The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-08-06
FLOOD STRIKES ERIE
IAkING TOLL OF LIVES
Twenty. five Persons Lost After Cloud
burst in Pennsylvania City-Mil-
lions of Dollars Damage.

Erie, Pa, Aug. 3.-Twenty-fve lives
lost and millions of dollars property
damage is the estimated toll OF a
cloudburst which struck Erie shortly
after s o'clock tonight. A food in
undated large part of the city.
Dams south of the city burst, letting
out food of water that filed the main
business streets to depth of five feet.
In some districts the water reached to
the second stories of dwellings. Light
and telephone wires were put out OF
commission and it was impossible to-
night to ascertain how many lost their
dives. Many are imprisoned in houses
and rescuers led by Mayor Stern and
members of the city council have been
unable to get item out.
The entire eastern part Of the city
is cut off and what conditions prevail
in the center of this district could not
be conjectured tonight.
Among the missing are Assistant
Fire Chief James Buernor and four
fremen. Reports to the police said
a. house foated down Mill creek with
four women and three children cling
ing to it. Buernon and the fremen
tried to rescue them and lost their
lives in the attempt.
Every store in State street, the main
business street, is flooded. At least 50
houses are reported wahed away.
The Jarecky manufacturing plant
has been washed away and 20 automo-
biles that were in the garages went
with them.
A little girl standing ON the bank OF
Msll creek was carried down to her
death when the bank caved in.
wreckage is piled 70 feet high in the
heart of tie city. At midnight the
water had receded somewhat, but the
estimate of 25 dead was still main
tained.
The food started at Twenty-eighth
street and came down Mill creek. The
stream rose four feet in five minutes
and then the onrush of water came 50
fast it was impossible to estimate its
speed. Houses were torn from their
foundations.
Tie worst congestion came at Ninth
street, in the center of the city. Half
dozen houses here were piled up in
the path of the waters. Scores Of peo-
pie are still inside these houses and
under the debris at that point Whether
they are alive is not known.
The rain that preceded the flood
started with a heavy thunder shower
at 4 o'clock. The water in Mill creek
began to rise at o'clock. By 8 O'Clock
tire people began to move out and by
$50 O'Clock the full force of the food
struck those who tarried.
For Is blocks the water raced. State
street is a river. Life savers have
been called from the life saving sta
tions on Lake Eyie and iremen and
policemen under direction of Mayor
Stern are making every effort to res
cue the imperiled.
Three hundred flood sufferers are
housed in the National Guard armory
Little cl- ildren separated from parents
and parents frantically searching for
children are huddled together. The
Erie Dry Goods company opened its
doors and began distributing clothing
to the food sufferers.
About 200 persons are housed in
the city rescue mission and hospitals
and other charitable institutions have
opened their doors.
1t was estimated at midnight that
1000 persons were made homeless
by the foods.
Telephone service was so crippled
that the work of relieving the dis
tressed was seriously impeded. Boats
are being used in the flooded district,
but late tonight none had been able
to penetrate the center of it because
of the rush of water, At midnight it
was believed the food had passed its
crest.