Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1893 — DEATH BY THE FLOODS. [ARTICLE]

DEATH BY THE FLOODS.

Fourteen Lives Lost Through the Inundation in Ohio. The storm of rain and wind which began in Northwestern Ohio at noon on Monday and continued almost without cessation until Wednesday evening, produced a flood unprecedented in the history of that part of the State. Thus far fourteen lives have been lost, great damage has been done to shipping, and the loss to other property will amount Into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In Cleveland every sewer wa3 pouring a torrent into the river. The water was away over the river’s banks. The torrent was seeking the nearest way to the lake, and a half dozen lumber yards in its course could not bar the way. Whole piles of lumber were carried along on the streets and swept into the lake or lodged against the abutments of bridges further down. The tracks of the Valley and the Cleveland, Canton $ Southern Railroad Companies were submerged io the depth of ten feet and all traffic was suspended, as was work in a score of factories in the flooded district. Owing ito shaky bridges traffic was suspended on all railroads running east. While great crowds were watching the flood the first disaster happened. Capt, Stanley Flannigan and Michael Leblonde were going down the river in a rowboat used to peddle milk along the docks. When near the mouth of the raging stream one of Leblonde’s oars broke, and the men were at the mercy of the waters. They were quickly carried out into the lake by the rushing stream. Seven men manned the lifeboat and pulled away toward the east pier of the breakwater, toward which point the boat containing Flannigan and Leblonde had drifted. When the life savers were well out of the mouth of the river an oar broke, and in an instant the corklike vessel swung about to toss upon the angry waves. The men in the lifeboat were totally helpless, and before assistance of any kind could be rendered their boat was overturned and all the men were thrown into the water. Four of them succeeded in catching hold of the overturned lifeboat, where they hung on until they were rescued in a terribly exhausted condition. Four of their fellow life savers were tossed about so mercilessly by the wild waves that they were unable to swim back to the lifeboat, and after vainly tattling for a few moments with the elements they were overcome, and the battle of life had to be given up. The nan es of the heroes who lost their lives in attempting to save others were: Chester Simons, John Johnson, Nicholas Servas, Albert Currier. The life savers who were rescued were brought ashore by a tug. Flannigan and Leblonde were drowned before the lifeboat capsized. J?even Drowned Conneaut. A distressing accident also occurred at Conneaut. about sixty miles east of Cleveland. The tug Valter Richardson, the dredge Continental, andascow were anchored at Conneaut harbor Tuesday night. The creek rose rapidly, and at 5 o’clock next morning the scow was carried out into the lake with the tug. In cutting away from the rcow the tug’s wheel was disabled, and Ihe tug washed ashore. The crew was saved. The dredge was carried into the iake and immediately capsized. There were seven persons on board, two of whom were washed ashore on the wreckage.