The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-03

going at full gait. The master and his mate
became alarmed, and tried te"'snubn the craft
but she could not be snubbed Just then. Every
thing IN the way 81 2 tow-hne snapped, ane
mammoth gateway made in the bank, and,
sweeping around in the whlrling waters, was
shot through the opening at not less rate than
ten knots an hour. Her coarse was due west
and the channel being clear ofeVerythiRg, eveR
rail fences, she was staunch enough not to
break in pieces before she was landed in safety
against an elm tree about half q mile from her
starting point. The Bird is the only boat that
ever sailed ever highways, fields, and fences
in safety. In looking over the grounds one is
astonished that even light boat could
have been carried to so great distance. At
the point where the boat was landed the creek,
or rather we should say ravine Cor IL Is worthy
of the name) takes sudden turn. From the
way the boat is situated we should say that her
bow struck the bank in this curve, anG swinging
around with the current she was brought broad
SIDE SIDE against tree and could not bulge: Her
lender irons on the stern took the bark from
Iee at the height of about sixteen feet. The
trees all around at this point have hanging from
thelr naked limbs tufts of grass, etc. that were
swept down on the surface of the current.
In many cases these weeds are suspended
twelve to fifteen feet from the ground, showing
the height the water went at that distance from
the canal. The captain, wife and child, steers
man. and two hefses took the perious ride The
waters swept away the foundation of barn aud
flooded over twenty-five acres of land There is
not great deal of the soil washed away, and
the damage done to the farm, except in the im-
mediate vicinity of the break, is not extensive.
WHERE THE WATERS WENT.
This immense body of water had to find an
outlet. 1t did not make much delay in doing so,
but followed its own inclination until it emptied
into Irondequoit bay, near the "foat bridge,
which is estimated to be, by way of the ravine
or creek, about six miles. OF course flood o
this kind, fed by reservoir in the fret place
" mil Of ha mol xvhi ot
is the length of the level ceuld not pass
through the country without destroying land:
and buildings.
PRIVATE DAMAGES.
Among those who sustained damages were
| August Balzer, Amos Smith, MyrioH Smith, and
Jacob Stahler, in the town of Penheld, and
| Andrew Lincoln, in the town of Perinton. The
| damages to land and buildings in those town,
will reach thousands of dollars. A barn on the
lands of the late E. B. Strong was carried of
| and COW was drowned The bridges at Hay
wards mills, on the stage road to Fairpert, ant
| at Lincolns mills, were carried away.
THE EXTENT OF THE BREAK.
Many estimates were made of the size of thu
| gap through which the water flowed. As sosr
as the embankment gave out the current rushes
from two directions towards the opening. The
bottom of the canal was therefore swept away
for a considerable distance on each side, and in
| seme places to the depth of twenty feet below
| the original canal bottom. The earth and clay
were swept out IN the emOankment from elgh
| to ten feet below the deepest part of the reser
! voir. 1t is estimated that the depth of tn,
break, measuring FROM the towing-path of the
canal ia 40 feet, and the average width 100 feet
By this calculation nearly 80, 600 yards of earth
will be required to fill the breach. Then a large
! amount of earth will be required to fill up thS
bed of the canal where it 10 tern out, and to pre-
tect the slope wall, which is undermined in Ger
| tain localities.
| PREPARATIONS FOR REPAIRS.
| The importance of this break is felt by boat
| men, by forwarders, by contractors, and cana
| officials. Yesterday all three classes were re
! presented at the grounds. The contractor pro
| cured force of 100 laborers and several teams
| which were at work. Collector Stilwell was or
hand, also superintendent Rigney, who wal
| inspecting the work The canal engineers wer,
| present making calculations, and SO was Com
missioner Fay. Carpenters were employed ir
building sleeping places fer the men and stable.
for the horses. o. g. Hubert is engaged ai
| sutler for the brigade.
Ali the men and teams that can be got will bC
| put on the work Immediately. Various esti
| mates are made as to the time it will take Il
| complete the job. Men competent to Judge anC
acquainted with the work say it will take in the
neighberhood of twenty-five days. Others con
| tend that boats will be able to pass in tive
| weeks. The sooner the work is done the bette
pleased will be all interested. A great man,
rode to the break Yesterday, and great interes
! was manifested by citizens generally in the pro
! gress of the work of repairs.