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THE ONLY SCRANTON PAPER RECEIVING THE COMPLETE NEWS SERVICE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE GREATEST NEWS AGENCY IN THE WORLD.
SCRANTON, PA'., SATURDAY! MORNING, MARCH .1, 1002.
TEN PAGES
TEN PAGES
TWO CENTS.
;reat damage in path of the flood
4' .
1 jA
twqKts.
Jl 1.M Kf WV
X ir
Two Bous Drowned bu Falling
Into the Keuser and Leg-
gett's Creeks.
HAD TO DESERT HOMES
Rise of the Lackawanna and Roaring Brook
Was of an Unprecedented Character.
Water Invaded Manu Mines.
What the old residents agree is the
alggcsl flood they remember, swept the
Lackawanna valley yesterday from
head to foot, causing no end of havoc
to property und Interference with busi
ness, and resulting In the loss of two
lives, besides the endangering of many
jiioro.
Twenty-four hours of rain, accom
panied by a thaw and the first thun
der and lightning of the year trans
formed the usually Insignificant Lacka
wanna into a mighty river, and all its
tributary creeks into raging torrents.
The rain began at daybreak. Before
noontime the river was over tis banks
In various places, and at 9 o'clock last
night it had risen twelve feet above
highwater mark. Though the rain
ceased at 4:30 p. m., the waters con
tinued to rise and between 6 and 9
o'clock last night they gained a depth
of eight inches.
About 11 o'clock it was reported that
the rising was less apparent, and from
some places came word that the waters
"were seemingly beginning to recede.
High hopes that the worst was over,
were, however, suddenly dashed to the
ground, for a slight drizzle ominously
told that the clouds had not yet spent
their all, prodigal as they had been, and
presaged a very probable repetition of
the heavy precipitation of the early
day.
MORE RAIN.
At 12.45 this morning there was a
low rumble of thunder and for several
minutes, loud peals were heard in rapid
succession. They died away, shortly,
but the rain their peallngs had fore
told came and remained. It was not a
heavy rain, but it was steady ami of
BUfllelent volume, apparently to at least
prevent a recession of the Hoods.
The two fatalities occurred in two
creeks, which usually contain such a
small amount of water that they can be
crossed at almost any point by stepping
from stone to stone. Daniel J. Kvans,
14-year-old breaker boy, lost his life
in attempting to cross Keyser creek,
and n 7-year-old boy, Thomas Naugh-
ton, of West Market street, was swept
nway In Leggett's creek. Neither body
was recovered,
All along the comse of the river the
lowlands were Inundated, and In many
places the lesldents had to bo rescued
in boats. Particularly was this the case
on South Washington avenue flats,
where, nine blocks were flooded and 1,
200 net sons driven Horn their homes.
On the flats at Olyphant, Green Ridge,
Park Place and on the Diamond flats
hundreds mote were forced to take to
higher land. Boats wpre not available
and wagons hud to be used to take the
people through the swirling waters to
the homes or neighbors on higher
ground.
Numeious small bridges were washed
away, and the larger bridges in the city
of Serunton, nt Cmbon stieet, Dodge
town and Elm street, were threatening
to part from their moorings every hour
nfter nightfall.
ALL SHUT DOWN.
Kvery steam and trolley road In the
valley, excepting the Lackawanna, was
shut down before 10 o'clock, Washouts
flosed tin the Delaware and Hudson,
Ontario and Western and Jeisey Cen
tral in the early afternoon, and at 9
o'clock p. m, the water from the river
lose above the level of the lire boxes at
the Serunton Hallway company's boiler
house, on Diamond flats, necessitating
the drawing of the fires. The Lacka
wanna trnc;u were flooded ut several
places, but no serious washouts oc
t'lirred and truffle was not impeded to
any great extent.
At 7,30 p. m. the water wuh on a level
wltli the floor of the Scrunton Illumin
ating. Heat and Power company's plant
on the river side, below Linden btreet
bridge, und it hud to bo shut down,
Nearly all (he incandescent lights In
the central city were In consequence
extinguished, and gas or kerosene had
to be resorted to for Illumination,
Various collieries whose openings are
along the river edge were flooded, The
Krle mines, at Muyfleld; the Olenwood,
at Jermyn; the Sterrlek Creek, nt Peck
vlllu; (lie Von Starch slope, near Orcen
Hldge street, Providenev, and the Bello
vue, at the southern extremity of the
city, suffered the most serious damage.
