The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-24
THE FLOOD At HOHOKUS.
A Great Dam Goes Down with . Roar
Damage to Property and Risk OF Life.

HoHoKUs, Sept 23.-Hohokus Creek is
rapid stream rising in the Ramapo Mountains
and emptying into the Passaic River near
Paterson. 1t crosses the New York Lake Erie
and Western Railroad at Hohokus. twenty
three miles from New York at Hobo
kus. and for four miesafove runs through
narrow valley. which. with its rapid
decline and the fact that the water
never fails. makes 1t a superior water power.
Four mills. with dams, are located on the
stream within two miles Of Hohokus. The up
permost one is White 4 Co.'S paper mill. One
fourth OF a mile below it ia NJ. d. White 4 Co.'S
lumber mill. Half a milo further down is E.
Rosencranz's cotton mill. One-fourth OF
mile further down. at Hohokus Station. Is Zea-
briski's cotton mill. which was sold three days
ago to Dodge & Sinclair. the rubber manufac-
turers OF 81 Park place New York. for $40. 900.
The purchasers intended within the next two
months to transform the mill into a large rub
Der manufactory.
The rapid rise in Hohokus Creek yesterday
afternoon began to alarm the people along the
stream and at o'clock it was believed that the
smaller dams would go. At twenty minutes
after 4 o'clock the upper dam gave
way and went out with a loud report. NJ.
D. Whites dam followed soon afterward
and the food swept Rosencranz's dam
dwellings in tn section OF the valley were
on high ground and the losses to them were
which numbers about 400 people, is located be-
low the dam. No. fears. were experienced for
The safety Of this dam; It was built hdo in 1862 Of
s sSsii 'S 5ss s'9s' T9e
o'clock people below the dam began to feel
some alarm not for the safety OF the dam itself,
but from the a oed Which ShdSs might ooW the ely
a rumbling noise like distant thunder
was heard through the village, and the news,
man an to on" man In the Streets. Psople residing
below, the dam. II the north half had gone out.
w to ma nave 4. wa. T f ssy swept
tho south. and though it inflicted extensive
damage. no loss OF life can be learned Of.
The flood carried away all the bridges on Ho-
hokus stream. The bridges on Saddle River
HrG also rPSrsda gone as oW wf as all the
from Pascack. were on bridge near Ridge,
wood when it went down. The horse and
wagon were swent down stream; put the man
and woman floated ashore on the meadows and
Thee, first dam carried away above Hohokus s
rush Of water against Christopher's dam.
which. being unable to resist the pressure was
also carried away with rush The waters in
described.
The Hohokus school house was much injured,
fences were carried down stream and hurled
orty. The bridge below Mr. Abraham Xabris-
kie's mill stood the shock. and by means of 1t
many Ridgewooders. by carefully driving
through the turbid waters that submerged its
Isaac Keiser. Assistant Postmaster said: Il
stood Just below the dam on the north side. a
few feet from the Post Office The lower part
OF the dam suddenly bulged out. and minute
aftcr the stones OF the dam seemed to tumble in
pieces. and a solid fall Of water moved out. and
rushed to the Post Office. and bad Just got my
stamps out when the water rushed in. 1t
passed down the valley with, n deafening
estate. numbering about one hundred
large elms and locusts. was swept away
Barney WinKler's storehouse. on the opposite
aida Of the stream from ma. WA surrounded in