ru ir AAivv nif l m4 n v DO YOU WANtA SITUATION? J
rw wmtom affiflft. s- 1
THIS IS THE SEASON
TO SELL AND KENT HOUSES.
BUYERS AND RENTER
LOOK FOB BARGAINS
Ef THE ETKEY MORNING DISPATCH.
FORTY-SIXTH TEAU.
PPEfttttl
PITTSBURG, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY -1&.. 1891.
THREE CENTS.
m
HUM f M
Continued Rains Cause a
Repeti
tition of the Great
Mood of 1884
THE RIYERS BOOMING.
Hour& of Deep Anxiety to
Thousands of Families in
i&e Twin Cities.
MAKY HOUSES VACATED,
And -the Occupants Forced to Seek
Shelter Under Friendly
Eeishbors Eoofs.
TEAYEL--0N-1HE BRIDGES CUT OFF
Pittsonrg and Allegheny Separated fcj a
Wide Waste of Seething Water
on the Else,
GREATEST DAMAGE OS THE KOETHSIDE,
Khert Enfldirgi Are Etintrgei, EtrttU XlocdeJ, a&l
YthuUe Frcjerty Bu Been Destrryei,
DEIKEreO WATIB ISO ABimCUL GAS SHO&T
HE rainfall of the
past 24 hours cnl.
minaiedin a flood
extending OTcr the
water courses ot the
Allegheny Moun
tains, -which pre
sents every indica
tion of being as
great as that of
1884, if it does not
exceed it
At 3 o'clock this
morning the Alle
gheny marks
showed 32 feet 6
Inches, and rising
at the rate of 3
inches an hoar. The Mbnongahela at Wood
street registered 31 feet 8 inches, and rising
5 inches an hour.
Fortunately, so far, the rapid rise or the
waters along the Monongahela and Alle
gheny Yalleys is unattended by any loss of
life or much destruction of property.
5 Locally, the .rivers rose so rapidly that
the aspect of the positions of the twin cities
abutting on the rivers was completely
changed in the course of a few hours. At
oaybreak the rivers were running bankful,
and there was general expectation that the
streams would be restrained within the
natural lines; at night the low-lying ground
along the Pittsburg side of the Allegheny
was inundated from Thirty-third street to
the Point, in many places to a width of
within a lew houses of Penn avenue.
Allegheny the Greater Sufferer.
The riverside of Allegheny, however, was
flooded to the greatest extent, and from
Smoky Island to the Ninth Btreet bridge the
river flowed in indnputed sway, inundating
the city as far in as Monument Hill at the
"West End, and half way to Lacock street at
the Seventh street bridge.
The transit lines were compelled to cease
rnnning shortly after noon, but the Penn
sylvania road came to the rescue and ran
DrQtrESNE 'WAT
trains between Pittsburg and Allegheny on
ten minutes' headway.
Some curious scenes were witnessed in
Allegheny in the flooded districts, a relation
ol which will be found further on. There
were four feet of water On Robinson street
and during tbe whole cf the afternoon tbe
thousand or so families resident in the
neighborhood were Cut off from all commu
nication with terra flrmo. The stores suf
fered equally with the residences, and un
less means are protided early to-day to
supply tbe cooped-up denizens' of this dis
trict, who number at a venture probably
3,000 or 4,000, much suffering must ensue.
Denizens of the Point Cooped Up.
That portion of this city most flooded is in
the vicinity of the Point, and many fami
lies there are as cut off from ordinary com
munication as those in Allegheny. Duquesne
way, from the Point to the Sixth street
bridge, was completely covered, as were the
side streets to within a few bouses of Penn
avenue, into the cellars along which the
volume of water forced an entrance through
the sewers.
Out Penn avenue way the mills were com
pelled to shut down in whole or in part, and
joint 2.000 men were thrown idle in this dis
trict alone. Southslde mills had to shut
down as well, and the flood, generally, will
have the effect of thriwing several thousand
. ien out of employment, as well as damaging
fjpltnbi to n extent which cannot well be
calculated. Bo far, with the exception of
two gas explosions in Allegheny and one on
Pike street, this city, the individual damage
due to the waters is not extensive.
Bain fell incessantly throughout the morn
ing, clearing up at noon, only to descend
again in heavy showers at intervals during
the evening and night.
ALLEGHENY AVENICE,
A LABGE PAST OF THE IOWEB P0ET10H
OF THE TOWS HALF EUBHEBGED.
At Least 1,500 Families EltherDriven From
Home or Penned Dp Without Food or
Fuel What a Tour or the lower City
Discloses.
Allegheny is suffering most of all by the
flood. About 1,600 families are to-day sur
rounded by a watte of water ranging from
eight feet to two feet deep, and without
means of obtaining provisions until succor
reaches them.
From Anderson street to Smoky
Island is a continuous stretch of
superfluous river, extending back
to Lacock and the foot ot Monument Hill. A
couple of Allechenians of an amphibious
character ana a skiff also of the same nature.
AQUATIC VIEW OP EOBINSOir STBEET, AULEGHEITT.
conveyed a Dispatch reoorter through the
flooded district at 10 o'clock last night.
From windows and doorsteps the inhabitants
looked out in silent contemplation of the damp
surrounding them, and no donbt reflecting on
tbe means ot reaching the pier to-day. In
some places the first floors were flooded
and the stores of course had ceased to trade.
Every now and again a skiff would shoot by
with a load of passengers homeward bound,
ana passively silent under tbe heavy showers
tbat tell daring the evening. There.were three
feet ot water on Moore street, and tbe depth
Increased from Robinson street to the river.
The Streets Filled With Wreckage.
Tbe streets are filled with floating wreck
age. Hundreds of people tramped about
in tho drizzllnc rain, hunting for a place
of rest and shelter. Most of the people, how
ever, found friends new and old who extended
all the aid possible, and but few were com
pelled to stay in the streets all night.
This morning Mayor Wyman will issue
an appeal for assistance for the suffer
ers and even last night many contri
butions were offered at City Hall.
