The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-07-28

point numerous ravines empty into Butchers
Run Valley Along this run the houses were
built directly over the natural water course,
culverts being made and used in part as founda-
tions for dwellings. The line of destruction
followed the water course to the river, and in
volved an immense number of houses that was
not on the line of culverts.
When the rain commenced falling but little
apprehension was entertained that those who
lived near the head of the valley state that sud-
denly it seemed as if the heavens were opened
Water came down as if discharged from inn
mense pipes. The volume was SO great that
the valley was filled with a raging torrent
Frame dwellings, stables and slaughter houses
gave way like pipe stems, and debris from
wrecks was swept down along the line of the
plank Toad. the weight being augmented every
| moment. In the district lying west of Chestnut
| street, and north of line lying parallel with
| North avenue, the water rose to q height of
| fully twenty feet. In some places the occupants
of dwellings, were unable to escape with their
| lives In many places the force of the waters
| wrent structures into spnters.
| Further southwark was the dwelling of John
Shearlng. AS soon as the water commenced
| rising Shearng moved his family, consisting of
his wife and twin boys, aged years, to the
hillside in what he supposed place of safety.
The children were sleeping soundly but one of
them was aroused by the storm and rolled over
| the embankment into the angry flood below.
The body was recovered this morning.
The extensive glue works were next to sue
| cumb to the action of the water and were to-
tally destroyed. A short distance below these
| WORKS was small dwelling occupied by Aug.
| RikoH and family, embracing his wife and two
children. They were unaware of the destruc-
| ton sweeping down upon them. and with the
| building were carried down stream. Mrs. Ri
koH. bruised aud bleeding, was rescued from
| the torrent several squares distant, but the re
| mander OF the family were drowned. At the
corner of East Street and Madison Avenue the
| water seemed to divide in triangular house.
| AT the intersection of these streets resided Mrs
Hanlon and four children. Also a young man
named Arnold, and cripple named Rogers
| were in the house. All were lost except Mel
Conlou. Young Arnold had gone in the house
to rescue some of the inmates but fell victim
| to the destroying element.
About block below the nterception of Mad
ison avenue and East street the torrent agar
| united, and swept down with redoubled vic
lence to the low lands, embracing Concord
Ofara and g portion of Chestnut streets. The
course OF the flood was probably 200 feet wide
and frame and brick buildings fell before thu
devastating element as though they had beer
sand. dwellings, stores, workshops and debris
of all kinds are mingled together in one confu
sion, making it impossible for the spectator t.
discover even street lines In some instances
houses were literally turned upside down. o.
o Hara street the dwelling of Alderman Bolste
was reduced to its original elements, and one o
his children drowned. The rest of the famil,
escaped. On the same street was family, con
ssting of Jacob Fuches, wife and one child ant
Josephs, a brother of Mrs. Fuches, and adjoin
ing house, containing j. Metzler, wife and tive
children, all of whom except one child wer'
lost. On Chestnut street, at intersection O
Spring Gareen avenue, water attained deptl
of fully twenty feet but the buildings with
stood the force better, and ia only one instance
was any serious damage done. A large fran.
building, occupied as a beer hall, was moved
from its foundation, flooded directly across th,
street and completely obstructing the way.