St. Landry democrat., 1882-10-07
FLOODS AT THE EAST.
The Heaviest Rain-StOrn known for Years
Great Damage to Property-Several
Lives Lost.

PATERSON, N. j., September %.
Orr If the most extraordinary storms TIL
In the recollection of the present generation
has prevailed in and about Paterson the past
two days and to-days storm was accompanied
by the loss of life The rain fell heavily most
of the day, the rain gauge showing Il total lall
of 4.97 inches for the first twcnty-tour hours
up to nine a. m. to-day, and two inches had
fallen during Friday To-day the rain came
down with still grcater force ana between
one and two p. III. the rain gauge showed a fall
of 800 inches, making the total for the day
592 inches. About three p M the rain slacken-
ed, but still came down steadily during the
eveuing The total fall for the thirty-six hours
up to nine o'clock Tonight was fifteen
inches. During last night the river rose
four and a half feet and the water began
pouring over the falls once more. All day to-
day the river rose steadily, and during the aft
ernoOn the water got higher at the rate OF
eighteen inches per hour, SO that to-nlght IL
was higher than at any time since the 1nempr-
able flood of 1910, which was the highest on
record. The Oldham Brook, the principal
tributary Of the Passaic near Paterson, just
above the city. rose with great rapltlty, and
about two p IN. burst through the mill-dam ut
Oldham. The torrent thus suddenly released
rushed furiousy down the stream, sweeping
part of the horsc-railroad track. A brick and
stone arch bridge erected by the county at
| cost of 5000 ten years ago. and recently re-
paired at Il cost of 5000 more. on Redwoods
avenue, near the city ams-house. was under
mined and washed away by the resstess fiCOd.
DIR. Myers the city physician, driving up TO
the institution and to visit the smallpox pa
tients got to the bridge as the food was beat
| ing savagely against it. He urged his horse
over, and had barely reached the other side
when he heard behind him a terrific roar, and
looking back saw the whole bridge tumbled
into the stream and carried down the channel.
A massive reta ming wall of stone adjoining
the bridge to protect the alms-house property
from encroachments by the stream also went
down with a rush, and in a twinkling the mad
torrent was eating its way into the sand-bank
on which the alnS-house rests.
Martin Rossiter, Il gentleman aged about
seventy, lived in a pleasant cottage along the
river bank, near the outlet of the Oldham
Brook with his family, and had some fine
stock on his farm About three O'Clock he
tried to drive along the doad near the river,
when the flood came down with such sud
den rush that before he could get out of its
way he was swept into the swift current of the
river and, with horse and wagon, was whirlcd
down and out of sight before any one could
extend him helping hand.
All the cellars along the river below the falls
were flooded, and several of the adjacent mills
had their lower floors filed with wafer, to the
great damage of their machinery. The shops
of the great locomotive works had to shut
down on account of the great food.
The flood dashed with such violence against
the Lincoln bridge, above the city. that it i'm
ally gave way, and went down with mighty
crash. The bridge consisted of two iron spans.
very substantially built. one span about l43
feet and the other about ninety feet. resting
on an island in the river. The bridge cost
about $50 600 in all. 1t was one of the best
bridges in the country, the masonry and super
structure being Of the most substantial charac-
ter. The Hohokus stream also felt the effects of
the great storm, and last night Ia briskic's NH!
at Hohokus, which was about 20 be converted
into a rubber factory went down the stream
involving loss of perhaps $4,000. The heavy
rains have inundated all the meadow section
OF the city of Hoboken. Houses are CIT off
from the streets By sheets of water, and the
occupants are obliged to sail RATS to get
from the sidewalks to their front doors The
rayine road sewer which empties ntir the
meadows yielded to the increased pressure
and burst this morning. This burst let Eli the
water from Jersey City Heights out upon the
meadows and increased the discontinue OF
those residing there.
JERSEY CITY, September a.
There has been immense damage in H.y6Son
County, N j. Entire sections of Jersey City
and Hoboken are inundated Cellars and irtse.-
ments are flooded. The inhabitants are AK
ing refuge on the upper floors. The jersey
avenue wooden pavement was hurled into the
mouths of the sewers, completely chok ng
them. The waters, backing, swept into the
houses, destroying carpets etc. Morris Cala
v..I,>y he bod 4
section of one of the main sewers. twenty-eiEht
by six feet was lifted bodily out of place. end
the rushing waters dashed into the air Thirty
feet Dwellers on the Meadows were les
cued by boats and RATS.
The new tunnel of the New York, OntariN &
Western Railroad was damaged between So
600 and 100000.
By the giving way of bridge over Berrys
Creek freight train was precipitated into
the stream. Edward Weber, the conductor.
was killed. George Currie, the engineer, and
Francis Burke, fireman, probably fatally in
iured.
PLAINFIELD, n. j., September "A.
Frenchs dam, the last dam but one remain-
ing in Green Brook, this city, gave way at ten
o'clock last night. The flood then carried
away two frame buildings at Somerset street.
A large hole was washed through French's
four-story carriage factory. Fred Moore.
boy, was lost off one bridge. In Bound Brook
the water rose suddenly, flowing ten feet deep
through the main street, lined on both sides
with stores. The water rose over the show
cases, and a large amount of goods ruined.
In the Ramsey Hotel the water is almost to the
top of the bar. One family were rescued from
a house bya boat. The Elm Park Hotel is sub
merged almost to the roof.
The flood is the highest known in Bound
Brook. 1t was nearly three feet higher than
that of July, 1865. which was the greatest pre-
viously recorded. More loss will be suffered
by the Bound Brook people from flood than
by the fire which destroyed the greater part OF
the town som, months ago.
The damage caused by the heavy rains in