The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-16
FLOODED WITH CROTON.

A THIaTY-sIx-INcH wArlR MAIN BROKEN By
ESTABLISHMENTS INUNDATED AND EIGHT
THOUSAND DOLLARS DAMAGE DONE.
A singular accident occurred yesterday morning In
the neighborhood OF Third avenue aud Fifty sixth
street which caused damage amounting to S. 900
snd NO little excitement among tho residents OF the
IMMEDIATE locality. The Croton water main runs
along the west side OF the avenue some four or five
feet out from tho curbstone, and lies tmbedded
In trough Of rock which blasted
to make room for the main when it laid The sup
ply Of water in tho building No. $40 Third avenue
found insufficient, aud Horny MeGuckin. apiumber at
No l00l Third avenue, was employed TO increase the
supply. In order to make connection with the
main workmen were engaged 10 dig an excavation
some eight isst deep from the cellar OF the building
out 10 The street. Tho work had been finished and
the top boarded over so as TO allow pedestrians 10
pass where the aagstones had been removed.
AT this point Of the work 1t was found necessary In
order to tap main ouvenently the side
OF the rock trench In which 1t rested McGuckin Tor
this purpose employed Bartholomew Noonau, oil No
176 East Eighty eighth street. Ne put his to
work drilling the Tor tho purpose OF blasting It,
and yesterday morning thoy finished their work
shortly alter seven O'Clock. The blast fred lew
moments later, and the explosion was followed by u
rush OF water, the cause which became at
parent. portion OF the rock struck the main and
lion filled rapidly and INC overflow poured
into tho cellar crowd gathered quickly, >
what had happened became alarmed lest the iouuda-
tons OF the buiaing would settle IRON the effects OF
tho HOOD
FLOODED BASEMENT
Tho basement was not long IA nng, and the dow Of
water spread 10 the adjoining Easements and IN
short time The cellars OF half the block mum
dated. Captain Mount turned out the Of
his precinct 70 mantain order ana reassur the
pants OF The i've story dwellings. " great sport
Tor the juvenile population oil me neghborhood, aud
immature navy WAS afoat in the cutters leading
20 the sewers Tor as soon as the Easements became
hasd streams lowed out from the ratings ana
over the sidewalks 10 the street
THE DAMAGE DONE
II was nearly hour before tho water could be
shut of At the nearest gate. The damage done
confined TO Tho easements OF the buildings the
ground floors OF winch above the street level
and escaped drencnng. The basement oil No. 9i0
tns arst one Hooded Is occupiea by Phiiip .yuiu.
homer as u storeroom tor toys and fancy articles
manuactured and put ava, for the holiday season.
| 4ne goods, which are mostly made Of light WOOD.
were packed away Ia trunks, which, with the
rising oil the water, nJated aud rcmsiucd
against The basement Getting antil The Hood
subsidized, Mr. Waldheimcr's loss estimated
~ 81, 500 G. q. Ellis occupies the basement VI No
1884, which Is on the corner OF Fiy-sxtn street and
marks the lower boundary Of the flood, as bake
house. HIS emplo, 6, were kept busily ut work
ing out the water winch ran In faster nau they could
dip 1t out, reached depth OF two three feel.
Tue damage here It IL thought Is about $500 The
heaviest loser Thomas Hoer, dealer dry pants
ana c0ors he had stored the basement OF No. $50
quantity Of his stock, the loss on which WIN amount
to about 50, 900 The basement Of No 93S Is used
An ice Cream uepot ny Mr Dixon. Tue damage Is re-
ported 10 be le.s than 500 Monheimer Broih
ors. dry goods dealers at No. 942, use ,he,r
basement 10 store GOODS The wafer reached
depth OF over Jour feet and caused nbout s., 900
damage Freund " Co., dealers IN beddina and bed
linen ut No s44 suffer TO the OF $500 goods
also stored the basement
The Department Of Pubic Works was notified OF
tho occurrence, but before a3y oil their representa-
uves arrived ihe water turned on Whom Inc
water had settled enough to allow of an examination
IL was discovered tLat Iarlc hOie had been
the thirty SIX ch man aud tina, crack in II ex.
tended several ieot new section OF pipe
for aud put IN tho place Of the broken Que.
The question OF responsibility rather mixed one
dcpShAIng tho nature OF the contracts between
parties 10 the work MoGuckin, the plumber was
poyed by the owner oil the house, and Noonan, who
dia the blasting was engaged by him.