Up until noon tbe water had been rising rap
idly. From that time until .8 o'clock it coma
slower. At that hour the flooded portions
reached from Chestnut street along River
avenue to tbe Allegheny Artificial Gas
Company's plant, in Manchester. It was
running strong up the cross streets as
far as Lacock in tbe upper end of tbe city and
to tbe upper side of Rebecca street id the lower
portion. The only side streets running
north and south that were not flooded
.were Anderson and -Federal streets,
the two great outlets from Pittsburg.
A fine rain commenced about 5 o'clock, and
Collecting the Mail in Allegheny.
wltbin two hours almost every spot south of
Lacock street was covered with water. The
street car companies kept at work carrying
passengers nntil almost 9 o'clock, when tbo
water reached up over tbe seats, and they sus
pended operations.
A Harvest for Greedy Drivers.
Then hundreds of wagons appeared on tbe
scene and reaped a rich harvest by carrying
people from the bridge across the water at 5
and 10 cents ahead. It was the only means of
communication between the cities, and it was
eagerly availed. The extraordinary means of
OITX OP SIGHT.
conveying passengers excited the Interest of
large crowds, who were afforded much amuse
ment by the many mishaps that occurred. Balky
horses were in plenty, and frequently the
drivers nad to descend and lead their animals
through the water. There were several UDsets
and many mishaps.
Two men applied for permission to tbe Alle
gheny police yesterday evening to build a toll
bridge across the water at the foot of San
dusky street leading to the Seventh street
bridge. Tbey were told to go ahead, hut had
not rnado a start up to midnight
Mail carriers had to go their rounds in Rkiffs,
ana The Dispatch artist illustrates tbis fea
ture as well as ono of the extemporized means
ot transportation resorted to without protest
Tbe city is Venetian in its appearance, but it
lacks tbe gayety, despite the fact of tbe many
funny incidents. The pitiful sight of the sick
and helpless being removed from their homes
in. skiffs and the sad scenes of frail women
with infants in their arms fainting as
they are rowed away takes all the brightness
from tho picture. Erery street in the
flooded district is filled with skiffs on which
are Piled such household goods as tbe home
less wanderers are able to save from their
cheerless houses.
Scenes In Warehouses and Factories.
Then there are the scenes in the warehouses
and tbe factories. In the great Pens Cotton
Mill on Isabella street the men were at work
all day removing the machinery and' fin
ished goods to the upper stories. The
great scene ot excitement was in the
warehouse where the cotton bales were stored.
The water rose so rapidly that modh of Jt bad
to be hauled to Sandusky street and statfked up
at tbo approach to the Seventh street bridge
Tbe loss to tbe firm will only be nominal.
At tbe Selbert furniture factory, on Lacock
street tbe perishable goods were taken to tbe
upper stones, and hence only a slight' loss.'
at the dock the ereat itirki nr huil wood
1 lumber were still salo in the yards, but by'
--
morning they are expected, to be somewhere
down the river.
Hlggins Brothers rag and paper warehouse
on Lacock street was in danger of being flooded,
and inside of seven hours he had 5,000 worth
of rags removed to a place or safety.
Below Federal street the factories fared
worse. James Hunter inspected his lime and
cement mill in a skiff, and in doing so he rowed
through the door of a car on the Pittsburg and
Western Railroad. The loss on his plant will
amount to the entire value of the property.
Bradly's Woolen Mills share a similar fate.
The Porter Foundry and Machine
Works are under water and the loss.
cannot be estimated until t&e water subsides.
The Fire District Now Flooded.
The big lumber yards In the First ward,
which were swept by fire on the night of the.
Allegheny Seml-CentenniaL were swept by
water yesterday, and thousands of feet of lum
ber have gone down the river. Among the
losers are Ewer & Karslake, W. B. Enos 4 Co.,
F. J. Kress. Willey Bros, and C. L. Willey.
Lindsay & McCutcheon's mill is under water,
and the Excelsior Coffin Works have been
compelled to shut down, and it is f earod much
of the machinery will be ruined.
At the Allegheny gas plant at Rebecca street
pumps were kept at work all day to keep the
water from reaching the fires, but last night the
raise was too great and the fires in tho retort
were extinguished. As the supply of gas is
limited there is danger the consumer in Alle
gheny will be without this illuminant unless
the water falls to-morrow.'
The World's Museum gave an afternoon per
formance, but toward evening the water surged
in and flooded the auditorium. The hall floor
was driven up and burst in tbe center.
Lee and Ed. Cavitt rescued a man from a
floating railroad tie in the Allegheny river at
the Seventh street bridge last night. He re
fused to give his name and was able to Co to'
his home in Alleghenv.' It is said he is a fire
man at Shoenberger t Co.'s mill.
E0ADS E? PAIS SHAPE.
Slides on the n. B O. and Washouts on the
Pennsylvania.
The Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania
roads were in fair shape yesterday. A land
slide at Brooks' tunnel held the through train
from Washington over the B. & O. seven
hours. The slide at West Newton Js a bad
one, and as fast ss tbe debris is removed an
other section of the hill comes down to take its
place. The men, have bard work to keep the
dirt from blockading the east track. It will
take a week or more to clear up tbe obstruc
tion on the west track. All passenger trains
are run around the slide.
. . ,
F . ii ,,,',-,,
BOATIHO STAOE 2TEAB THE PITXSBTJKQ AJTD TTESTEEIf DEPOT.
Just east nf Buttermilk falls, near Cone
maugh, the Pennsylvania is experiencing the
most trouble. The road has three tracks, and
two have been washed away, one for 400 feet
and the other for 200 feet. The trains are run
on the west tract, which causes a delay of at
least an hour. List night tbe mail train and
limited were behind time two hours.
ThePittsburg and Western from Sharpsburg
to the station in Allegheny is under water, and
it is not known whether tbe roadbed is still
there or not Tbe employes cet into the depot
from skiffs. No trains are running from Alle
gheny on this road.
