Evening star., 1936-03-20
HAVOC EXTENSIVE
IN PENNSYLVANIA
Receding Waters Bare j.
500 to 1000 Homeless
at WiIIiamSport.
Rx the Associated Press.


BY the Associated Press.
HARRISBURG, Pa, March TO-
Ramnant rivers of Eastern and Gen.
tral Pennsylvania were receding from
peak stages at most points along their
desolated banks today, uncovering dis
aster in every community they
touched.
First direct word of the horror and
destruction that isolated Williams
port for two frenzied days came from
that city on the west branch of the
Susuuehanna River early this morn
ing in the statement of officials they
were unable to estimate the loss Of
life or the property damage.
They said between 1,500 and 1000
persons were homeless.
At Wilkes-Barre, the SuSquehannas
north branch inched upward as late
as midnight but a slight recession
was reported at am. The 1906
stage there was the highest stage re-
corded. A drop of foot in the water
level by dawn was predicted.
Relief Work Under Way.
As the State rallied all its resources
in carrying relief to the stunned and
devastated flood zones and appealed
for emergency health and sanitation
aid from the Federal Government,
efforts were made to count the loss
Of life and the property waste.
Reports from two sources, not yet
confirmed at WilliamSport, said five
unidentified persons, one believed to
be a boy, died there, raising to 23 the
total of deaths in the Juniata- ta-Susque-
hanna River region.
Other word from Williamsport said
the homeless hundreds are being
cared for in schools in hilly sections
of the city. Many, still stranded in
dwellings in low-lying sections, await
ed rescue.
Business streets were under at least
o feet of water Wednesday and Thurs
day. Several buildings in the business
district were destroyed by fire Wednes-
day and an industrial plant Thursday.
Details were meagre, however.
Electric light service was main
tanned except for brief intervals We'd
nesday and officials said the water
supply will last several days. Medical
supplies are sorely needed, however.
c. Arthur Bullock of Canton, Brad
ford County Red Cross chairman, de-
scribed the Williamsport situation as
horrible" and confirmed the reported
five deaths. He told of children
wrapped in newspapers to keep them
warm in buildings without heat, and
appealed for all possible aid at once.
400 Families Homeless.
Further upstream, reports from Re
novo described 400 families homeless
and without shelter on snow-covered
hilltops. Direct communication with
Lock Haven was cut off. -Four homes
In the low-lying town were washed
away.
Lock Haven residents shoveled
muck from their homes left in the
wake of the falling water. National
Guardsmen sought to drive OH vandals
who looted piles of damaged mer-
chandise. Word of a shipment OF
typhoid serum came from Washing
ton. Food shortages were reported.
Al Wilkes Barre, stunned twice
vithing a week by ,ravaging floods,
efforts were sped to remove an esti-
mated 1,500 persons still marooned
III their homes. Coast Guard craft
carried on the rescue work as rapidly
as conditions permitted. Crippled elec-
tric service closed gas mains, lack OF
heat and falling temperatures added
to the misery of 10000 homeless. The
Red Cross said $500 homes in the
Wyoming Valley area were inundated
in from 3 to Is feet Of water.
Sunbury, where the West and North
branches of the SuSquehanna merge,
was menaced by disease in addition
to the flood destruction. Practically
all of the city was under water and
many residents left the harassed
community. Emergency relief quar-
ters were established at nearby Sha-
mokin, where refugees were taken in
special trains.
Towanda Level Lower.
Towanda, above Wilkes-Barre, re-
ported lower river level, as was also
reported at Tunkhannock, but the
recession had not yet begun at Dan
vile and Bloomsbury, below. Half of
Danville was reported under water
and hundreds of families were driven
to upper floors of their homes. The
west end of the Susquehanna bridge
went down last night at Milton and
other nearby bridges were damaged.
The Juniata was receding after car
int
Lewistown and the communities of
Amity Hall and Clarks Ferry, near its
junction with the SuSquehanna, 18
miles above Harrisburg.
Harrisburg itself watched the slowly
falling river and sought to mend its
heating and water supply systems.
-Four hundred families were sheltered
in schools, churches and hotels. Stalled
motor traffic in low-lying sections and
halted industrial plants and trains
helped cripple the capital area.
Concern was felt for the wildwood
Dam, near the huge State farm show
building, reported weakening. Ma
tional GuardSmen patrolled Harris
burg streets.
The Delaware River, its level Drop
ping upstream, passed high tide last
night at Philadelphia without inflict-
ing the damage that had been feared.
Streets inundated yesterday were
clear of water after midnight. Princi-
pal damage up the river was to cot
tages along its banks. The Easton-
Phillipsburg Bridge was the only one
open above Trenton yesterday. The
danger point was believed past, how
ever, and attention was turned to
repairing damaged homes and high
ways
Tigers in North.