Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-02-12
THE FLOOD AT TOLEDO.
Water Five Feet Deep in one
Street,
Ice GOrges Formed, Bridges
swept Away, Etc.


clouds, and to add to the discomforts
Of the situation, a snow-sterm set in
about Q o'clock. The streets have
been crowded with people since day
break, and those leading to the river
are crowded to the waters edge. In
Water street the water is fully five
feet deep and rushes through at a
fearful rate. The contents of the
lumber yards up the river seem to
have been emptied into the
thoroughfare, and great masses of the
debris are floating down.
AT 3 o'clock this morning the wind
veered to the southwest and assisted
the movement Of the ice now in the
river, A few minutes later an i'm
mense gorge was formed just OPP
posite Bailey's ship yard. This held
firmly until six o'clock am, when it
broke and the ice again resumed its
journey to the lake. At first its pro-
gress was slow, but with every minute
it increased until at $50 it was moving
at the rate Of six or seven miles per
hour. Fifteen minutes later the west
erly span Of the union railroad bridge,
an old wooden bridge located just be-
low and near the Lake Shore railroad
bridge, came out and was swept down
at high rate Of speed through the
draw in the Cherry street bridge and
spinning it around. Later it passed
through the opening in the Pennsyl-
vania railroad bridge without dam
aging that structure further, and
when last seen was still going toward
the lake. At 7:30 the wind from
the southeast increased considerably,
causing the water to rise rapidly. AT
| 9 o'clock another gorge was formed
lust abreast the city, and at 10 a M
remained stationary. In consequence
of this the water has risen still higher
on Summit street, between Monroe
and Ferry, and there is from one to
two feet of water, and the Easements
of wholesale stores are full of water
Many large stocks will be completely
ruined, The four schooners which
went down the river have not beer
heard from, but messengers have been
dispatched to see if tidiugs of then
can be obtained.
| They have just returned from dowr
Iths river, and report the schooner
| Mediterranean, Dumford NJ. Stalker
and Atmosphere fast in the gOrg,
about three miles below the city. Two
men who were on board escaped TO thu
shore by walking over the ice. Cap
tain Jennings, who was aboard thu
schooner, has not been heard from Al
yet. He is possibly safe.
The little steamer Emerald is re
ported as having sunk early thi
morning. The schooner G. Benson
has also been sunk. She was valued
ut $4,000 aud was owned by Captain
Duffy. She had a cargo of 1900
bushels of wheat, valued at $4,000
| The Mediterranean had 1880 bush
els Of wheat aboard; the Dunford, 10,
1000; the Stalker, $1,000, and the AT
mosphere, 1850, the total valuation
of which is about $4,000. The insur
ance is distributed among the follow
/ ing companies: Phoenix of Brooklyn
New England Underwriters Associa
tion, Orient Of New York, and til
: Mercantile and Mutual Of New York
The four vessels are valued at over $50,
, OO9.
D The various railroads centering her
are among the heaviest losers. A con
e siderable amount Of freight was IN
moved yesterday, aud large amour
\ of rolling freight, oil and molassei
has been swept away, though at pres
f ent it is impossible to state how mucl
Trains No. 6 and 8 on the Lake Shor
" and Michigan Southern arrived her
from Chicago this morning. No.
9 from the east, is at East Toledo. TIL
G Lake Shore bridge is all right, thoug
2; the track is covered with debris. n
,, trains will be sent out till the waite
/; recedes. The floor Of the depot an
70 the Island house is covered with watt
d to a depth Of four feet, and in th
u middle ground it is from on
2, to FIVE feet deep A few coacht
8. are standing in the depot with waite
% covering their floors. When the watC
n yecodss the greatest delay to the r.
n sumption Of traffic will be in clearir
n the debris from the middle grouu
,r and tracks, which will require an in
Of mense amount Of labor. The first flo,
S. of the general ofhce Of the Lake Shol
N and Michigan Southern is three fs,
Hnder water. The tracks and bridg,
90 on this line east and west are reportC
S. 10 be all right General SEperintenr
cot Paine, Of the Lake Shore an