The main lines of the Panhandle and Ft
Wayne roads are open.and the tbrough trains
are arriving on time. The water is receding on
the Chartlers branch, and the company an
nounces that the road to Washington will be
open to-day.
A heavy landslide -blockaded the Allegheny
Valley road about six miles from Franklin.
The Buffalo express was delared twn linnr
Passengers were transferred.but tbe managers
c&pcub mi uiiTQ uio uuo open lo oay.
IN THE POINT DISTRICT.
HOUSES CUT OFF FB0H. DBY 1AKD AHD
PEOPLE KOVIHG.
Duquesne Way Covered With Water and
the Cellars Flooded Back to Perm Ave
nue Hard Times for the Live Stock
Some Queer Sights.
The denizens of the Point district, to with
in a few houses of Penn avenue, were housed
in by the rising waters, many having to take
refuge on tbe- second floor. Early in the
evening the people beganrto appreciate tbe fact
that it was getting moist in their neighborhood
and many began to move their furniture and ef
fects into tbe nearest vacant houses. On Fort
---X40-
2T7ic TriaU of Block at the Point.
street Firt and Second streets, boats were
requisitioned as means of communication with
dryland, but generally the residents surveyed
the waste of water from 'doorsteps and top
story windows, as it not quite knowing what to
do in the emergency. The live stoec, which
forms a considerable proportion of the popula
tion of the Point district, had a bad time of It
and driven out ot its customary stamping
ground, sought refnge where it might
The Dispatch artist has sketched a charac
teristic specimen of the stock in an attitude of
rerret at not baring learned to swim.
The Exposition building was surrounded by
water and looined up in a desolate way at be
ing forsaken by the mainland. All the works
along Duquesns way were inundated with
water, and the bands thrown idle. The resi
dences along the way were est off from com
mnnication with the higher ground, except
lOonttntiich tizthfage.'X .
rytr
GETTINGJJSED TO IT,
The Residents of Johnstown
Rather Enjoy Watching.
a Flood Now.
WATER ABOVE ANDBELOW;
Reports of Inundated Towns and
Property os3 From All Sides.-
THE ALLEGHEHT STILL RISING
At a Tery Steady Sate at Every Point From.
Source to Month.
SERIOUS SITUATION AT SOME PLACES
rsraciAi. TEtaoiiiM to ran wsrATCH.1
Johnstown, Feb. 17. From early morn
ing until night the Stony creek was station
ary, its highest point at no time vary
ing three inches, the greater part of the city
being under water. In Cambria City, where
so many houses were inundated, there was
no attempt made by anyone to return to
their homes, as the currents were flow
ing very swiftly and the floating drift
wood made it unsafe. On the south
side, ' at the point and in Homers
town the situation was about the same as to
the depth df water, but as the current was
sot so strong most people who had deserted
their homes over night returned in the
morning to look after their, property. Curi
osity, however,. Boon led them to go away,
and all day the river banks and railroad
tracks were lined with thousands of people
seemingly enjoying; the sight of the madly
rushing waters.
Early in the morning an authentic report
from the log boom up the Shade creek set at
rest the story tbat it was liable to break, and
the people breathed much more freely. As
in flood times there was a great demand for
rubber boots and umbrellas, and this was about
the only class of goods dealt in to any extent by
the merchants;
A somewhat sensational Incident became
public' this evening, which happened last
night, It seems tbat in the crowds which
lounged about the stone bridge last night a
number of persons freely expressed their
opinion that the bridge ought to be destroyed.
Tbe angry declarations by the people alarmed
the railroad men who were there to protect tho
bridge, and about midnight they sent
a messatte to Superintendent Pitcalrn
saying there was danger of the
bridge being blown up by dynamite.
Pitcairn telegraphed Mayor Rose that he ex-
pected the railroad property to be protected.
The Major Immediately proceeded to the bridge
with a squad of police, when it was found that
the excitement was unfounded. The day passed
without any extraordinary incident and when
toward evening, the waters began to subside
quite rapidly, tbo watchers felt much relieved.
At 8 o'clock the river has fallen about two
feet but as it was very disagreeable most peo
ple concluded to bunk with tbeirfriends an
other night before returning borne. It is some
what curious to note that in many cases
dozens of people were huddled together
last nigbt at tbe home of some
friend, being almost identically the
same persona who were together for weeks
A Jtobinton Sired Ferry.
after the flood, and of course their reminis
cences were many. At a late hour the waters
are still receding, and another flood is over
which, while it was exciting and destructive,
fortunately did not cause tho loss of any lives.
OH CHAETIEES CHEEK,
All Towns Badly Flooded and Many Work
Ingmen Homoles.
srVCIXI, TELSGBAl TO B MgrATCH.1
CnABTrnfiS, Feb. 17. T-fie Ohio river at this
point is still rising, and it is feared tho high
water of IKSi will be reached, when a loss of
$73,000 was inflicted. There are four feet of
water coverlngChartlers avenue, and Bell ave
nue is in the same predicament Boats are be
ing used in the streets. Severe losses will be
inflicted on merchants of the town whose cel
lars have been flooded. Tbe street car stables
have been removed to the Anderson-DuPuy
Mills, as it is thought some ot the horses will
die from tbe results of exposure.
The conntv bridge over Cork's rnn, near'Nim
iek, was rendered useless to-day, tbeabutments
having been Washed away.-. Several other small
county bridges hare also been destroyed. The
Pittsburg, Chartlers and Xoughiogheny. Rail
road has been badly wasbed out, and no trains
will be run until Friday or Saturday. No flood
baS ever caused snch a suspension of traffic for
so long a period. At East Mansfield tbe tracks
of the Plttsbnrsr. Chartiars and Ynnirhiorbeov
Railroad have been swept into Cbartiers crees..
ana no wotE can do aone on them until the
waters subside to-morrow. Wires are down,
and poles have bee swept'- down tho creek by
tbe score. Heidelberg; Leesdale and yood
ville have .suffered greatly. From 300 to-500
laborers of these places are homeless, and
many are in distress. The various Ladies' Aid
and other societies and individuals are render
ing needed assistance. All business was aband
oned to-day, and merchants 'devoted their time
to saving their goods. The damages from water
will amount to (25,000 in this town alone. Very
little actual work can be done until the waters
Bubside.