At the latter colliery, forty men In the
iowes( vein were shut off from the
ihaft by the sudden Inundation, and
had to whcIo In water wulst-deep to an
slrshaft, through which they reached
the burface af(er n climb of 350 feet on
laddei s.
DAMS ALL RIGHT.
All durinir the dav rennrta .!... ,,ii...i
o the effect that the big dams on the
East mountain were tlm-niciilm- (.. ,,i..
, vy ami thitt u devastating flood must
("nhi- mi im " - i ti'itpn MiitK
These stories, however, were without
foundation. The Gas and Water com
pany had anticipated the prophesied
flood and during the past few days
gradually lowered the reservoirs by
opening the flood gates. When it was
seen yesterday morning that the flood
was imminent, seventeen feet of water
was drawn from the big Elmhurst dam.
Local Weatherman Clarke prophe
sizes more rain for today. The Wash
ington forecasters, however, do not
agree with him, their prognostication
being fair weather for this end of
Pennsylvania.
BOYS DROWNED.
The two hoys whose lives were lost
in yesterday's flood were Thomas
Naughton, S years old, son of Mr. and
airs. Thomas Naughton, of West Mar
ket street, and Daniel Davis, 14 years
old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Davis,
of Sloan Patch.
Naughton was playing in the rear of
the house with a number of other
boys. The Leggett's Creek, swollen
to four times its usual proportions, was
flowing near the house and the boys
were throwing sticks and stone Into the
swiftly rushing water. The Naughton
boy was standing on a bank just above
the stream when the ground under his
feet caved in and he went tumbling
into the water utteilng a piercing
shriek as ho did so.
The boy disappeared under the sur
face and' when the little scared face
bobbed up again it was way out in the
centre of the stream and he was being
carried swiftly away. The lad disap
peared from view the next Instant and
was never seen afterwards. Searching
parties were organized and efforts
made to locate the body but they were
unsuccessful.
TRIED TO CROSS.
Daniel Dais the 14-year-old boy
drowned In the Keyser creek, was em
ployed as a slateplcker In the Contin
ental breaker and was returning home
from woik, when the unfortunate
di owning occured. He was accus
tomed to crossing a small bridge near
the Hampton mines, over the Keyser
Valley creek, but as this was washed
away he resolved to cross as best he
could.
A short distance away fiom the place
where the bridge stood the steam pipe
leading from the Hampton steam plant
to the Hyde Paik breaker Is run
across the creek. It occured to young
Evans that he might get across on the
pipe, and so he tried It.
When part way across he discovered
that the pipe was too large to main
tain his grip on It, and gradually he
weakened. Just then his dinner pall
fell fioin his arm, and In his endeavor
to grasp It he fell into the creek and
was quickly carried down stream by
the swiftly running curient.
TILLMAN AND M'LAURIN
CENSURED BY THE SENATE
A Resolution, Closing the Incident, Is Passed bij Vote of 52
to 12 Tillman Creates Another Sensation His
Remarks Cause the Member from New
Jerseu to Chanfjc His Vole.
Washington, Feb. 28. Senators Mc
Laurln und Tillman, of South Carolina,
wero severely censured today by the
United Slates seuute for the sensational
personal encounter between the two
senators on the floor of the senate last
Saturday, during the consideration of
the Philippine tariff bill. The adoption
of the resolution of censure probably
closes the Incidents, so fur as Mr, Mc
Laurln Is concerned,
Immediately nfter the senate con
vened, Mr, Burrows, chairman of the
committee on privileges and elections,
to which the McI.aurln-TUlman contro
versy had been referred, reported the
resolution of censure framed by a ma
jority of the 'committee. Accompany
ing the resolution was a report setting
out the conclusions of the majority.
Practically there was no debute on
the resolution, und It was adopted by
u vote of D2 to 12.
During the roll-call, when Mr. Till
man's iiiimo was called, lie udde a now
sensation to thu proceedings by rising
and saying With Ill-concealed emotion;
"Among gentlemen an apology for nn
offense committed under heat of blood
Is usually cousidcted uutllclcnt."
Mr. Tillman's words Induced Mr.
Keun (New Jersey) to rise ut the con
cluKlnn of the roll anil ray:
The boy's cries attracted attention
from a few persons nl the vicinity, but
before help could reach him ho disap
peared In tho water, and was lost to
view.
