New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-18
minutes current of water two feet deep was flow
ing rapidly down Klng-st.
THE CRISIS AT HAND.

THE ALARM GIVEN AT PORT JERvIs BY sUPERfN-
TENDENT THoMAs-RAPID RISE OF THE WATERS
HOUSES FLOODED OR TORN FROM THEIR
FoUNDATIONs-MOvING OF THE GoRGE-DE-
sTRUCrIoN oE THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
iron SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiDUSEJ
PoRT JERvIs, N Y, March 1.-THE first intima-
tion OF the wreck of the railroad bridge, which
occurred at 7:40 A. m. brought to the village by
Nj Thomas who perceiving tho great danger to
the town ran down with his engine warning the
people along the river to flee to higher ground.
About o'clock, when the water In klng-
st. was running like raceway SIX
feet deep, the eugine came rushing
down the track keeping up continuous and deafen-
ing screaming with its whistle while several men
stood on the tender waving their hats frantically
and shouting to everybody to clear the track,
for the flood WAS coming Several thousand
persons were standing on the railroad track
between the depot and the Delaware House.
and when this warning was received. bells
we're rung, whistles blown, and scene OF Wild
confusion ensusd. Everybo rushed for the higher
ground ND Pike-st Several ladies tainted, and had
To be carried away in an express wagon. AT the
same time two or three wagons, Which had gone
nm the valley to warn the people when danger
anpeared. came rafting down tho track
the drivers lashing their horses into
gallon, and crying that the water was
coming close behind them AT 8 o'clock the water
began to run down the railroad track and up lnto
Pke-st at depth of two feet. surrounding the Del
aware House and railway depot, and hlllng all the
cellars in the vicinity. This inundation was caused
by the rivers having broken over its banks near the
| residence of Wade Buckley, above Germantown, ana
about mile above the railroad depot Great docks
of ice were swept along by it, and so rapid was the
rise that the people in Germantown, which lncindes
about 100 small houses, had hardly time to escape
to the terrace above the railway, ana those
| who tarried to secure some OF their houseno'o
| effects had to wade through water up 10 the'r
| :. eks In a few moments many OF the houses "cio
| flooded up to the window sills. and seVerai "erc
carried from their foundations and shattered by the
| ice Orders were given to remove all the ene'nes
in the railway round-house and repaT-shops.
| 30 or 40 in number, and they were hred
I'D. and three or four started away
down the track toward Carpenters Point.
| About o'clock King ST., the lower end OF IKE,
Lumber, Thompson, Brown, First, Second, ana
| Third-sts. and the Railroad-ave.. were all Hooded
with water from two to eight feet deep. The innn-
dated portion occupied triangle $3.50 feet long ana
1000 feet across the BASE the river
| bounding one side aud the railway
| the other. This space was occupied ny
about 400 buildings in of which the water haa
risen half way up to the second story, driving the
| inmates into the upper rooms for refuge .out-
houses fences and sheds torn from their ioun-
| datons aud hoated down toward the rlVer.
| The water still rapidly ana IL
seemed that nothing could save the town
from utter destruction All this time the gorge
remained firm, showing signs of yielding to the
pressure from above. 1t had been showed down
against the suspension bridge and was ping higher
and higher every minute. Mr.. Chanute, Mayor Al
bolt and superintendent Thomas had gone down
| opposite the lower end of the gorge ana
were watching anxously to see it pVe
| way where the channel had been BLASTED
| through. About $50 channel had opened almost
up to the suspension bridge and at $40 the gorge
began to move slowly at first, but gathering speed
and momentum until it swept by the town ~
the rate of four miles an hour. passing over
| all obstacles, and rounding the bend at
Carpenters Point with uudimnshed speed Cheer
upon cheer arose from the thousands who were
watching the spectacle, 1t being evident that the
| town was saved. As soon as the gorge started the
water in the streets began to fall. and in ten min
utes II had fallen IS inches. Within the next 10
minutes 1t nearly two feet higher in the river