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FIRE ADDS TO DISTRESS IN WILLIAMSPORT
Five Persons Perish In Pennsylvania City As Record River Torrents Sweep Through
10 BUILDINGS BURN
Flames Sweep Two Streets, Razing Dwelling, Apartment and Eight Business Houses
Williamsport, Pa., Mar. 20—Flood waters that isolated Williamsport from the outside world for two days abated enough today to let through first direct word of the city's desolation from record river torrents and fire which took at least five lives.
Officials said that from 1,500 to 2,000 persons were homeless. C. Arthur Bullock, Bradford county Red Cross chairman, confirmed reports five persons perished. One was later identified as Judd Lindaued, five.
Ten Buildings Burned
"Residents told of a fire which swept down one street, around a corner, and onto another, destroying a double house, an apartment and (Continued On Page 2)
FIRE ADDS TO DISTRESS IN WILLIAMSPORT
(Continued from Page 1) eight business establishments, while fire companies, their trucks stalled in the flood waters, stood helpless. An engineer estimated the fire did $250,000 damage.
The Susquehanna river reached the highest level in the city's history, seething to a 36-foot level before the recession began yesterday.
Families driven from their homes were sheltered in schools in higher sections of the city. Many in low lying places were still stranded in apartments and houses.
Ten Feet of Water In Streets
Water to a depth of nine feet covered the business sections Wednesday and Thursday and kept fire trucks from reaching fires.
Officials said food supplies will be adequate for at least another day, and that medical supplies will also be needed shortly. Only two drug stores were able to keep open.
Ambulance and hospital corps of National Guard units as Wellsboro and Mansfield reached the city yesterday.