BODY NOT FOUND.
A dllllgent search was made for the
body, but up to a late hour last night
It had not been recovered. Another
effort will be made today to recover It.
Another boy named Armltage had a
thrilling experience, and owes Ids life
to John Lavelle, of Luzerne street, who
risked his own to save the lad., He was
walking along the culm bank along
side the creek, when suddenly the bank
was washed away and the boy went
with it,
He was being carried away by the
stream, when Lavelle rushed' Into the
water up to his shoulders, and' pulled
the boy out. Both had a narrow escape
from drowning as the creek Is treacher
ous and the undercurrent yesterday
very strong.
PATH OF FLOOD.
Not a town skirting the river in all
the length of the valley failed to feel
the effects of the flood. Bridges were
washed away, houses Inundated, str.eets
submerged, mines flooded, railroad
tracks washed out or burled beneath
landslides and many Industiles thrown
idle by the water Incapacatlng some
part or all of the plant.
The extensive havoc done in Carbon
dale Is told In a special dispatch print
ed elsewhere in this Isue. From Car
bondale to the city line there was
scarcely a consecutive mile of the river
that was contained within its banks
and at some places the overflow was
so extended that lakes a half mile in
width were formed.
At Maylield the flats were submerged,
and a road near the Erie barn was
made the bed of a creek, which became
clogged and eat a way through Its
bank.
The Rushbrook and Wild Cat creeks
at Jerinyn, o'erleaped their banks and
flooded many houses.
From Archibald came the report that
all records for high water were broken.
The river was within six Inches of the
level of Main street at S o'clock and
the bridge opposite Foote's drug store
was In danger of being swept away.
AVlnton and Peckville reported floods
in low-lying districts and washouts on
the railroads.
At Blnkely,, Hull's creek-spread out
for blocks filling cellars and basements
and forming a long pool on Main street,
reaching as far as the Blakely Baptist
church.
RAFTS IN USE.
Olyphant flats, which suffers heavily
at every flood of any consequence, had
its sorriest experience of twelve years
of floods. Hundreds of residents of that
locality were driven from home and
some who were late in starting had
to make use of rafts in covering, part
of the distance to higher ground.
In the very heart of the town water
covered the streets for two blocks, east
of the river. There was several feet
of water on Lackawanna street and
every cellar, as fur as Susquehanna
street caught some of the overflow.
Atherton & Sutton, Harness Maker
Houser, Clothier Schultz and Furniture
Dealeis Jones and Dougher sustained
severe losses to their stock stored in
cellars.
The Ontario and Western tracks were
washed out for a distance of fifty feet,
just below the station.
The low-lying lands In North Sciun
tou weie flooded early In the morning,
and nt 2 o'clock in the atternoon the
river was nearly seventy-five feet wide
at the old Driving park. The rushing
water pushed against the old (tuco
street bridge with such force all day
that late In the afternoon It went down
the stream.
AVater was six ieet deep In the Peck
Lumber Manulaclurlng company's yard
on East .Market street. None of the
lumber floated away, because the level
of the water was just even with the
"Having heard the senator from
South Caiolluu again insult thu senate,
I change my vote from uye to no,"
At the request of Mr. Burrows, the
statement of Mr, Tlllmun was read by
the clerk. Instantly the South Caro
Una senator disclaimed any Intention
of being offensive to the senate, and
said If they were so considered he
would withdraw them.
The chair (Mr, Frye) said that by
unanimous consent they might bo
withdrawn, but Mr. Dietrich (Ne
braska) obfected,
The Incident was closed without
further comment.
Following Is the full text of the reso
lution recommended by the committee:
"That it is the Judgment of the sen
ate that the senators from South Caro
lina, Benjamin R. Tillman and John
L. McLaurln, for disorderly behavior
und flagrant violation of the rules of
the senuto during the open session of
the senute on the 22d day of February
Instant, deserve the censure of the sen
ate and they are hereby so censured
for their breach of the privileges and
dignity of this body, and from and after
tho adoption of this resolution tho or
der adjudging them i(i contempt of tho
seuute shall be no longer In force and
rftVet "
top of the fence. Heavy timbers that
wcro being whirled about In the yard,
wero caught and anchored with chains
mid weights to prevent them from bat
tering down the protecting fence.
FIREMEN AS RESCUERS.
