Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1889 — JOHNSTOWN, NEW YORK. [ARTICLE]

JOHNSTOWN, NEW YORK.

A DOZEN LIVES LOST IN A FLOOD IN THE EMPIRE STATE. A Bridge Loaded with Human Beings Swept Into the Torrent and Many Fail to Reach the Shore—The Loss to Lives and Property Detailed. A Johnstown, N. Y., special of the DJthinst. says: Heavy rains last night choked the streams and flooded the districts. Shriver’s large mill at this place was carried away. Twenty persons were on the Ferry street bridge when the arch fell into the rushing torrent. Cries for help alarmed the residents, and Chief McDonald, President Northup, Police Justice Anderson, and others organized a searching expedition. Lanterns were procured and parties went along the stream with ropes to assist in the rescue. One person was seen splashing and plunging in the water near the Johnstown, Fonda & Gloversville railroad bridge, a quarter of a mile down the stream. As he floated past those on the shdre he cried: “For God’s sake, help me.” He was swept so close to the shore that a man who was in a boat seized him, but owing to the swift current was unable to maintain his hold and the unfortunate was swept under the floating driftwood. Two other persons came down a moment later, clineing to a plank and shouting for help. They were swept out of sight below the railroad bridge. At 4 a. m. the body of Burt Speedwell, 15 years of age, was recovered from the debris in this place An hour later Albert Cokely was pulled cut from under the driftwood that had lodged back of Evans’ mills. Soon after, the body cf a man named Treadwell was found in the same place At 9a. m. the body of Charles Frear, 55 years of age, was recovered from the wreck at Evans’ mill. Chief Corbett was carried to the dam, down which he went for a distance of sixteen feet. He succeeded in swimming ashore and escaped without injury. Peter Evans, a stone-mason, says that he went down with fifteen others and was carried under the Ferry street bridge, but succeeded in gttting out below. He was bruised about the face. Purdy Case rescued two men named Nellis and Vosburg by means of ropes. Citizens are now engaged in removing the wreckage of Schriver’s mill, under which they think other bodies have been lodged. It is believed that the two men who went down on a plank lost their lives at the dam, and that their bodies were carried down the stream and are now in the Mohawk river, No one knows how many were drowned or who are missing. The flood was so great and the current so swift that little help could be rendered. The State street 1 iron bridge and the railroad bridge were swept away. They were large structures. During the heaviest part of the storm, Main and Blecker streets in Gloversville were flooded with water. The new pavement in Blecker street was torn up for several blocks. A number of residencss in the upper part of the town are entirely surrounded by water. The foundation walls of a new stone building now in course of construction on North Maine street. Gloversville, were partly carried away. The two iron bridges on the Central and the Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville railroads are gone. The railroad and State street bridges in Johnstown were large, first-class structures. The Ferry street bridge consisted of an arch spanning the entire width of the stream. It was upon one of the plank walks that the people were standing when the arch was carried away. Shriver’s large mill is entirely wrecked, the loss being about! SIO,OOO. Several small buildings are 1 partially ruined, their foundations beingundermined. Many of the bridges on country roads along the valley are gone, and some fields of grain are partially covered with water. The loss to property at Groversville will probably be covered by $3,000. It is quite likely that $20,009 will cover all the damage wrought by the storm.