GEEAT DAKAGE AT BOCHESTER.
Water Near the Flood Mark of 1881 and
Rising Rapidly.
fSriCIAI. TZLEQBAM TO THE DISPATCH.!
Bocbestsb, PjL, Feb. 17. There was 37 feet
ot water here at 1020, and rising four inches an
hour. It only lacks about seven feet of being
jlas high aa tbe great flood of MoV -Two afreet.
are flooded, jtrid about 0 families have been.
compel(ed;rf leave their homes,,bni as they
have bqen .anticipating this they have their
EOodsaafiflfstored.
The (utlber firms have had their yards
boomed, afciho loss of". Umber will- be small.,
bnt their machinery wflljji'o considerably dam
aged, s. Barns fc Col's JWicK Works'will suffer
tbe greatest loss, whiebffonnot be estimated at
this time. ffT
' THE SUSQUEHANNA.
VraUaAMSPOKT THE CENTRE OF FIOOD'
HEWS QJS THAT EIVEB,
"Everybody Preparlng'for a Great Deluge
Lively Times Among the Railroad Peo
ple AU Small Streams Out of Their
Banki A Log Boom.
rsracxiii TSLzcmax to toi dispatch.;
'Wdlmamspobt, Feb. 17. Great excite
meat has reigned along the banks of the
river to-day' The shores have been crowded
with anxious people, braving the elements
an? yto&lnB with eager eyes the water.
-Th'ainformation at an early hour is that
thef river had reached the nine-foot mark at
Clearfield last night, and was still rising, and
tbat Clearfield creek and other tributaries
above us were conespondingly high.
The first message from up tbe river reached
this city at 7 o'clock this morning, and stated
that at 830 the water had reached thel2-foot
mark and Was gaining at a rate tbat would
soon cause it to submerge tbe lower end of
town. Anderson rrpftlr. pmntvini intn thn
, river at Curwlnsville, was adding tons or water
to neip swell tnenooo. Montgomery, Moose,
Lick and Trout runs are over their banks.
Pine creek and the Sinnemahoning are tbe
only streams heard from that had not up to
early this morning, raised to any extent
The rain in that portion of the country did
not seem as heavy as elsewhere: Soma of the
residents along Front street gravely alarmed,
moved their household effects from the first to
the second stories of their bouses as early as 10
o'clock this morning. The conjectures concern
ing the heigbt the water will reach here vary.
Some claim that it will not reach 20 feet, while
others place it as high as 35.
The Boom Company men were at work all last
night and to-day hanging the boom, but did not
get the job completed. A quantity of logs
broke away far up the river, and it is expected
they will be caught here.
There' is a bustle in railroad circles which
forbodes no good. All necessary precautions
are being taken. Engines and cars are standing
In the yards awaiting orders to be run on the
bridges in this vicinity at a moment's notice.
Lumbermen are very uneasy. The levels of
the city sbow tbat a 20-foot flood will bring the
water UDto tbe Court House Sanare. At 2
, o'clock this afternoon the river marked 13
A EAUEOAD STJPPIHG "DOWN 1TTT.T,.
The Waters at little Washington Subsiding,
but Railroads Have Trouble.
rSPECIAI. TELEOHAM TO TUB DISPATCH.
Washington, Pa., Feb. 17. The high
waters In this vicinity are subsiding rapidly.
No trains were run on the P., C, C. fc St L.
i Railroad to-day, however, the track in some
places having been badly washed. A gang of
workmen is trying to straighten affairs at
Bridgevlllc, and will probably have the road In
running order Wednesday. Tbe washonts on
tho Baltimore and Obio road at Elm Glove and
Alexander have been repaired, and trains are
running on schedule time.
The Waynesburg and Washington, tho- nar
tow gauge road between this place and Waynes
burg, is in the worst fix. No trains have been
run over it since Monday morning. The track,
which bugs tbe sides of tbe hills, has slipped in
many places and Is impassable, ilen are out
along the road td-day trying to patch up tbe
breaks. In many places the men are compelled
to stand in water up to their thighs. It is
thongbt it will require several daVs to get the
road in good running order again. Beports
from throughout tbe oil belt Indicate that
many wells are shut down on account of high
water, and a great deal of damase will be done.
THEjBEAVEB gm,
Water Works Knocked Out, anils Shut Down
and Families Bloving.
rSPECIAT. TSLZGRAM TO THE DISPATCH:.!
Beayeb Fai-is, Pa, Feb. 17. The heavy
and continued rains for the last few days, have
caused the water in tbe Beaver river to reach a
.higher point, than it has been since ISSi It is
now overflowing in some places, and the water
is still rising. Tbe high water has put ont the
fires in the waterworks and stopped the pumps.
Fearing there may be a water famine, mills
that use a large amount of city water have
been compelled to shut down. At Fallston, a
mile below this place, all the mills and factories
are closed.
Tbe water has almost reached the public
road, and tbo people of the lower part of tbe
town are moving their goods to higher ground.
The Cleveland and Pittsburg pumping station
at Rochester has been abandoned, and Water
street residents are getting ready to more. It
is still raining.
THE B. & 0. BLOCKED.
Landslides Near McKeosport and West
Newton Stop Traffic
rspzcTAT. TiLinnAJi to tob dispatch.i
McKEEsronT, Feb. 17. The Baltimore and
Ohio and all railroads coming into the
city are blocked. There are three big
slides on the jtlcKeesport and Belle
vernon road, and no trains passed
over tbe road to-day. Above West Newton on
the Pittsburg, McKeesport and roughiogheny
Bailroad, tbe slides bare stopped all traffic
The great slide on the Baltimore and Ohio is
a mile above here, and is tbe largest for years.
Another big slide is at Brooks' Landing, on the
same road. No trams east or west can pass tbe
slide above West Newton, and it will take some
time to clear tho track.