The Green Ridge flats from the lnce
curtain works to the river were flooded
late In the afternoon, and the first
floors of upwnrds of twenty houses
were filled with the running water.
Nay Aug, Mylert and Gardner avenues,
from Olen street nearly to Marlon
street, were covered with nearly four
feet of water at 8 o'clock last night,
and the firemen of the General Phlnney
Engine company wero engaged In rescu
ing them.
Over on the west side of the river, In
the Park Place district, a number of
families had to be rescued from their
dwellings by the Nortlr Scranton fire
men, who worked lute Into the night
taking people from their flooded homes
with the hose wagons. The fumlly of
Domlnlck Rossa, an Italian, living on
the lower end of Grove street, had an
exciting time of It.
They had been warned In the early
afternoon to leave their house, but re
fused, and when the river rose rapidly
after 2 o'clock they found themselves
unable to make their escape. The house
is located In an especially low place.
and along about 4 o'clock the water
was several feet deep on the lower
floors. The members of the family fled
up to the second floor, and appeured at
the windows, gesticulating frantically
for heln.
An effort was made to secure a boat,
but It was unsuccessful, and then some
one thought of sending for the Will
iam C'onnell life-saving corps from
South Scranton, which has a gun for
shooting a life-line a considerable dis
tance, after the manner of the United
States life-saving crews along the
coast.
NOT SUCCESSFUL.
They arrrlved on the scene in re
maikably quick time, (but wore obliged
to lake up a position almost a block
away from the house, because of the
rapidly rising water. The gun was fired
a number of times, but the line per
sisted In getting mixed up In trees and
doing other contankerous and aggra
vating things, so that after an hour's
work the lifo-savlng corps were obliged
to give up the fight. A boat was finally
secured early In the evenlns, and Mrs.
Rossa laid her children, all of whom
were -orKed Into a state bordeilng on
hysterics, wero rowed safely to shore.
The flood played grea.t havoc with
the bridges all the way down from the
city line. The Putnam street foot
bridge, which has withstood a number
of previous floods, was washed away,
and the Hollow street bridge, on Leg
gett's creek, wqs loosened to such an
extent that It had to be chained to pre
vent It from being carried away on the
bieast of the angry water. The' foot
bridge leading to Mnson & Snowden's
lumber yard, at Wood street, was also
washed awav.
Below Park Place the river flowed
onto the Diamond flats, already seri
ously flooded since Thursday by an
overflow from a stream running down
through Tripp's ravine. A considerable
portion of Diamond avenue was awash,
and a number of cellars weie seriously
flooded. The car tracks on Providence
road, near the ravine, were covered
with water all day, but cars were run
over them, nevertheless.
PUT OUT FIRES.
Just north of the Carbon street bridge
the river spread over the lowlands back
of the Scranton Railway company's
power house and kept gradually en
croaching upon them, hour by hour, as
'tlie water rose slowly but surely. The
railway officials felt confident all day
that the power house would be flooded
before midnight, and It was no surprise
to them when the firemen reported,
shortly after S o'clock last night, that
the water was several Indies deep In
the fire-room,
Orders were sent out to send all cars
to the barns, and shortly after 10 o'clock
the last car had been housed, and the
power was shut off. The water ut that
time was within a foot of tho fires,
which were raked out,
Tho Carbon street bridge wns seri
ously threatened from 4 o'clock In the
afternoon, when word reached the de
partment of public works that the
water was working Its way behind the
abutment on the northeasterly side. A
number of men were dispatched to the
scene at once, and loads of stone wero
secured ns quickly as possible to pie
veut the water from working its way
any further behind the wall,
At 9 o'clock last night some twenty
loads of stono had been dumped behind
the abutment, and the water had been
gained upon to a considerable extent.
The water at that time was within
about twq feet of the floor or tho bridge
and within about three inches of the
Iron bridge Just to the south of it, used
for carrying the Scranton Clus and
Water company's pipes over the river,
COVERED GREAT AREA.
Just below these two bridges the rver
spread out to the west over n great
area, flowing over the Ontario and
Western tracks and for a considerable
distance beyond them. It ran within n
few Inches of the Delaware and Hud
son tracks all day long, and last night
they wero almost awash.
