of this district cannot be conjectured. Fire Chief and Four Bremen Missing.
 Among the missing are Assistant Fire Chief James Buernon and four hremen. Reports were made to the police that a house fioated down Mill Creek with four women and three chfl- dren singing to 1t. Buernon and the
 
 1 their lives in the attempt.
 Fifty Houses Washed Away. Every store in State street, the main business street of the city. Is flooded and at least 50 houses are reported washed away.
 Little Girl Carried to Death.
 The Jarecki Manufacturing plant has been washed away and 20 automo- piles that were in the garages went with them. A little girl standing on the banks of Mill Creek was carried | down to her death when the bank caved in.
 John Higgins. of POT East sth street | Is the first victim of the flood who has been identified. His body was re- | covered from Mill Creek by police reserves shortly before midnight.
 Wreckase 70 Feet High. Wreckage is piled 70 feet high ir the very heart of the city and at mid- night the water had receded some what, but the estimate of 25 dead was still maintained.
 Rose Four Feet in Five Minutes.
 The flood started at 2soth street valley, stream running through the eastern section of the city. It rose four feet in five minutes and then the | onrush of water came so fast that fl was impossible to estimate the speed with which 1t rose. Houses were torr loose from their foundations and cul- | verts were choked.
 Congestion in Center of City. The worst congestion came at 9tf street, which is in the center of the city. Half a dozen houses were wash ed away here and piled up in the patt of the waters Scores of people art still inside of these houses and under the debris at that point. Whether they are still alive can only be conJectured Several shots have been heard inside but nothing is known of what tool place, or the reason for the shooting Woman Hurled from Home Nude. The rain that preceded the fioot started with a heavy thunder shower at { o'clock this afternoon and con. tinued for several hours, until the cloudburst The water in Mill Creel ed dangerous. but people living along the stream refused to leave theil homes. The creek rose rapidly and bJ 8 o'clock the people began to move out but at 8.30 the full force of the fiooC struck those who tarried. One woman who was preparing to retire wa hurled from her home nude and wal rescued at 17th street, two block: away.
 l Life Savers Called.
 For fully twenty-six blocks the wa. | ter rushed. State street is a river Life savers have been called from tn, life saving stations on Lake Erie anC firemen and policemen under the di rection of Mayor Stern are making every effort for the rescue of the i'm perilled and the comfort of the home less and distressed.
 | 1000 People Homeless.
 It is estimated at midnight tha 1000 persons are homeless.
 Flood Has Passed lts Crest.
 It will probably be days before tn, full amount of damage that has beer done can be ascertained. At midnigh it was believed that the flood hal passed it's crest.
 In 1ssS a. similar flood occurred -t Erie.
 | X of C. Reoeive Papa1 Delecate