The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-30
Bursting of the Croton Mafn-De.
struction of Property-Constern
ton In SauattertoWn.

ton In Squattertown.
The squatters in the neighborhood of
Fourth avenue and Fifty-ninth street were
very much startled about IL o'clock on
Monday night by noise resembling the
explosion of large quantity of gunpow-
der. They soon discovered the meaning of
the terrific report, for in few seconds they
were almost overwhelmed by torrent of
water. The main water pipe at the inter-
section Of Fourth avenue and Fifty ninth
street had burst, tearing up railroad tracks
and everything before it. The lots on
each side of the Harlem track for some
distance are sunken to an average
depth of thirty feet. Into the lots
Oh each side of Fifty-ninth street the
water rushed with tremendous force, and in
short time they were flooded to the depth
OF from twenty to twenty five feet. On
these lots we're about twenty shantles,
occupied by poor Irish squatters. The
widest confusion followed the inundation,
the water rising so rapidly that the lives OF
the squatters were greatly endangered.
Jerry Curtin, blind man, who has lived
for many years on the corner nearest the
breach, has lost everything he possessed,
and is now penniless and destitute, with q
family depending upon him for support
His shanty, which was one of the best on
the lot, is completely destroyed, nothing
being left but pile of boards, and these
he can hardly claim as his own, as the re-
mains of two other shanties ore mingled in
the pile of rubbish. GERRY" states
that be went to bed about IL o'clock,
A few minutes after, his wife got
up to secure the door. Immediately upon
getting out of bed she cried out that
she was drowning. Jerry jumped oat and
found his shanty flooded with water. Be-
fore he could get out, the water was up to
his chin, and it was with the greatest diff
Guilty that he safely rescued his family.
His shanty stood firm until about 3 A. NJ,
when it was completely destroyed. Much
suffering prevails among the poor creatures,
many Of whom have nothing to eat and no
place to sleep, and many of them are with
out clothing enough to cover their naked
ness. Many of the sufferers had provisions
in their shanties, which are of course en-
tirely destroyed. Old Jerry had just
laid in" barrel of -four and conside-
rable quantity of sugar, tea, &c., but all
are totally destroyed.
Some idea Of the terrible force of the
flood may be conceived from the way it
tore up the street and railroad track. The
hole it made is nearly twenty feet in diam
eser and fifteen deep. The rails of the Belt
road near the corner were wrenched from
the ties and thrown quite distance. The
ties of the Harlem road were undermined,
and the rails were found at the bottom Of
the hole. The main excavation, near the
connection pipe, is completely demolished
and the large culvert moved some feet and
tipped over on its side. Traces Of the de-
struction the break caused may be seen on
all sides. The officials of the Water De.
partment we're on hand with large force
Of men at daylight yesterday morn
ing, and at once set to work to repair the
damage. The Harlem track was soon put
in running condition, but the track of the
Belt road cannot be laid until the pipe is
repaired !; and SO passengers have to cross
the avenue on foot and take cars in waiting
for them on the opposite side.
The break was caused by the settling Of
the pipe and the gradual sinking away OF the
ground underneath it. 1t is also supposed
that there was flaw in the pipe.-Neu
York Tribune, 2Sth.