New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-03
BROoKLYN STREETS FLOODED.
BURSTING OF A WATER MAIN.

BURSTING OF A WAFER MAIN.
A BREAK Is THE LARGEST WATER PIPF IN TIE CITY
FIGHTING THE TORRENT
A good deal OF excitement was caused In the
neighborhood Of Atlantic and Fourth-aves., Brook
lyn, about p m., yesterday, by the bursting OF a
water main. For some time workmcn have been
engaged in LAYING 20-inch main In Fourih-ave.,
which was to be connected with tie 4s-inch main
in Atlantic-avc. The latter main IS the largest IN
the city. and carries nearly all the water used In
Brooklyn west of WashingiOn-ave. The work In
Fourth-ave. was being done by Newman @ 20 AS
near as could be ascertained, the workmen lad
opened the excavation far as the fs-inch main
and were about TO complete the connection. Sup
posing the pressure of tine water had been relieved
for this purpose they began to unscrew the cap
which covered the branch of the large main with
which the connection was 10 be established. The
water had not been shut of. however. and before
the cap was entirely unscrewed tie pressure of the
water forced it of
The water burst forth with great violence, filled
the excavation IN 4 moment. and flowed over into
the street. The wOrknen preciD,tately fled
The body of water spread over Atlantic aDd
FOurth-sves.. and divided into two streams.
which poured rapidly over the pavements ON both
streets The Atlantic-aye. stream covered the
southerly half of the street and Hooded tue side
walk. When it reached rhird-ave. 1t swept around
The men who were laying car tracks Tor the AtIan-
tic Avenue Railroad hed II their lives We're IN
peril Great efforts were made to prevent the water
from flowing into the cellar OF the Atiantc-ave.
car stables, at Atlantic and Third-ayes., and TIE
men hastily constructed dam Of sand and bags.
In the cellar was. among other thnes large q9an-
tity of nails recently purchased, which escapeu N
The Fonrth-ave. branch of the stream spread
through Pacific, Dean, Bergen, Nyckoh ana war
ren-ss. but the principal damage done apr cared TO
be IN Pacific-st.. through which the heaviest volume
Of water passed. This OYer1owed the sidewalk on
the south side of the street and filled a numDer oil
cellars. Frantic hOuseholders exerted themselves
TO keep the water from their premises. women
armed with brooms attempted to stay the stream
and guard unprotectesd coal noes D.. -.
The officers IN the Water Purveyors Bureau were
informed as possible, and Purveyor Milne
started immediately with gang OF men To the
scene If the disaster. he gate AZ Washington
and Atlantc-aves. was closed subsequently. and IN
the meantime the occupants OF factories and houses
IN the district supplied by the Allntlc-ave. main
were warned draw their fires In order to prevent
the explosion of boilers and water backs. IL was
impossible yesterddy afternoon To obtain any est-
mate Of tire amount of damage by the accident
AT Wyckot snd NeviDs-st. a portion OF the pave
mcnt and che crossing were washed away.
IL was found last evening that the accident oc-
cured through the wOrkmen not closing tightly a
valve in the Atlantic-aye. main Jast above the
FOurth-ave. branch. This was worked by gearing
in Al lantlc-aye., winch was not In proper order,
and instead Of closing the valve entlTely space OF
seven inches was left open. IL through tnls
that the water flowed ont. Ii ran about four hours
aud j; il estimated that 100000 gallons o. water
escaped. An attempt frs made 10 close the
valve mentioned. but this was found impractica2ie
Oh account OF he momentum OF the nO"lng wafer
and then the gate al WasGingtOn-aVe- was closed.
THIS occurred bout Oc.Ock. but II was two hours
later before the back water IN tie pipes ali lowed
out The excavation at Fourth and ATTAIN leaves.
WAS then pumped out aud TIE Work Oi adjusting
the valve winch failed to work property was begun.
In the meantime water was supplied 70 those paris
of the city from which it had been shut on. tnroagh
the 36nch Eian ~ DehalO-ave.