New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-24

fIOOutd. " nClrYcI IucTc TIG
the roofs Oh buildings the rain made an entrance
mo dwellings OF stOre-rOOms.
GREAT DAMAGE AT PATERSON.
SIX INCHES OF RAIN IN NINE HOURs-BmDGEs
WASHED AwAY-OL-PIPBS BROKEN.
The rainfall in Paterson, y. j., during the storm
OF the last three days, rea; he'd an unprecedented
figure. Up to = o'clock yesterday afternoon tho
ram gauge in the City Surveyors office recorded a
fail OF yearly thirteen inches. SIX inches OF this
quantity fell between a. Ill. and p. III. yester-
day. Much damage was done thIOug out the city
and the surrounding country by the flood. Tho
sewers were in many cases inadequate to carry OIL
the water and the sewer in Market-st burst. flood
ing the adj accent cellars. Many OF the streets
converted into lakes In The cut OF the New-l ork,
Susquehauna and Western Railroad considerable
damage was done by landslide At the Grant
Locomotive Works operations had TO be stopped on
account OF the ncrrsion of the water. The PasSalc
River TOse rapidly. The rise on Friday had been
about four feet and half, and up to yesterday
afternoon the total rise was from SIX TO seven feet.
1t rose twenty-five inches at Paterson in an hour
and half about noon. A large amount Of debris
consisting Of trees. parts of small bridges, timbers
and water wheels. was coming down the river III the
latter part of the afternoon. and swept away a wire
which had been stretched above the Passaic Fails TO
Passaic Water Company the bank OF the stream
lust above the brink of the tails The water gained
So rapidly that the Water Company Obliged TO
knock away the lash-bOards OH the edge of the
falls used to back up the water into the forebay
and secure larger supply for the city III times OF
drouth A foot-brdge which connected Temper
ance Island with the mainland, and which has been
rendered famous by battle over the possession of
the island between the Society of UseTu Manufac-
tures and a temperance organization, was washed.
away Rauohiuss's swimming baths OIL the island
soon followed. During the afternoon a large force
of men were fighting back the water with sand bags
at the pumping house of the Water Company AT the
falls hut it was thought that the works would GER
tainly be flooded befOle night. At $3.50 y. III. the
water in the river had reached the braces of the iron
bridge "a: AIchst. The water late III the afternoon
had already risen to the level of the memorable
freshet OF December. 1873. In 1s54 it was eighteen
inches higher than in 1878, and the freshet OF S51
is the greatest on record in Paterson
The Oldham Brook, mountain stream north of
the city WAS swollen to an irresistible volume and
broke through its dam. culvert was washed
away on the road to the Almshouse and communica-
ton between the city and the hospital where the
smallpox patients are, as well as with the Aims
house was cut oft. City Physician Myers had Just
driven over the culvert and had narrow escape
The flood also carried away new retaining wall al
the bottom oil Inc NH on winch Inc AlilbnOuSc is
situated, and IN ten seconds did thousands OF
dollars damage The AlmshOuse Itself was
thought to be III danger OF beng undermined. as
tue water was within thirty feet OF IL, ana large
force of men hurried 10 the spot to avert the Caam
ity The pumping house used to supply the Aims
house with water wds washed away about $3.50 p.
III. The breaking of he dam III the Oldham BrOod
caused portion of TIL horse railroad to llaledon 10
be washed away, and dld great damage to property
along the stream. portion Ol the west-bpund
track of the Erie Railroad was washed away in the
southern part of Paterson, and trains had 10 take
the east-bOund track. 1t Is thought that nearly
every OF the numerous bridges over the small
streams la PaSsalc County has been destroyed.
There was a heavy thunder storm about halfpast
/ In the afternoon. flash struck the mains of
the Passaic Water Company in Wn,hmgton-st..
breaking them in two places. Policeman pOwrrs
knocked senseless by the shock. Lightning
also struck the house Of John Van llOuton, but
none of the inmates were injured
TIE Passac River continued 10 rise last night and
the rain fell N torrents. The flood caused the loss of
one life at the Passaic Falls. An old man named
Martin ROssiter driving along the river above
the falls. when he was prccipitatcd into the river
by a washOut and with his horse and buggy WAS
swept over the cataract and lost. AbOutiG O'Clock
the news reached Paterson that the Lincoln Bridge,
about mile above the CITY, was swept away. 1t
of iron, two spans IN length, buIit III 1874 and
cost abOut $4,000. The lower floors OF several mills
in Paterson along the rlyer bank were Hooded and
the machinery damaged. The operatives III Prices
snlrt factory had 10 he taken 0ut in boats. The
streets bordering on the river submerged and
the city presented ali the aspects of great freshet
About midnight on Friday "A large log was carried
down a swollen stream near Oakland, Bergen
County, on the line of the New-YOgk, Susquehanna
and Western Railroad and struck two pipes OF the
Standard Oil Company which crossed the stream
swapping them like ppe-stemS. The oil continued |
flowing, and IN a few hours thousands oil gallons !
had escaped into The stream aud the surrounding
overlooked meadows. Passengers on the railroad !
y esterday morning gazed Win establishment upon |
acres of ground covered with floating oil. The !
news caused much apprehension at Paterson, it |
feared the oil would be carried into the |
Passalc River and pOlute the water supply OF the
city, Yesterday Afternoon there was perceptible
smell Of oil N the water at the falls Two bridges
over the Oldham Brook were washed away ycster- |
day old one which cost $4,000 and new one
costing -. 900.
Al iiohokus Bergen Co., the old mill on the Hobo
kus stream formerly occupied by John j. Xabrskie,
as cotton null. washed away. II |
had not been IN operation lately. having been sold
Tor TZ"oOO TO persons who intended to convert 1t
INTO rubber Inll. Traffic the New York, Sus-
q!lehanna and Western Railroad was interrupted !
after noon yesterday by washouts at BlOonngdale |
AID SchutIcn PARK.