At the power house of the Scranton
Illutjilnatlng, Heat and Power com
pany, south of the Linden street
bridge, the water did great damage,
Lute In tho afternoon tho high retain
ing wall was submerged and early In
the evening tho wnter hud reached the
engine jooius. The firemen worked up
to their ankles In water, and tho plant
was kept running until 7.30 o'clock,
when (bo water was within a few
Inches of tho fires.
The plant was then shut down, and
tho larger part of the Incandescent and
are lights throughout tho city, with )hc
exception of the street lights, were ut
out. It Is believed that the plant UU
bo In condition to penult of the re
sumption of operations this morning In
time to furnish power to the many
manufacturing establishments and
business places which It supplies.
One of the men employed at tho plant
stated last night to a Tribune man thnt
the high-water mark established on the
occasion of tho big flood of December
15, last, was surpassed by three feet,
He had taken careful measurements
and vouched for this statement. The
river wns rising nt the rate of three
Inches an hour up to 11 o'clock, he said,
TRACKS UNDERMINED.
Directly opposite the power plant the
bank on which the Ontario and West
ern tracks are built was undermined
for a distance of thirty feet In some
places. This will necessitate a great
deal of labor before the roadbed can be
made flrnivngnln.
The Delaware and Hudson tracks, be
tween the Linden street and Lacka
wanna avenue bridges, were within but
a few inches of the river all day. The
roadbed under the siding next the river
was undermined early In the afternoon
and the track had perceptibly sagged.
The river is narrow at this point, and
the water rushing along at a furious
pace made an Interesting sight and was
witnessed by hundreds of people all day.
Last night the Dodgetown bridge was
believed to be In danger for a time. The
water was within a few inches of the
floor and it was feared that It would
wash over the structure, but It did not.
The residents of the lower Scranton
flats, which cpmprlses South Washing
ton and South Wyoming avenues, with
the Intersecting streets of Birch, Beech,
Maple, Elm, Locust, Cherry and Fig,
were literally chased from their homes
by the flood, which beat all records for
height by fully thirty inches.
Guards, who have been doing duty In 1
that vicinity for several days, gave the
warning in good season, and people be
gan to move as early as 4 o'clock p. in.
THE MEADOW BROOK.
At that time the Stafford Meadow
brook, which divides the Nineteenth
and Twentieth wards, had overflowed
Its banks and spread over Remington
avenue to the properties occupied by
Casey & Kelly's brewery, T. E. Carr'a
slaughter-house, and a number of dwell
ing houses, occupied by Philip iltuf,
Mrs. Muldoon, and about twenty Polish
families. w
'The water spYead rapidly north and
south, und almost before the tenants
could escape the flood had occupied
Central Park Garden, and the adjoin
ing Schwenk property, William Smith
and family got out by means of a raft,
while several people elected to stay, be
ing apparently satisfied that the flood
of January could not be surpassed.
Between 4 and C o'clock p. m. the
wateis had risen fully eighteen inches
and had reached the former high-water
mark. Then it was realized that any
one staying In houses, bounded by
Maple and Cherry streets and AA'ash
ington avenue, were taking great risks.
The water continued to rise and from
6,30 to 9.30 jumped, fully two feet, so
that the saloons on the corner of Elm
street had to close and their proprietors
move out.
Steadily advancing, at the rate of an
inch every ten minutes, the water
backed up from Elm to Maple street on
AVashington avenue, a point never be
fore reached, and was met by another
flood coming up Maple street from the
liver.
About the same time the flood reached
the level of the roadway on Beech street
and began to make Its way down South
AVyomlng avenue, a place that never In
the history of the vnlley had been under
water.
POLICE ON HAND.
Superintendent of Police, I.ona Day
wns on hand, and with Detective Rob
ert Delter and a squad of police, in
cluding Lieutenant Zang, Patrolmen
Continued on l'jju tl.
THE BOERS SUFFER AN
OVERWHELMING DEFEAT
Over Six, Hundred Burflhers in the Oranjic Colonij Cap
tured or Killed Dc Wet's Son and Secretary,
Commandants Meyer and Truther and Sev
eral Field Cornets Among Them.
