The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-05
The Recent Storm in New York
and Other Parts Of
the Country.
Great Destruction Of Property and
Several Lives Lost.
Bridges Washed Away and Rail
road Tracks Destroyed.
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF TRAVEL
the STORM IN THE CITY AND SUBURBS.


the STORM IN THE CITY AND SUBURBS.
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It Is not q little singular that at q time when
metropolitans ana their neghbors were dreadlng q
Phladelphia-like famine; when the Mayor Of the
city, the Croton Board and Fire and Police Commits
sioners were urging upon all the necessity Of
economy the use Of water when the indicators at
the Croton reservoirs marked O gradual but sure
decline in the height Of water within the walls,
Puvius comes to the rescue, and opening the suice-
gates, allows the water to come down IN over
whelming righteousness.
On Saturday night at half.paat eleven O'Clock,
the rain commenced to fall, and throughout the
night, all day Sunday. through Sunday night and
up to yesterday afternoon it came down, soaking
the parched earth, swelling the streams laying the
dust and allayng the fears Of all. Old Boreas was
apparently so overcome by his labors during the
previous week that he did not attempt for O time
TO interfere with the beautiful rainn but when he
found that Pluvius was moistening the dust to
spoil his sport and prevent him catching II up
and pufling and whirling 1t In and upon every
body and everything within reach, he changed
his mood, and commenced at once to show that the
waterfall had no fears for him. He banged shutters
and sashes as he passed backwards and forwards,
lasned up the waters the rivers and set the ferry
cradles. He took hold Of huge tree that stood
and bore 1t to the ground If it tender twig
lie sighted chimney pots and bricks that were some
what s shaky g and dashed them to the ground.
however, must be excused In view Of the immense
service the latter mas done in the way Of swelling
people Of the city to use. Shortly before the storm
Of last week the water at Croron dam was down to
eleven feet ten inches where the usual height was
From Ua
being given cut than was received, and the matter
was assuming serious aspect. The rain came and
In day or two Improvement was noticeable. There
can be no doubt that the rain Of the past two days
will result In running the water supply up to the
usual standard, and all fears OF water famine be
While, however the residents Of the metropolis
were congratulating themselves on the fact that
there would now be plenty OF water the water rose
where Its rising was not needed. The rivers on
either side of the city sweed so that they burst
through the barriers and bulkheads and through
crevices and cracks on the docks and In the houses
in the immediate vicinity Of the river fronts until
they became decidedly uncomfortable ana the ele-
ment which was longed for as servant babe fair to
become soon a master. In many places 1t did
achieve mastery, and assuming the proportions Of
almost incacalable amount Of damage and, rising
over the tracks leading to and from the city lor.
babe the passage Of trains and caused
DETENTION OF TIE MAILS.
None or the mails due here by way OF the Hudson
River, Erie Boston or Western routes came to hand
yesterday afternoon. At the Post Office the first
intination Of the arrangement OF mails received by
Mr. Knapp, superintendent "f Metz. 49,. So,
that no mail trains had arrived nom the West, and
that the superintendent had decided not to send out
the five P. NJ. or nine P. M. train from this city.
The nine P. NJ is q letter mail express to the West
so that all the mails which usually sent by that
route have been sent over crcuitous lines by way OF
Philadelphia. Mr.. Knapp despatched messenger
to the Hudson ana Harlem depots, and ascertained
from him that there was no probability OF any
the Harlem road and on the Hudson road, at
Castleton, some two hundred feet OF the track had
been undermined, and another large portion at Liy
ngston had been broken. despatch was received
from Springfield, Mass stating that the morning
mall from New York had returned to Springfield and
that the eight A. NJ. mails for the West by way OF
tile Allentown route were on the road coming back
to the city, The mail agent who left Buffalo on sun
day night teegraphed from Middaugh station that
he was four hours ehind time at that place aud
with no prospect Of getting through. me Post ONCE
clerks had somewhat Of holiday In having scarcely
anything to DO, comparatively speaking, but they
were kept On duty oil night ready to take charge OF
"Aa''''' N TmE DAM DAMAGE iIs BY THE FLOOD
cannot be estimated In this city many OF the docks
were submerged and freight left on some OF them
suffered considerably. Along West and South streets
and the cross Streets the rivers the Easements
OF many Of the houses were filed almost to the cell
ings. Furniture noated about, ana the occupants
Should the flood continue to rise there may possibly
be an opportunity for boatinen to drive profitable
business In ferrylng passengers from near Washing
ton street to the ferries, as was the case during
similar flood some eight years ago. AT the ferries
the scenes were quite lively The 1nordlnate height
OF the water necesstated the elevation OF the bridges
to such height as to render 1t almost impossible
for teams, especially If laden, to get on board the
boats. AS far as can be ascertained no lives have
been lost, and the amount Of damage done cannot
be ascertalned for some days. Nearly five inches Of
rain have fallen from eleven O'Clock on Saturday
evening 10 one O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
In Brooklyn.
Tho neghborhood Of Fourth avenue, running
through the Aghth ana Twenty-second wards, was
Hooded by the torrents OF water which poured
down the slopes OF the cross streets. The territory
known as 1.-THE fats" lying between Hamilton
avenue and the Bay was yesterday morning COM
pletey covered with water, and the cottages Of the
laborers Hooded driving The occupants to the roofs
number Of trees, fences, &c, were blown down in
various directions.
In New Jersey.
The Hoboken meadows were completely sub
merged by the storm on Sunday night. Many of the