Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-18
From the New Haven Journal, Nov. Is.
Further Particulars of the Late storm

Further Particulars of the Late Storm.
A severe southeast storm, accompanied by high
wind and a heavy fall Of rain, set in on Sunday,
which continued throughout the day. with but
little abatement.
The tide in our harbcr rose TO an unusual
height but as far as we can learn no damage was
done TO the shipping, or any property on the
wharves. Some thirty or forty vessels sought
safety in the bay, and rode out the gale at anchor.
From other places along the line of the Nauga-
tuck and other railroads, we hear the saddest in
telligence Of the effects of the storm, resulting in
the destruction of large amount of property, as
well as the loss Of several lives. Along the whole
OF the Naugatuck valley the most serious conse-
quences were experienced, the particulars of which
are given below in letter from an attentive cor
respondent at Birmingham: ...
BIRMINGHAM, Monday morning, Nov. 11.--Last
night was the most destructive and awful night
ever witnessed in the valley of the Naugatuck
During Sunday afternoon, the water in both the
Housatonic and Naugatuck rose rapidly and be-
fore night came on, small buildings were floating
down the Housatonc river; among which was
hat shop, from which some twenty hats Were taken
at this place, by approaching il with boat.
The river was filed with floating timber, broken
bridges, &c. Downs bridge, crossing the Hous-
atomic river some seven miles above this place,
and Zoar bridge, about one mile further up, are
both gone. There has also passed covered
bridge, which undoubtedly is Benefits bridge,
some fourteen miles above this place
Whether any bridges above that are gone, we
are not able to say, thought is quite probable for
the hat shop named must have come from as far
up as Rabbits bridge, some twenty-four or five
miles above here, The extent Of the damage up
the Housatonic is not known, as no messenger has
come from above Zoar bridge.
Upon the Naugatuck the loss and destruction of
life and property we fear is great The new bridge
at Beacon dam, few miles below Naugatuck,
Pines bridge, still lower down the stream, the
railroad bridge at Seymour, the new bridge at An
sonia and the old bridge at Derby, are all gone ;
and with the bridge at Ansonia, several lives are
lost.
The bridge at Ansonia, on the west side of the
river, abutted into high ground, and all on that
side safe, while, through the village of Anso
MIA and between the houses End the east end of
the bridge, the water running rapidly and at
great depth people We're crossing from the west
crn shore on the bridge to the eastern end, to see
the rise of water around the houses in Ansonia;
some had gained the eastern abutment, and others
were crossing, when suddenly the centre pier
gave way, the bridge broke and fell, and all then
upon it We're thrown into the stream, and all must
have persisted; several caught upon the bushes
that stand upon the eastern shore of the river pro-
per- distance of forty rods below where the
bridge stood, and there shrieked for help. 1t was
sometime before they were discovered, but there
was no boat there to aid them, and the probabili-
ties were that no boat in this vicinity could live to
reach them.
On some citizens driving there and ascertaining
the state of affairs, they Immediately ran their
horses for Birmingham where boat was instantly
loaded and horses driven at the top OF their speed
to the scene, distance of some two miles.
During all this time their shreks for help were
heart rending. The boat was Immediately man
ned, and four brave fellows al the imminent risk
of their lives, pushed into the maddened stream,
among floating trees, bridges and timber.
All was excitement as we watched the light in
the boat darting down the stream like an arrow,
Or n
he lost Soon we saw they had crossed the cur
rent and then the air rent with shouts OF Joy,
for we thought at least the boatmen were safe,
and they would yet rescue the drowning. They
landed at the eastern abutment, and found some
ten or fifteen persons there hemmed in by food
of water, and the heavy walls of the abutment
every few moments falling.
As soon as the water could becleared from the
boat they again started for the rief of those that
were clnging to the bushes; but before they could
reach the place, tired nature had yielded, or they
had been swept from their grasp by floating tim
Der, and We're no more. For some two hours and
half they had shreked for help and none could
save them, althoughthey were notten rods fromus
From the Hartford Times, November Ii.
One Of the greatest rain storms that has visited
this section for years commenced on Sunday eve
ming, November IL, in fine drzzling rain, and
increased in force and power unit! last night.
great quantity of rain fell and il reached its height
IL Ia. .
yesterday, Monday. All the streams in the vicn-
ity Were swollen that they overlooked their
banks, and the streets presented The appearance
of miniature rivers, the sewers and culverts being
too small to carry off the food. The Connecticut
and Little rivers rose at a fearful rate. The II. p.
and F. railroad trae ks that have been newly laid
in their yard were badly injured and washed.
Such the quantity of water that fell, that the
tracks from above the tunnel 10 the depot were
completely submerged the culverts not being
large enough to relieve the side cutters.
The water that flowed down Asylum hill, on ac-
count Of the sewers being obstructed, overlooked
the street, covered the tracks Of the road and
passed off, finding an outlet through the sewers
under the station house.
The II. N. ii. and S. Railroad track was so bad
ly washed about four miles north ofthe city, some
sixty feet of earth being entirely gone, that the
mail train was telegraphed at New Haven, and
did not leave that city. The track is also washed
at Thompsonville and at Newington, but this COM
pany, with their usual promptness put on large
gang of men last night, who, by great exertIons, so
repaired the bad places that the trains OF to-day
were not delayed The steamers mails arrived
at Springfield some time during the night, and
passed through this city on the first mornings
train. Great damage must have occurred TO the
roads in this vicinity
The Bristol train was DELAYED nearly two hours
between Bristol and Forestvle, on account of
about fifty feet Of the track being washed away.
The Connecticut river is now zone o'clock) some
nineteen feet above low water mark, and is still
rising about three inches an hour. The meadows
are all overfowed.
We learn by the passengers in the cars that the
bridges and culverts on the Danbury and Nor
walk, Housatonic and Naugatuck railroads, have
been destroyed to such an extent as 10 prevent
the operation Of those roads All parts of the
State appear to have been visited by this storm.
Several head of cattle passed down the stream
of the Connecticut to-day, probably from of the
meadows above the city.
bridge ofsome thirty or forty feet span on the
Vermont Valley railroad, between Dummerston
and Putney, Vermont, was carried of by the wa
ter, and the passengers, baggage and mails had to
change cars at this point. The damage viii soon
be remedied.
AT six o'clock, on the evening OF the nth inst,
the Connecticut river was l9i feet above low
water mark, and rising at the rate OF one inch and
half an hour. ..'u.
From the Springfield Republican, Nov. Is.
The rain of Sunday, as we anticipated, produced
a rapid rise in all the streams in this vicinity as
well as in more distant localities. The Connecti-
cut river at Springfield is high as 1t was at any
time last spring. The Agawam meadows are