FEEEPOET FEIGHTEHED.
The Unprecedented Deluge of 18G5 Likely
to De Surpassed.
ISPSCIAL TELEOBAM TO TUB DISPATCH.!
Fbeepobt, Pa,, Feb. 17. All of thalower
part of town from below Fourth street down is
submerged. People have been vacating their
houses all day. At tbis writing, 9 p. M., there
is 32 feet of water in tbe channel and still
rising five inches per hour. This exceeds all
floods here, except that of March 17, 1SC5, and
it is only one foot below that
At tho rate it is rising it will exceed the 1E65
floods. All business is suspended. Gucken
heimer distillery had to close down. The
water works pump bonse is under water. The
water is liable to cause several hundred cattle
to be moved from their pens. At tbe distillery
it is feared the foundation will give away.
DANGER FB0H A LOG JAM.
People Moving Out of Beynoldsvllle and a
Bailroad Washed Ont.
rEFECIAL TELEGRAM TO Tni DISFATCn.t
BETKOLDSVTLI.E, Feb. 17. Water is higher
here than since June, 1819, and still rising.
Tbore is a large jam of logs at Falls Creek, six
miles above here. If it breaks there will be
Are feet more water and a great loss of prop
erty. People have been moving since last night
Tbe track of the R. A F. C. B. R. is washed out
and no trains are running. Still raining.
t
UP THE ALLEGHENY.
Klttannlng and Ford City Under Water and
Suffer Damage.
rsrscuz. telxquak to tux dispatch.!
Kittaniiing, Feb. 17. The Allegheny
reached the highest stage since 1873.. Tbe
whole upper end of the town is flooded, the
water reaching the second s'tory in some of the
houses.
Nearly tho whole town at. Ford City is under
water, and many residents have abandoned
their homes. A portion of tbe glass works is
under wster, and work has been suspended in
all departments.
A Ltttlo School Glzl Drowned.
rSFZCLU. TXI.BOKAMTO TUB DISPATCU.1
Butler, Feb.17. Isabella Young, aged 8, of
Donegal township, while on her way from
school to-day, fell from a foot bridge and was
drowned. The bodv was found in some drift
wood a short distance from the bridge.
The Mohawk Rising by J amps.
BCHENECTADr. N. Y Feb. 17. There fs a
gorge in the Mohawk near here. Tbe river is
rising ten feet per hour to-night, and-.naught
- -.- w-a DM.vwwiinwnjHf --V'
ASTEAMBOftT WRECK
In Which Two Members of a
Well-Known Pittsburg
Family Perish.
HELPLESS IN THE RIVER.
Wife and Granddaughter of G. F. Mc
Cleane, of Moorhead & McCIeane,
FALL VICTIMS TO THE FLOOD.
Thirty Other Passengers HaYe Karrw
Escapes From Death,
LAST FATAL TEIP OF TnE;SnEEL0CK
Cincinnati, Feb. 17. It was-v
o'clock to-night when the steamer Sher.
of the Cincinnati and New Orleans li
under command of Captain Hclntyre,
backed ont from her wharf and started
down the river on her last' trip. She
had aboard from 30 to ZS passengers and a
crew of CO to 60 men. The river was high,
the wind was strong, and as. the steamer-approached
the Chesapeake and Ohio Bailroad
bridge nearly ail the passengers were on
deck to see how near the boat's chimneys
would come to the bridge.
Their curiosity was soon changed to terror
as they saw the boat apparently at the mercy
of the winds and the current And in a
moment, with a terrible crash in the dark
ness the boat struck the stone pier' of the
bridge and was utterly, helpless.
A Witness of tho Accident
Mr. James Bickett, of tbe Kenton Connty
Boat Club; was on the Kentucky shore
and observed something, unusual in the
boat's movements. Instead of going toward
the wide center span she moved toward
the Kentucky span, where the current is
He says that she seemed to be unmanageable
and that she was too close to the pier; and to
bis horror he saw her strike about tho wheel
house on the Kentucky side of tbe pier. She
clung there for a short time and gave distress
Bienals.
Pickett manned boats with what help he
could command and went to the help of tbe
distressed passengers. He succeeded in pick
ing off six women and seven men following the
floating vessel as she left the pier and floated1
down the anirry river. He says he saw some of.
the crew swimming asbore. He saw two on a
ratt of three boards, and he thinks hesaw many
straggling In tbe water.
When the'steamor reached the Fifth street
wharf, after narrowly missing a Southern rail
road bridge pier on tap way, the bull sank,
leaving the cabin with the passengers afloat
Here some of tbe people managed to getaslore.
Tbe harbor steamer, Al Martin, was hastily
sent after the floating cabin, and caught it at
Riverside, several miles below the city.
The Courage) of the Women.
As many as were left were hastily taken
aboard and returned to tbecity. It is said they
were remarkably brave during their season of
peril, and that with a- few, exceptions the
women wero more courageous than the men.
Levenjihen death seemed certain. ?$.
Mrs,McUleane, ol t'lttshurg", wa3 instantly
killed by falling freight at the time of the- col
lision. Among the saved are Pres Ellison,
second clerk and his sister. Mrs. Willard and'
daughter, of Columbus, 0.;Mr. Conners. of
Columbus, O.; Anthony Davis and Isbam Rey
nolds, colored deck hands, got ashore in a yawl.
Tbe Sherlock was 18 years old, valued at $20,
000 and insured for.$12,C00. She had 400 tons ot
freight, consisting of nails, paper, bottled beer,
glassware and miscellaneous freight There
were 21 registered passengers and 9 not regis
tered. Those registered were:
L. JONES and wife, for Evansville.
MR. GEORGE F. McCLEANE. of the iron
and steel firm of Moorhead & McCIeane,
Pittsburg, and his wife (who was killed).
G. McCLEANE BROWN, aged 1L and Mar
gary L. Brown, aged 9, grandchildren of Mrs.
McCIeane.