Df Eicluilrc Wilt from The Anociittd Prm
London, Feb. 28. Following the prec
edent of Lord Roberts, who announced
General Cronje's surrender ut Pnnrde
berg on tho unnlvrsury of the battle of
Majuba Hill (Feb, 27, J881) Lord Kitch
ener apparently selected tho annlver
sury of thut same event to attempt to
achieve u big success. He accomplished
his end by a combined movement last
ing two days against tho Boer forces
within the Harrismlth and A'an Reenen
line of blockhouses, The Boer losses
aggregate COO men killed or cuptured,
and 2,000 horses and 28,000 head of cut
tle fell Into the builds of the British
troops. The news wus so welcome to
the British that it was read In tho
house of commons today by the wur
secretary, Mr. Brodrlck. The despatch
from Lord Kitchener wus as follows;
"Harrlsmitli (Orange River Colony),
Feb. 28. Yesterday the combined oper
ations of the columns terminated In
driving tho Boers against the Huni
smlth and A'an Reenen blockhouse line.
Tho River AVllgo was held by tho Lejn
ster leglment and Elliott's Mounted In
fantry from Harrismlth, while the col
umns formed on the Frankfort und
Botha's Pass blockhouse lino and ad
vanced south, holding the entire coun
try between (be AVllgo and the Natal
frontier. On the first night a very
Carbondale Had the Worst Ex
perience with Water in Its
Entire Historu.
BIG AREA
Brooklyn Street Became the Bed of
River That Wrought Great Destruction
to Property in That Paft of Citu.
Specljl to (lie Scr.inlon Tilliunc.
Carbondale, Feb. 28. This city is flood
swept. It Is awash with rain and melt
ed snow, following In the wake of the
downfull or water predicted by the
weather bureau a few days ago.
The worst history of loss and havqc
by a storm la this Vicinity can bo
written of today and tonight.
All the low parts of the city are sub
merged and the many small creeks
which drain the mountain sides of Car
bondale were raging torrents by noon
today. In the afternoon. Impeded by
Ice floes, the streams broke from their
beds, and making new courses wherever
they were free to dash, they tore along,
sweeping properties, flooding streets
and turning public thoroughfares Into
Venetlaf canals.
Scores. of houses are water bound, the
occupants prisoners of the elements in
their owh homes.
The greatest devastation was caused
by tho Brooklyn creek, which was
swelled tl the size of a river as big
up the LaAiawanna lu a lloSJ, and with
far greater force and rage.
Af THE BRIDGE.
At the Brooklyn street bildge It
leaped angrily from Its bed and swept
with wild force three or four properties,
flooding Brooklyn street,, converting It
Into a rushing river, rushing through
cellars and even the first floors of some
of the houses. Huge cakes of ice, dug
out of the creek's bed, some weighing
a half ton, were swept through the
street, knocking against house porches
and shaking the, buildings to the very
foundations.
The loss In this vicinity alone will
reach Into the thousands. In the after
noon about 1 o'clock the water came
over the bridge and swept with In
creased fury through the half dozen
properties In Its path. The safety of
the tenants becoming Imperilled It was
necessary to remove them by driving
to the doors of the houses with a
wagon.
The Coalbrook creek, choked with ice,
broke through at the Coalbrook break
er, and sweeping down the Delaware
and Hudson yard, flooded the tracks
with a stream that was waist high at
the deepest point. The Dundaff sec
tion was soon Inundated. At the Dela
ware and Hudson crossing at Dundaff
and Fallbrook streets, the flood divided,
one-half turning Duiidaff street, as far
as Salem avenue, Into a good-slaed
creek, the other half sweeping tho Del
aware and Hudson tracks and meeting
at the Sulein avenue Intersection. Next
severe attempt to break through was
made at a point between Rlmlugton's
and Byng's columns, and tho New 5Sea
landers behaved with great gallantry.
Tho fighting was at close quarters, and
the Boers, as usual, drove a large herd
of cattle In from of them. Munio
Botha, the Boer leader, was killed, and
thirty-live dead Boers were found on
the ground. Over 100 horses were killed
and 0,000 head of cattle were left in our
bunds. Other small attempts to break
out were made, and In two cases suc
ceeded, On tho last day 430 Boers, with
rifles and horses, were captured. All
thu columns have not yet reported, and
the operations have been very wide.
But over GOO Boers have been either
killed or ure prisoners in our hands,
also 2,000 horses, 2S.000 head of cattle,
200 wagons, 60,000 sheep, 600 rifles and
50,000 rounds of ammunition. The prls.
oners Include General DeWet's son and
his secretury, Commandants Meyer and
Truther, and several field cornets. These
satisfactory results jyjs very appropri
ate on the anniversary of Majuba."
