The 1865 Flood In Williamsport, Pennsylvania

 
March 17th, 1865

The "West Branch Bulletin" gives very full  particulars of the flood Williamsport:

It says "as the clear morning light of Friday  appeared, there was one vast expanse of water in the upper part of town, extending from the Canal and, in some places from Third street, to the South Bank of the river.

 The waters were irresistible, and came down one seething, foaming, rushing tide, higher higher with every hour.

 Three spans the Williamsport (wagon) bridge were swept away about 6 o'clock in the morning,  and as it was swept down the rapid current span of the railroad bridge went with it.

The flood broke over all temporary embankments, the canal was full, and Pine street below Third was a scene of wild confusion, the waters came rushing through to Black Horse alley." 

The editor of the "Bulletin" gives the following picture as seen from the cupola of the West Branch Foundry:

"Logs, it seemed countless in numbers, were flowing down with the rapid current. A barn, all "right side up," is seen among them, which strikes, the remaining span of the bridge on the Williamsport side, and away they float, leaving nothing but the bare abutments standing. The remains lodged in the lower part of the town, and were left "high and dry" after the waters had abated. 

Here comes a house with chimney' standing. It has, evidently, come from "up the river," and looks, in its erect position, as if the family might be comfortably "keeping house"' and cooking as they traveled. All at once comes a crash. It has struck the Railroad bridge and becomes wreck. Chairs, tables, beds, bedsteads, clothing, and all the treasured articles of household use are revealed and soon swallowed up in the whirlpool which swallows everything in its way.

 A barn comes next. As it tilts over and the roof comes off, out springs ten or a dozen chickens to take their chances in the "wild waste of waters." Thus it is all day: Houses, barns, logs, log houses and barns, huge trees, wrecks of bridges, parts of mills, huge piles of lumber, just as they had been piled at the mill, floating along as if made for that very purpose, until some impediment meets them and they scatter, broadcast in the flood.

The water at its highest was twenty-eight feet two inches above low water, being four feet one inch above the flood of 1847.

 It is estimated that fully nine tenths of Williamsport was flooded, so as to fill the cellars, and a large portion had water on the first floor. The injury to the saw mills has been very great, and immense amounts of timber and lumber have been lost.

 Some idea of the loss, from the interruption of business, may be formed, by the fact that it is estimated that 60,000,000 feet less lumber will be manufactured at Williamsport this season than heretofore. 

The canal has suffered severely. The aqueduct at the mouth of Lycoming Creek is racked and tilted over, and the abutments much damaged by floating timber. Above the aqueduct no vestige of a canal is visible -both tow-path and heel-path having been swept away. It will take a long time to repair the damages.

 We have received no exchanges from Lock Haven since the flood, but a correspondent of the "New York Tribune" gives a sad account of the ravages of the flood at that place. Among other things he Horses, cows and hogs could be seen swimming for life or floating dead through the streets.

Side-walks, fences, trees, logs, timber, icebergs, and drift of, every description, covered the streets and gardens. It is difficult to estimate in money, the damage done to the town itself--probably $20,000 will cover the loss; but to the lumbermen who live in it, and to the business dependent upon them, it must be counted by hundreds of thousands.

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"Williamsport wire bridge, half gone ; toll bridge, all gone; railroad bridge, five spans gone and balance badly injured.  The principal part of Williamsport was flooded as far back as the railroad, and boats were used in the street in front of the Court House. " - The Lewisburg Chronicle

Notes on the former floods on the Susquehanna

West Branch Bulletin

April 15th 1865