LOUIS QUINN. MISS E. A. HAYDEN and
MR. and MRS. WILLIAM HAYDEN, of
Columbus. O.
LOUIS E. ELLISON, of Madison, Ind.
J. B. ELY. wife and child, of Detroit.
MRS. M. WILLARD and daughter, of- Wash
ington Court House, O.
MR. and MRS. KEY and daughter.
G. M. NAGLE and 3. T. HERNER, ot Cincin
nati. The Members of the Crew.
The crew consisted of Captain Sterling G.
Mclntyre, Malcom W. Mcbityre, first clerk;
Preston Ellison, second clerk; Will
C. Lepper, third clerk; George
Freund and John Morlidge, pilots; John Lee
and James Dupey, engineers; James Van Zant
second engineer: John Dixon and Eugene Mc
Clean, assistant engineers; John Dreffer,
stoward; Peter Dreffer, cook; Scott
Craig, second cook; Gns Bellew
and E. W. Sutton, pantrymen; Becky
Williams and Mary Moore, chambermaids;,
William Bennett carpenter. Besides these
were tbo usual number or cabin and deckhands
and roustabouts, tbe latter mostly colored
L. H. Key. wire and daughter, or Cleveland,-
were saved py jsir. Kicicett Air. liey offered
$10 to his rescuer, not Knowing who he was,
and was surprised to hear his offer refused.
A later dispatch says: It is known now cer
tainly that Mrs. McCIeane, of Pittsburg,
and her granddaughter, little Margery
Brown, of " Pittsburg, were the" only
ones of tbe 21 registered passengers lost
of the nine unregistered passengers; whether
all are safe or not is not known. It is believed
everyone ot tbe crow was saved. In regard'to
tbe cabin and deck crew there is a painful
uncertainty. Persons are reported escaping
to shore for quite a distance along the river in
Covington. Jlany believe several are lost The
rescued are so scattered about on both sides of
the river to-night tbat it is impossible to make
a tally of living andjnissmg.
MET DEATH IH PUBSTJIT OF HEALTH,
Mrs. McCIeane, n Daughter of a Former
Governor of Maryland.
Mr. and Mrs. McCIeane, with their grand
daughter, a daughter of Stewart Brown," of
Brown t.Ca, left Pittsburg on Saturday for a
tour of the South, Florida being their objective
point Tbe object of the trip was to improve
tbe health of Mr. McCIeane, which had become
impaired by close attention to his vast busi
ness Interests.
Mrs.- McCIeane was SO years old, and a
daughter or the late GovornorDewey, of Mary
land. "Mrs. McCIeane held a Prominent posi
tion in Pittsburg social and chnrch circles, and
was greatly interested in many charitable proj
ects. EAILEOABS IN A BAB WAY.
The Track of the Wheeling and Lorain
Washed Away for a Mile.
rSPKCIAL TJtt-aOBAU TO TBS DISPATCH, i
Mabslllon, Feb. 17. The heavy rain of the.
past few days has so swollen the streams south
of this city that art trains on the Wheeling and
Lake Erie Railroad east of Bowerston have
been abandoned, tbo trains being unable to get
within 25 miles of each other on account of the
washouts.
Oatbe Cleveland and Lorain Railway. 20
miles sooth of RichvIIIe, the track is washed
away for a mile and the wires are down. The
Tuscarawas rose tea inches in an hour this
morning, surrounding all the dwellings In the
northern part of the' city.
OH THE MUSKHtGUH.
One.nondred'Zanesvllle Families Drowned
Oat and Bridges in Peril.
CTXCIAI- TSI-KO JAM TO TUB DISPATCir.l
ZANESVlliE, Feb. IT. The Muskingum
river has risen 15 feet and is still rismgan inch an
hour. One hundred families in the lower part
of the city are drowned out
Thaw&urlsnowlntt over the Baltimore and
Lphio bridge oyer tho Licking, which UloadwL
with pig iron cars and iron, and tbe county
bridge.
EXCITEMEHT AT WHEELING.
Tho Flood the Greatest Since 1884, and Still
Increasing Rapidly.
tSPXCTAL TZLXQRAM TO TUB DISPATCH. 1
WHeeij-s o, Feb. 17. The river at 7p.m.. was
31 feet 2 inches, having risen 7 feet during tbe
past hour. It looks as it 42 feet would bathe
extreme limit of the flood, although the streets
'are filled with excited rdmorsof-15 feet and
more. It has been a day of alarm to hundreds,
and to-night will be one of anxiety. Merchants
are hard at work removing their goods above
the danger line, and in some places tbe -streets
are well-filled with barrels, boxes and packing
cases. Scores of pianos and many loads of
household goods bare been removed from the
island and other low residence districts, and
every precaution is being taken to avoid a
tremendous loss like tbat of 1834. TJpto this
hour little real damage has been done;
AtlO o'clock to-day eight persons had a nar
row escape from drowning at tbe Union rail
road bridge, at the north end of the city: A
trading boat containing 4 men, 1 woman and 2
children was blown against a pier, and the oc
cupants were raved from the wreck by the
crew of tbe Climax Justin the nick of time.
Tbe railroads will be greatly interfered with
until the river falls, the track being covered
from all points along the river below here. Re
ports from below say tbat all business men and
families are removing tbeir goods to higher
ground. It Is the greatest flood since 1881. ,
0VEEFL0W ITEMS.
Urlftwood From Many -Freshets, Both Far
and Near.
Emekson was submerged.
13 having a heavy rainfall.
Blairsvillaare inundated.
TnEx--, 0 Trowed its banks in places.
SeteeAv. 2&o -lypi'N. water at McKees
port
Teains have stoj Cr K hz. from Waynes
burg: ""TV
RrvKB- bottoms at'Porwmouth, O., are cov
ered.
The Big Sandy in Kentucky is on another
boom.
Faix'stox and Bolesvllle, on the Beaver, are
baptized.
Ali. cellars flooded In the lower part, of
Greensbnrg. '
The Center avenue bridge at Butler was
washed away.
