Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1915 — Pennsylvania City Suffers Great Losses By Flood. [ARTICLE]

Pennsylvania City Suffers Great Losses By Flood.

Erie, Pa., had listed 27 dead Wednesday night in the mile-long wreck-age-strewn path through the heart of the city swept by the flood. But little impression has been made on the vast amount of wreckage, piled up in places 100 feet high, and believed by the coroner and others to conceal as many more victims. The work of recovery will be slow, and it may take a week to turn over the debris.

The early estimate of property loss placed at $3,000,000 was not changed by Fire Chief McMahon. He stated that 300 houses and 50 store buildings were demolished by the waters of Mill Creek, sent out of its banks by a cloudburst and the bursting of the Glenwood dam. The city’s loss on damaged culverts, bridges, and water supply plant will 'be heavy. Wednesday night there was a semblance of normal conditions in the city which Tuesday night was in the grasp of the most destructive rain storm in the memlory of the oldest inhabitants. The Lake Shore railroad was abl<r at noon to resume through passenger service between New York and Chicago. Light and power plants resumed, but, telephone and telegraph communications with the outside world were still subject to much delay. Three morgues in widely separated sections of the flooded districts were besieged by thousands throughout the day. Men, women and children watched" the searchers and when they saw a body uncovered would rush to the morgue to which it was taken to learn if it was that of a missing one. The city went into mourning when it awoke to the full realization of the extent of the disaster. All of the department stores and business houses on Sate street were closed and the people opened their hearts and purses to the flood sufferers. Relief funds were started, and charitable societies sent food and city authorities opened houses for those who had lost their own.