The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-27
Devastation and Stoppage Of Mills on
the Schuylkill.
Six Thousand Mill Hands
Suspended.
OVERFLOW OF THE HOUSATONIC RIVER
Barns and Houses Wrecked and
Cattle Drowned.

MANAYUNK, THE MANUFACTURING SUBURB OF
PHILADELPHIA. EXTENSIVELY SUBMERGED
DREADFUL EFFECTS OF THE sToRM-sToPPAGE
OF MILLS, AND SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE THROWN
OUT OF EMPLOYMENT.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 90. 1875.
The mild atmospheric conditions and the seem.
ingly interminable rains which nave prevailed here
during the entire week were sufficient to loosen
the mass Of Ice on the Schuylkill and bring about
the heaviest iresnet this city has ever known. At
no other point has the immense rush OF water and
the towering pyramids OF ice caused greater dis
tress and damage than at Manayunk, which Is the
great manufacturing suburb OF Philadelphia, and
within It's area is comprised larger number
OF mills than In any other territory in siml-
lar compass IN the world. No sooner HAD the
people residing along the river anticipated
the freshet than they took extraordinary
precautions TO prevent Its dire consequences.
Yesterday afternoon the river was brldged with
ice in many places, but the latter was cracked
and much reduced in thickness and solidity. The
ice heaps formed along the shore, and in some
parts OF the stream during the brief thaw OF last
month. which brought the ice down from ABOVE,
were also considerably diminished.
CONDITION OF wIssAHICKoN CREEK.
The ice in WissahicKOn Creek broke up during
the day and was discharged into the river. This
caused sort OF a gorge about the mouth OF the
creek and on the east bank of the river below
Wissahickon station the road was fiooOed Tor some
distance, but not to sufficient extent to inter.
fere with travel or the running OF the passenger
railway cars. Intense excitement prevailed at
Manayunk. The town lies low and all the tene.
ment houses are located along the river BANK.
The river. wltnin twenty-iour hours. has risen
LAST NIGHTS STORM.
Last night, when the storm was most violent
supreme height, deuged the houses along the
bank and spreaI terror and CONSERVATION among
all the occupants. Men, women and children,
suddeniy awakening from their SiumoefS by the
CRIES vi rear ana agony, were forced 10 leave
tne;r homes and stood in shlvering groups along
the river SIDE, nesltatlng what to do. There was
not house along the entire stream that was not
SUBMERGED and Ice, acre al er acre, noated down
hooded the floors and at IN .dnlgnt grove all par
ties out OF their houses. Everything OF NOV
aoe character was taken out OF the way OF the
hood, all renuerng Wiling aid to those IN uis ress.
Your correspondent arrived at the scene OF the
iresnet at five O'Clock this morning. It was at
this hour that he water was at It's eatest height.
The Manayunk Gas Works were entirely Hooded al
this moment, and all the employees attached to the
Obliged to seek re.uge on the hius. Lamp-posts
rooted, wnne great many Of the houses were
submerged or entirely mined. There is not one
mill IN MaDayunk that Is not filed with water, and
not one that mas not been forced to suspend oper-
atlons ana discharge for the lime being IT'S EN-
plo! es. On the vest bank Of the Schuylkili, at
The loot OF West Laurel Hill Cemetery, are several
rows o. tenement houses. An their cellars are
filled with wafer. Two or three frame buildings
appeared 10 Oe in imminent dangerO being swept
away should the Iresnet prove severe.
SIX THOUSAND PERSONS UNEMPLOYED.
The Ice Is blocked up directly against the doors
OF these dwellings,, SO that the river has tie ap-
Oy the flooding OF the mills. About 5000 men
and women are THROWN out o. employment, and
to eW the ae o
owners cannot yet be estimated, but 1t is thought
1t Will be very considerable.
SUSPENDED MILLS.
The folio wing firms were compelled to suspend
operations:-o. S. Scnofeld, employ ing 500 hands;
+. Campbell Co., employing 500 hands; Har-
Patferson's mills Gate RupKa's), employing
aovnc 800 aand res ssnn e
belonging to f. Campbell Il Co., employing aoout
$50 hands; James Winpenny's mil, employing
about $50 persons; Hartranits grist mill. employ
ing 100 men; WhittaKer's old mill, employing 100
Joining Walttaker's mil. employing 800 hands;
NixOn's paper mill, at Flat Rock, employing ABOUT
800 hands; Jessup a Moore's pup works, employ
ing aoout 400 hands. The mills owned by fltz-
patrick q Holt, of Connecticut and Magic and Da-
vld Wallace, at the loot OF Scnurz lane. Will prob
ably be the most damaged.
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
prominent mill owner stated, IN conversation
with our correspondent this morning, that within
his experience Of thirty years he has never wit
messed such gorge and lreshet as this one at
Manayunk In his opinion 1t has resulted rom
the cutting OF Ice above the Dam, Tor in FORMER
years the river was reserved by tue ice companies
who cut the Ice. The mill owner thinks that Il
channel should DE cut in the river, winch would
weaken the Ice and cause 1t to melt Without much
difficulty.
THE HORSE CARS STOPPED
The horse cars on the Manayunx Oranch OF the
Ridge avenue road have ceased running. owing to
the track being submerged
PARAMOUNT PARK.
The Ice is broken and damned from Columbia
Bridge to Fiat Rock. and has become gorged at
the latter point. No damage is reported IRON
places further up the river. Below the dam at
Paramount the Ice Is broken and the stream COM
plratlvey clear. The ice averages about two and
q quarter leet in thickness, and appears to be
solid from Fiat Rock nearly TO The dau. All the
beautiful walks ana drives recently completed IN
Paramount Park along the east ana west banks OF
the SChuylk River are now under water, and, of
course, entirely ruined. Thousands upOn tnou.
sands OF people have visited Tue scene to-day.
The gas works are still flooded ana Manayunk mas
no gaslight.
FLOOD IN CONNECTICUT.
ICE PILED THIRTY FEET HIGH IN THE HoUsA-
TONIC RIyER-FAMuIES IN DANGER-CON-