Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-08-05
Millions of Dollars Damage
to Property; City is
in Darkness.
T o w N Is FLOODED
Associated Press Operator
Risks His Life to Break
News of the Disaster.

Il RTE, Pa, Aug. s. Twenty-Five
IL lives lost as estimated by the po-
lice, millions of dollars in property
damage and the city in total darkness
tonight Is rne result of a cloudburst
shortly after G o'clock, which inun-
dated large section of the city.
The heavy precipitation caused
dams south Of the city to burst, letting
out a flood of water that filled the
main business streets to depth Of
FIVE feet and in some sections reached
to .he second story windows OF dwell
ineS Among the first plants to go
out Of commission was the Erie
County Electric company, which sup
piled the city with light. Then the Erie
DisptaCh, morning paper, was aban-
doned until midnight when the staff
was moved to the plant of the Erie
Times. In the meantime the first
bulletin of the flood was sent to the
outside world by The Associated Press
operator, who Waded in water up to
his armpits to the Western Union tele-
graph office a distance Of five blocks,
and there sent out his story of the
flood.
Telephone Wires Down.
All telephone wires were put out
of commission by the flooding of CON
duts, and it was several hours be-
fore crippled telegraph Communica-
tiOn could be partly restored.
At Ninth street, along Mill creek,
the flood was at its worst. 1t is inn
possible tonight to ascertain how
many actually 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
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.
Fircmcn Lose Lives.
Among the missing are Assistant
Chief James Buernon and four fire
men. Reports were made to the po-
lice that a house flOated down Mill
creek with two women and four chill
drcn Clinging to it, Firemen tried to
rescue them bat lost their lives in the
attempt.
Every store in State street the main
business street of the city is flooded,
and at least fifty houses are reported
washed away.
/ ne JuIttkl lllduuldtluIlUS DlduJ
has been washed away and twenty
automobiles 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.
Wreckagc in Streets.
John Higgins Of 2O7 East Eighth
street was the first victim of the flood
to, be Identified. His body was re-
covered from Mill creek.
Wreckage is piled seventy feet high
in the heart of the city. At midnight
the water had receded somewhat but
the estimate Of 25 dead was main
tanned
The flood came through the valley
Of Mil creek running through the
eastern section The stream rose four
feet in five minutes.
The worst congestion was at Ninth
street, in the center of the city Half
a dozen houses were washed away
here and piled up Scores of people
are inside these houses and under the
debris Whether they are still alive is
unknown Several shots have been
heard inside but nothing is known Of
the reason for the shooting.
The rain that preceded the flood
started with a heavy thunderstorm at
for several hours until the cloudblrst
By $50 o'clock the full force of the
flood struck.
Hurled From Bed.
one woman, preparing to retire,
was hurled from her home nude and
was rescued two blocks away State
street is a river. Life savers have
been called from the stations of Lake
Erie and firemen and policemen un-
der the direction Of Mayor Stern are
making every effort for the rescue Of
the ,imperilled and the comfort of the
homeless.
Three hundred flood sufferers are
housed in the national guard armOry.
Little children who have been separ-
atcd from parents, and parents
frautically searching for children, are
huddlcd together in a pitiable plight
The Erie Dry Goods company, a
large department store, has opened
its doors and is distributing clothing
The board Of commerce has sent a
notice broadcast for sufferers to go to
the Reed house for relief and this or
ranizaiion has started a relief fund
with 500 subscription.
About two hundred persons are
housed in the city rescue mission and