SEVERE FLOODS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 93, 19 March 1936, Page 7

SEVERE FLOODS.

AMERICAN STATES SAVEPT. CITY UNDER AVATER. NEW'YORK, March 17. Sudden floods following heavy downpours swept across sections of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and AVost A irginia to-day, causing thousands of people to flee from their homes and doing widespread damage. At least ten persons perished, and perhaps many more. The most serious situation appears to be at Johnstown (Pennsylvania), where over 2000 persons lost their lives in the flood which occurred in 1889. The city of 75,000 inhabitants is situated. at* the convergence ol two rivers, and to-night, according to telephonic reports received by the New York Times, streets were eight feet under water, with all transportation and most communications cut off, recalling the past disaster. The water in some parts had readied a height of 20 feet. Many persons were in a panic, but engineers reported that the dams protecting the city were holding fast, although tlie waters are still rising. It is reported that at least 10 persons have perished at Johnstown. The surrounding hills are crowded* with refugees. The city of Buffalo, a few' hundred miles northward,' suffered 24 inches of snow, which wrecked a large ioe skating link.