Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1904 — ICE GORGES BREAK. [ARTICLE]

ICE GORGES BREAK.

Ohio Valley Ib Threatened with Serious Inundation. Reports received in Pittsburg indicate a general break-up in the rivers. The ice gorges are letting go at different points and the water is rising at the headwaters of both rivers. All conditions favor a great flood. A Greensboro (Pa.) dispatch states that the ice broke in the Cheat river and came out with thirty feet of water back of it. The ice gorge at Freeport, on the Allegheny river, started with a rush. At Springdale the start of the ice caused a great deal of excitement and apprehension. Flat boats river side were caught and crushed. At Cleveland, Ohio, a gorge broke above the city and a flood of water swept down the Cuyahoga river, tearing away three big steamers from their moorings. The vessels were carried down the stream and crashed into the- drawbridge of the Superior street viaduct. The boats word all badly damaged by the collision and it is believed the foundation of the big bridge has been seriously damaged. The break-up of the ice gorges in the Ohio river nt Cincinnati has been accomplished with comparatively small loss. So far a few barges have been crushed and a few others torn from their moorings. In the vicinity of Columbus the lowlands have been inundated and the levees are being closely watched.

At Logansport, Ind., the Eel and Wabash rivers have overflowed their banks and much property has been destroyed. The village of Georgetown, on the Wabash, is flooded. Residents were rescued by boats. At Adamsboro a dam was swept away. Many Peru families have moved out of their homes on account of high water and ice in .the Wabash river. The record for twenty years is broken. The Howe factory has closed and 600 men are idle. It is feared the new $35,000 bridge of the Indianapolis Northern Traction Company will go. Ten miles of the Wabash Railroad tracks are under water.

Wide sections of the Miami valley south of Dayton, Ohio, are inundated. Traction traffic between Dayton and Cincinnati has been suspended. At Akron all trains on the Cleveland branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway have been stopped because of the flood. The Little and Big Cuyahoga rivers are away out of their banks. Cellars are flooded and many factories have been closed.