Lowxand residents of Rochester were mov
ing out yesterday.
Tiukty-one feet and rising at Steubenvllle
yesterday afternoon.
The Juniata at Huntingdon reached from
hill to bill yesterday.
The West Penn Railroad tracks are flooded
at Leechburg and Avonmore.
The waters were never before so high at
West Latrobe and Loyalhanna.
Halt of Clearfield was under water. Timber
and loss worth SjQ,000 were wasbed way.
The Allegheny, Ohio and Beaver rivers and
their tributaries are higher than at any time
since-ISM.
THE' Wheeling and Lake Erie and the Cleve
land, Lorain and Wheeling Railroads are crip
pled by washouts.
The levee district on the Mississippi in
Arkansas is in danger. A large foree is at
work on a "run around."
CHARGED TO STRIKERS.
MB. BAlHKx1 CLAIMS THEY FIRED THE
SHAFT AX MOYEB.
The Accusation Not Credited The Where
abouts of Many Foreigners Are Unknown
The Fire Still Burning and Beyond
Control Mine Guarded by FinkertonS,
rSPXCIAI. TXXXO&US TO TTTX DOTATCTll
Scottdale, Feb- TT.-i-The Mdyermine
is: still burning fiercely, although vigorous
efforts are being made to extinguish the
flames. Three persons are known to have
met their death in tbe mine. One was John
Yugwoge, a Pole, aged 25. He moved to
Hoyer but a short time ago, and little is
known of his family. He was the father of
several children. Another victim was
Andrew J. Cassmere, a young man, aged 20
years. It is not known positively that there
were any other men, in the mine who failed to
escape. A careful examination of the booEs of
the company to-day shows thatl3foreigners are
missing, and even their intimate friends and
relatives are Ignorant of their whereabouts.
The exact number of dead will not be known
until tbe fire is extinguished, the water pumped
out and a thorough search instituted.
Yesterday a rescuing party of eight was over
come by gas, and were brought to the surface
with great difficulty and in a comatose condi
tion. Many persons blame the strikers for
firing tbe shaft and tbey say the bodies of
strikers will bo found in the mine. Tbis is not
believed by the best people here. The most
plausible theory is that Machinist Leech in his
excitement left his open lamp at the summit of
the shaft which ignited waste materials.
Despite tbe large stream of water that has
been playing on the fire since its outbreak, but
little headway has been made in tbe work.
Those at work say tbey are doing well, but
cannot explore the shaft or even enter It yet
Every opening to tbe mine has been tightly
sealed. In order to prevent any air from .reach
ing and feeding tbe flames. Mr. Raln'ey be
lieves the fire is the work of the strikers. Be
says he will hunt the men down. The Moyer
plant is heavily guarded by Pinkerton de
tectives, and anyone found tresspassing on the
plant is seized at once.
THE BTIfT OKA TEUST C0MPAHY.
It Diminishes In Volume as All Depositors
Are Paid In Fall.
New Yobk; Feb. 17. The run.oa tbe Ameri
can Loan and Trust Company waS somewhat
diminished to-day. There is still about 31,000,
000 duo depositors. The smaller accounts were
paid up on demand, but persons presenting
checks for large amounts were rea nested to
wait a few hours. The company's contract
with its depositors gives them the right to re
quire a five-days' notice of Intended withdrawal
of deposits, bat this right has not been exer
cised as yet.
State Bank Examiner Preston said to-night:
"It appears that the booksand securities agree;
tbat the books are well kept, and tbat tbe
larger depositors of the company are standing
by It This fact together with the fact that
tbe company has paid all demands upon it, is
prima facie evidence tbat it is able to meet all
its engagements in full."
AIT AMMOtfIA TANK EXPLOSION.
The Superintendent of an Ice Factory in
Virginia Killed.
Noefoi-k, Va,. Feb. 17. The ammonia tank
in the ice factory' in Suffolk exploded to-day,
killing the superintendent Thomas H. Bald
win, and seriously, it not fatally, injuring two
colored men.
Tbe factory was owned by J. C. Bell and M.
F. Lloyd & Co., and is a completo wreck.
CULLED FE0M THE CABLES.
Brief Items' of Interest From the Old
World Capitals.
Gladstone is said toharejrecoveredfrom
his indisposition of Monday night
Because denied universal suffrage, Belgium
workmen are organizing a universal strike.
CotTST Von Taate. the Austrian Prime
Minister, is suffering from inflammation ot the
lungs.
Austbauaw union wool shearers threaten
to stop the crop clip If non-union men are per
mitted to work.
It' is reported that the Prussian Councilor
Ministers has decided against prosecuting
Prince Bismarck.
THE Brussels Workmen's Council is inviting
Socialists throughout Europe and the United
States to an international congress in August
Tns death is announeod In Lonuonof Baron
Hansen. theAustrlan and Greek architect. He
designed the Athens Academy and tbePailia
ment building in Vienna.
It was not Count Schouvaloff who warned
Prince Bismarck, that tbe Government con
templated prosecuting him. but Duke Ernest
of Saxe-Cobnrr and Gotha. who vulted Prince
JII wra rck three weeks ago. ..
-T OL 4R. "-
"" .OrNlA
-."Hflfi. "Q d
ro ' yAi
TWO BIG EXPLOSIONS
Wreck Four Dwelling Houses
in the Flooded District
of Allegheny, and
INJURE ELEVEN- PERSONS
Tho High Water in Cellars Breaks t
Two Natural Gas Pipes, and
CAUSES MUCH DAMAGE. AHD PAH,
Origin, of One-of- UtsAccidsataIet-Barld-.
in Mjsterjr.
OSS OF-THE TICI1MSINE0HBDA5SEK.
In addition to the terrors-of the flood,.
Allegheny, was jyisited by. two disastrous
natural gas explosions yesterday.
Eleven people are injured, some of' them
maimed for life. All save one are expected
to recover. Three houses are total wrecks
and five families are rendered homeless.
