Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-05-02
Great Freshet in che Connecticut.

Great Freshet in the Connecticut.
The Springfield Republican OF May LIST,
says
The Connecticut valley is now the scene of
the greatest freshet ever witnessed by its Oldest
inhabitants. The water commenced rising on
Thursday night, steadily increasing through
the following days, and at six o clock on Sab
bath evening it had risen twenty feet above
low water mark, three or four inches higher
than in the great flood of l743, and to the
same height as in the memorable and disas-
trous food of 1901, known as the /" Jefferson
food" and was still rising at the rate of about
three inches an hour On Sunday every &C
cessible point on the Springfield bank of the
river was crowded with spectators, eagerly
watching the progress of the flood. The base
ments Of shops and dwelling houses along the
bank were filled with water, and several Irish
families were driven out with their pigs and
other live stock. The engine room of Messrs.
Harris & Coltons sash, blind, and door works
is submerged, which will of course suspend
operations till the water recedes.
On the West Springfield side several houses
are completely surrounded by the rushing tide,
which in many places makes a clean breach
over the tops and fences.
Some of the finest localities occupied for res
licences in West Springfield are entirely under
water.
At Windsor Locks, Ct, midway between
here and Hartford, the upper locks of the ca
nal had been carried away Sunday afternoon,
and the valuable factories and other buildings
along the canal banks were seriously threaten
ed by the flood Of water that poured down the
canal.
At Hartford, on Sunday noon, the river had
risen twenty-six feet above low water mark,
and at eight O. clock P. M. it lacked but two
or three inches of being as high as the flood of
1901, and was still rising at the rate of four
inches an hour. All that part of the city con-
tiguous to the river, up to and beyond Front
Street, and embracing about half the business
streets, was flooded. The large manufactur-
ing establishments of Woodruff Beach, Fales
& Gray, and Col. Colt are damaged to large
amount, the latter being surrounded by water
which, if it continued to rise, would render it
necessary to remove the whole contents of the
establishment i'll boats Some dwelling houses
on the bank Of the river were completely sub
merged. The City Hall was thrown open for
the accommodation of such families as were
drowned out At the corner of Talcot and
Front streets, the water was four feet Deep
1t is reported that the railroad bridge near
New Haven has been swept away.
A dispatch from Hartford on Monday saws:
Portions Of the New Haven and Springfield
Railroad are three to four feet under water.
and Of course impossible. There is no means
of knowing the amount of damage done South
of the city. The Railroads are much damaged
but will probably be made passable TODAY or
tomorrow. The Willimantic road is inpass-
able.
The damage to property in this city will be
very heavy and involve much suffering to the
poor people that have been driven from their
homes. The Mayor has ordered the public
buildings of the city to be thrown open for
their use, and also ordered out boats to reseue
such as are in danger The water is now ris-
ing l IL inches per hour. The usual roads of
travel leading to the city are impossible SO
that the extent OF damage in the adjoining
towns cannot beascertained.
The water is upon the floor of the William
antic Railroad bridge and also the bridges op-
posite this city and fears are entertained that
they may be carried away.
Masses of timber are floating down the riy-
er, supposed TO be the Enfield bridge across the
Connecticut, several miles above the city.
There is difficulty ON the Springfield rail-
road from this city, and probably the trains
there will be interrupted.
There is also an unprecedented freshet in
the Pennington valley, and we hear of rail-
road abutments and culverts having been car
ried away.