Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1901 — FLOODS WREAK RUIN. [ARTICLE]

FLOODS WREAK RUIN.

Swollen Rivera Overwhelm in Three States—Cities Submersed. Rain, wind and melting snow wrought untold damage within twenty-four hours throughout the States of New York and Pennsylvania and portions of West Virginia. Rivers and creeks rose far above their banks and sent their rushing floods into homes and business houses, washed out railway tracks and tore scores of railroad bridges from their foundations. Trains were stalled in consequence and traffic paralyzed. Hundreds of persons were forced to flee from their homes to save their lives. Warm weather and heavy rains Saturday were followed at night by terrific gales and more excessive rains. In New York City the wind blew at the rate of forty-eight miles an hour. Reports from every city and town in the State tell of ruin by flood. Landslides were frequent and on the Lehigh Valley Railroad alone twenty bridges were washed out in the vicinity of Auburn. Many dams burst. Ithaca reports the most serious damage by flood since 1857. The damage done there amounts to $500,000. The rain turned the near-by creeks into torrents and at midnight the flood was poured upon the city. One dwelling house was swept away. The power and lighting plant was washed out and twq, trolley cars were swallowed up in the flood. Lumber yards and buildings suffered immensely and the wreckage, blocking the channel of Six Mile creek, turned the stream from its course and the whole lower part of the city was flooded. Much damage was done throughout northern New York by the extremely high wind which prevailed for twenty-four hours, reaching the velocity of a tornado. The warm weather Saturday sent the snow out of the Adirondacks like magic and many houses on the lower levels are flooded. At Middletown large landslides occurred on the Erie Railroad. In a collision between two trains one man was killed and several injured.