One explosion occurred last night at the
home of Mr. B. T. Hubbard, on Lacock
street. The other was at 930 yesterday
morning at the homes of Samuel and. Will
iam Haslett, on Eiver. avenue. The- latter
one has a mystery connected with it, for the
reason that there was no. fire either during
or after the explosion.
The excitement of the flood had brought
thousands of spectators to Lacock and the
streets crossing it At 830, above the roar
of the river, was heard the crash-of an ex
plosion, and the whole front of tbe
residence of Mr. Hubbard, 179 and 181
Two of the Wrecked Houses.
Lacock street was thrown out across that ,
thoroughfare. Immediately flames burst from .
the cellar, but the dust ot the. explosion had
hardly settled before the firemen were at
work. The flames were' soon extinguished and
the work of rescue commenced.
Taking Oat the-Victims.
The body of Borne HcElherron was found
among the wreckage in the street. He was
only stunned by the shock, but his face and
hands were terribly burned and. lacerated.
He had been blown clear from the inside of
the building. He was taken, to the Allegheny
General Hospital. Close beside him was found
Miss Nellie Flentz. She had been passing
along in front of the house andoras -struck by
the flying bricks. She wa3 aka tent to r he
hospital. Inside tbe bouse was found Miss
Mary Martin, who was taken at once to the
hospital. Then ber sister, Florence Martin,
and Mrs. Charles W. Yonng. nee Jennie Hub
bard, were taken ont and taken into the Hotel
Sandusky, where their wounds were dressed.
Later tbey. were taken tq the Hospital. The
list of injured is: ,
ROME McELHERRON About 30 years old.'
face and neck burned and torn, hands almost
burned to a crisp, and may have to be ampu
tated. MARY MARTIN Face and hands burned,
hair badly singed and face badly scratched.
FLOREN CE MARTIN Neck, face and hands
burned and lacerated; hair also singed; ex
pected to recover.
MRS. CHARLES W. YOUNG Face, arms. I
hands and breast burned, and has several bad '
cuts; will recover.
NELLIE PLENTZ Head cut and slightly
burned about tbe face.
A Terrific Explosion.
The force of the explosion was so great as to
blow the artificial gas out in houses four blocks
away. The bouse of Mrs. Matthews, which ad
joins that of Mrs. Hubbard on the west was
rocked on its foundations and the windows
shattered. On the east side of the wrecked
house a part of tbe side wall fell over against
the residence of Mrs. Wilson, and damaged
tbe kitchen and broke windows all over the
honse. All the properties injured belonged to
Miss Eliza Davidson, of Emsworth. Tbe loss
will hardly exceed $2,000, all of which is covered
by insurance.
It was supposed at first that a number of
people were burled under tbe front wall, but a
search proved there were no other victims.
The house was occupied by Mrs. C. T. Hub
bard, her daughter Jennie and Mr. and Mrs.
Grenet. Mrs. Hubbard and Mr. and Grenet
were out at tbetlmo of the accident The
Misses Martin are Albino girls and were on ex-.
bibltlon at the World's Museum, but owing to
that playhouse being flooded tbey were visiting
Mrs. Young,whose busband is a theatrical man.
Rome McElherron Is a drygoods clerk.
No gas was burned in tbe bonse yesterday,
and it is supposed tho flood had. broken some of
the pipes.
The other scene' of terror was on River ave
nue. At 9:311 the front and rear of tbe bouses
of William and Samuel Hazlett were blown to
fragments. There was a report like a clap, of
thunder. Dense clouds ot dust filled the air.
but not the flash of a- light was seen. When,
tne dust cleared only the skeleton of the houses
-was-visible. Tbe front and rear walls were
buried in tbe waters of tbe swollen Allegheny,
while the cornice and a part of the roof floated
down the river. Tbe Interior of the houses ap
peared as if the drapings bad but been pulled,
aside. Huddled together were tbe unfortunate
women and children to whom but a moment be
fore the dismantled! buildings had been com
fortable homes.
Six Inmates of the Houses Injured.
Six of the inmates were injured, but only one
dangerously, and that one Is now expected to
recover. In the water in front one figure was
discovered' struggling to keep up by holding to
the frame of a door. Ho was at once rescued
and proved to be Owen McLaughlin, a relative
of the family who had been taking furniture
from the flooded house. He was cnt about the
head by the flying bricks', bnt will recover.
Tbe dozen of skiffs that had. been removing
the furniture and residents of the flooded dis
tricts at once crowded about the house and tha
foremost just arrived In, time to see a trap
door in the first floor burst open, but the man
beneath had not strength enough to help him
self out Willing bands lent him assistance
andtbe unfortunate was quickly pulled out
It was James Fletcher, a brother-in-law of
Mayor Wyman. He was badly cut and his
chest had been squeezed so that hewwas spit
ting blood. He was at once taken to Mayor
Wyman's residence in the Second ward. All e
gheny. He bad been blown clear from the
first floor into tha cellar, which contained
seven feet of water.
In the meantime an alarm ot fire had been,
turned in, but as no fire existed the fire laddies
turned in and assisted in tbe work of rescue.
The occupants of the two bouses were at once
removed. The list of injured waaasfollows:
A List of Those Who Were Hurt
JAMES FLETCHER Thirty years ot agK
head cut and injured internally. Removed
to the home of Mayor Wyman. Hopes of his
recovery ate entertained.
SAMUEL HAZLETT Eleven years of age, leg
badly crushed, though amputation will sot
be necessary.
OWEN McLATJGHLTN-Head cut by falling
bricks.
JENNIE HAZLETT A child, several danger.
ous scalp wounds caused by falling bricks.
MRS. SAMUEL HAZLETT Knocked over
and braised about tbe boay.
MRS. ELIZA WHCTE-BruUed all over the
body, add has several bad cats on the head.
Tbe escape of the other seven occupants, ot
these bouses is considered as remarkable as the
A-miminn itxeif- ThnT were Mrs. William Halt
lett Elmer Hajzlett Harry Hazlett an lataat
Voni7iueaen.EV"uc- j.r
4
T