The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-01
THE METROPOLIS UNDER WATER.

CountTy-h Severe Rain Storm In New
York, and It's Effects upon the Streets-Ths
City Flood from Battery to BuIi's Head
OVERLOOKING OF the Cellars and Easements
why are not the CuIverts Openod!-Butter-
milk Channel Clear, but the Rivers and
Bay Full OF Floating Ice.
January has been doing s utmost for three weeks
past TO be di'ssreeabe stormy and unpleasant pos
sihle but yesterday, the last OF is exstence quite
surpassed itself, and succeeded in maslny oil
unfortunate New Workers, who had business out doors
n,eDseay miserable and uncomfortable. THIS month wo
have had ''ood snaps' innumerable, snowsorms with
out number, and othor atmospheric phenomena OF a
most unpleasant character but the storm OF yesterday
was positively outrageous and is difficult to find
word In the English language, oopious ~ Il h In the
vocabulary OF vtuperatiou, 10 give Htting sppeatcn.
commenced early in the day to snow, and the ground
was soon whitened but presently changed 70 hail and
rain, with the wind blowing perfect hurricane from the
northeast The hail stopped about ton O'Clock In the
ming, but during the day quantities Of rain
fell, and the city deluged from TO river and
from Bulls Head to the Battery.
Had our city been kept in proper order, and the ord
nances enforced that the culver kop open and
the cutters clear Of obstrucons the rain storm would
have made short work Of the remains Of aud ice In
the streets and al the cumbers the thorough
fares would have been swept into tho rivers, to be
again but shsmeully remiss the authorities
and 20 neglecul in enforcing the city laws that this
storm which would have been blessing has proved TO
be most unmitgated evil, and has brought nothing but
mischief 10 the Inhabitants OF miserably governed
metropolis.
Previous TO the storm the streets had been in saw
ful' condition The had been cut up by the
sleighs and curious compound had taken It's place. 1t
was composed Of mud ice, ashes, water, horse drop
pings dead cats and dogs and other deecta-
BILE Ingredients, oil mixed up and commnuted by the
horses, seghs and wagons until formed thick paste
extending from curb stone 10 curb stone, and covering
the pavement 70 the depth Of eight incheS. Over
the gutter In the aide streets there piled
ashes and intermixsd and about two feet deep
average while thirds Of the cuverts the city
closed up by frozen ice and OF course, IL ones
business to see them kept cpen may easily be ina.
gned what violent rain storm would do with this state
Of things exAtng There outlet for the wafer,
flied up every depression in the street, and formed
pools and miniature lakes all the city. The cross
nss were particularly bad the pedestrians had beaten
down . pathway which the rvulets discharged thcm-
sevcs into forming most deceptive crossings, they
were with ice unfortunate eers did
know what they until they had pumped into them
knee deep Those who are curious to know how Egypt
would look before the Nile subsided had better visit Now
York, which ut present nice looking place for mud
turtles, crooodies algaiors, and similar plearant and
smiabe reptiles.
The condition OF the few ladies' who ventured into
Broadway pitabo, and the time ludcrous In
the extreme Some sensible the long Indis
rubber boots which, though they curta curious youus
sentemens privileges, yet nicely protect the Anklcs
permit the elevation Of beyond danger Of
tact with ths sush and debri, the streets. Tne majority
however, " stssed along tho amount OF snir
gaer boo and delicate little strapped over,hoes which
for all purposes Of protection, nigh, rs well occupy theI
original position In . fashionable shoemaker's window
held up their long dresses above the average idea OF pro-
priety aide, while the other dragglod along heavy
la.urated with dirt and MOISTURE and uni,ang the
unpleasant peouiartes to their hose aud skirts
the most courageous essayed sometimes to cross III
street. sunk two or throe times in the holes and qusg
mircs looked wildly about for protection, aud were
finally nshed up by ,ho,e policemen whose duty is TO
assist females In Distress and are only who
always to found at their posta great argument In
favor o. those who believe labor ought TO be made
attractive
Dry goods aud fancy stores all deserted by Gus
toners and the clerks having nothing 10 DO amused
themselves with standing the windows and discussing
the various figures cut by the lady pedestrians who
came within range OF their vision ths, s with the
csp'on Of few poor devils whose energetic employers
tho opportunity 10 take stock and kept thom
msking figures instead Of displaying their critical acumen
on tho feminine fractions who forced venture In
the street on sush day.
Pedestrianism was decidedly q, q discount, as II not
only rancd torrents during the day. but tho wind
so strong tha, IL was impossible 70 umbrella
while walking up 10 the tops Of ones boots in Ice por
ridge" Ia neither pleasant profitable.
"A might be expected, people who occupied cellars and
easements were compelled TO suntr mott little. In all
the streets running down from Broadway the water
which poured aosg ths streets occasionally found vent
and the sidewalks into the collars and base.
menss flooding or them TO the depth OF three and
tour fcet and n the thoroughfares that parallel
to the river, where the ground ID low, nearly all
the cellars Oiled, aud immense quantity OF goods
spoiled. Nearly oil the Easements down Town are
used sorehouses for sugars teas, oose, -four, dry
goods, and dsmagosbe goois OF similar character,
which food Ike tha, Of yesterday 70 Ipurs very
materially.
The city railroad cars managed TO throughout tho
day with double teams but Vas with the utmos. oin.
Guilty tha wagons and cart eould make any hesdway;
and horses In The tsb Of swearing they must have
done good deal Of yesterday.
EThs stcrm undoubtedly extends over immense dis.
rci Of country, and after the heavy mus. have
caused terrible freshcn Doubtless In few days the
telesrsphs and mails vl bring accounts OF bridges
swept away, dams overshrown and villages submerged
In water accompanied By sres, obstruction Of property
The only hope s that 10 ths North and wes the
her may have been cold enough 10 snow, but n FAR as
the storm extends South melt the Ice the up
lands ana hills, and woe to tho poor people
vno i've on the banks Of the siresms which
feed great rivers There only ono saving clause
70 these grcat DISASTERS and ba, that they give the
poor who usually Idle IN the winter plenty OF en-
ploymeni until spring opens. Freshs ali over orr nor
,tcrL country would rvo employment 'or a month 20
three hundred ,hcssaDd peoris
Yesterday moi1iss tbs aeam .ag wsbi ~as hired BY
the merchants " CO. through 5u,srmlx channel eut
the hcsv7 ,.a ia n, vork NOS s-ec,usy ,hso the
steam tea, asd as ics a sSog hs Leaz lasai shore.
| from Hsnllt,n tory 10 Gowsrai, psr,ed tror the
| sbers snd acated cova the osy v':n ,bs etb uts.
| forming Toe mle and q haf o1s ,,d a NO -te.
bet leaving the who're clear Eor the iru this non,s