Mr. Brodrlck, replying to a question,
Bald no detulls, with the exception of
the list of casualties, had been received
of the recent capture of a British con
voy f empty wagons, near Klerksdorp.
No men bad been reported killed, but
thut about one hundred .were wounded,
SUBMERGED
to Brooklyn, this was the most devas
tated section of the city.
MINE FLOODED.
The Delaware and Hudson company
suffered on the Honesdale branch. The
workings of the Last Chance mine
became flooded by water from the
Northwest. The workings were weaker
than the'pont-up force of the water
and they gave away.
City Engineer Kupp nnd Street Fore
man Kllleen worked like heroes all day,
and weie almost distracted by mes
sengers who called for their presence
in the different parts of the flood-swept
town. The angry mood of nature,
however, was too much for any hu
man power to subdue, and their most
strenuous efforts to relievo the situa
tion were as feeble as a child.
The damage and loss are the greatest
the city has ever suffered by any storm
or visitation. Happily there was ur
loss of life, as In the case of the flooc.
of the same Brooklyn creek nearly two
score years ago, but tlie money loss
has never been equalled" and will reach
Into thousands of dollars. Damagf
suits are sure to follow, however well'
founded thy may be, as charges o'
"negllgarwji"' kelng made both agalini
fiho lortuid the pelaw'e-aiid Vudson
company In allowing the creeks to Be
come blocked.
Am Incongruity of tho pelting rain
storm was the accompanying lightning
and thunder. Peals of thunder fol
lowed the flashes of lightning, though
they were of short duration and few
In number. Nobody In Carbondale, so
far as Is known, has any recollection
of a slinllar freak of nature.
THE FIRST CONCERN.
The Brooklyn creek was the first con
cern of the city engineer and the men
under his charge. Tho residents In the
vicinity of tlie bridge on Brooklyn
street, who have been uneasy from ap
prehension since the channel of the
creek became blocked with Ice, weeks
ago, looked with dread and fear upon
the rise of the stream early this morn
ing, and when the lain continued its
downpour and the cieek, that is dry
one-half the year, swelled like magic
Into a raging torrent, the melancholy
belief was foiced on them that their
homes would soon be at the meicy of
the waters.
About 10 o'clock the creek had as
sumed the proportions of a river. The
waters which were discharged Into the
creek bed came fiom scores of small
streams that drain the AVest mountain.
Years ago this same Brooklyn creek,
that was the cause of tho most of to
day's disaster and uiln, was a good
sized river. Now the water company
that supplies Carbondale Is more provi
dent, and there Is Utile leakage from
Russell's dam, on the road to Crystal
lake. As the creek, however, follows
tho base of the West mountain for a
long distance and leads through a big
gup, at one point, In which the divided
mountains rise to a great height, there
Is an Immense drainage into the
thread-like stream. During the winter
months quite a quunllty of water
makes Its way down tho broad bed.
The usual quantity was present this
year, but It did not discharge Itself into
the Lackawanna as In other ways. Tho
outlet below Brooklyn street had been
nurrowed by the Delaware and Hud
son, tho city ofllclnls claim. This caused
thu water to be backed up or to lodge
in the channel of tho creek. During tho
Intensely cold weather It froze, making
the creek a big river of Ice for about
a quarter of a mile. AVhen the thaw
and rain of tho past few days came on
and began to dissolve tho snow that
covered tho hills and mountain .sides,
there wus no channel to accommodate
It, but Instead the river of leu and
packed snow mentioned before.
CONDITIONS RIPE.
The conditions of this morning, it Is
to be seen, were ripe for the havou thut
was wiought. AVhen tho crcelc began
to swell and ceased to bo a creek, but
a raging river, 'the course was not half
big enough. Hero and there It did cm;
Its way through and broke, up great
pieces of ice, but the freezing process
bad been carried so far that there wcio
seven or eight feet of Ice and snow In
some places. As they rushed under the
bridge at Brooklyn street, tho wild
waters were narrowed In their course
as the bridge Is only about one-half, or
one-third, the size of the creek, u few
Continued on Fago 2.
ii
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WEATHER rOEJSOAST.
Washington, I'cb. 2S I'urcuit 'or
Kjturdjy and SunUjy: lUsttrn tVim-!-ijiiIj,
ruin followed by fair SjlurUi;
iumljy (all-; britk koutlt uinib.
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