New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-18


IYGs-MUCH INJURY PREVENTED BY LINE OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DROWNING OF TWO
MEN.
fpROm SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
PoRr JEgvIs N. Y, March 17.-Between German
town and Port Jervs proper there is switch
of the Eric Railway running out to the
rivers bank. Upon this switch at the time
of the flood stood long lines OF coal-bunkers
filed with coal Against these the masses OF
ice that swept through Germantown lodged, while
tho water passed through the center OF the
village. Undoubtedly much more damage would
have occurred had not these coa-bunkers acted as
barrier against the ice, preventing 1t from sweeping
down into the streets. The gas-works near the
bridge. owned by II. Fl. Farnham,
are worth $4,000, and were probably
damaged $1,000 The water rose high
enouch inside the retort room to submergc the
whole lower tier of retors and put out all the fires
There was enough gas ia the reservoir to supply the
town for two or three nights. After that 1t
is probable there will be no gas for several
DAVIS A wooden church (Lutheran) in Brown
st. was damaged about $500 about its
foundations three-story brick building
on Pike-st. worth SSOOO had its foundations washed
away to such an extent as to crack the walls, and
they had to be shored up until they can be taken
Lockwood, jewelers. and the upper rooms were used
for lodge and club rooms Hans Werlich. saloon
keeper at Pike-st. and Raroad-ave, had his whole
stock ruined by the water. His loss is $500 All the
cellars in this vicinity on Pike-st flooded, but
their contents had been nearly all removed, and
the damage was slight. About 200 houses were
damaged from 800 to $500 each. In Germantown
the greatest damage occurred. Much furniture was
destroved and about dozen small houses were torn
to pieces by the ice.
J. l.. Roster, q grocer on Klng-st., had his stock
and building damaged about $1,000, and several
other small 'grocers lost from $500 to $500 each.
Excelsior Fire Engine No l. worth $1,000, was de-
stroyed. the shed containing it having been
carried 500 feet and crushed beneath large masses
of ice, The scene in Germantown after the
food was very striking In many places the water
remained four or five feet deep in the lanes and
wards and people round about in boats collecting
tn .ir household goods which had boon swept out by
tho wafer In some cases carpets were washed
from the floors, and torn to pieces among the
rough ice blocks Out-houses overturned, and sheds
living on their sides were scattered around, and IN
some houses great cakes of ice choked up the
windows and doorways. The fire department have
been ordered to put their engines to work pumping
ont the drowned cellars. The large tannery
Two miles .up the river escaped, but several
houses were flooded at Sparrowsbush, and two
or three families were driven out above Matamoras
on the Pennsylvania shore. Two men were reported
tn have been drowned q mile or two up the river.
Telegraphic comm unication with Milford. eight
miles below Port Jervls. was cut OFT when the sus-
nension bridge fell. There is wire suspension
bridge, worth SIS OOO at that place. which
ported to have been carried away.