Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-20
MONTREAL UNDER WATER.
An ice Jam In the st. Lawrence Causes
sudden Rise of Water-The Fire
Department Paralyzed-The Water in
Streets Six Feet Deep.

| MONTREAL, April 10.
About IL O'Clock Saturday night the rive,
here rose suddenly and continued risiny mn.
til the greater part of the business dis,ric,
was under water. The whole west end be-
low street Antoine was also flooded. The
walls of Nelson's rolling mill has given
away. Victoria Square and parts of Craig
and Juror streets, together with the inter
secting streets, are under water. The whole
country on the south shore as far as 81. John
Is hooded. All communications are stopped
AT late hour last night correspondent
visited part of the flooded district. In order
TO get to the western portion OF the city
he had to make long detour All the low
lying streets were covered with water. In
some places the water rose so rapidly that
the people had no time to prepare for it and
had to take refuge in the upper stories of
thelr houses, where many are without fire
ana fuel, and as yet with no immediate pros
peet or relief IN the shape of provisions In
some streets the water is six feet deep The
merchants say that the losses will amount TO
millions of dollars. This is the worst flood
that ever visited Montreal.
The ice JAM which is causing the flood,
holds firm from Hochelaga TO Blucherville.
DR.. Thayer called upon the mayor last night
TO have him get the jam blown up with dvn-
amite. He said that the water had backed up
at Lachine flush with the head of the rapids,
and that there was great danger of its burst
ing from the banks. In such a case il would
rush over the low lying lands and do inesti-
mable damage The mayor gave his con-
sent and referred the doctor to Alderman
Stevenson, but the latter deemed the task
both dangerous and useless.
The tire department is demoralized, about
Ia hAtnt ont l,-
extensive fires took place yesterday. A store
| occupied by Barnes and Hunt, fish and pro.
vision merchants, on the corner of William
and McGill streets. was badly damaged. The
firemen tried to drive through the water but
IN most places found it too deep and had to go
TO work IN boats and on RATS. Another fire
took place In a row of tenement houses ex-
tending from 1870 to 1873 Duke street Half a
dozen families had to be removed in boats
Some had very narrow escapes. The police
have boats in readiness on trucks for other
fires.
The English newspaper offices are flooded
and the papers will have to be published in
the French offices.
The flooded district is mostly in darkness.
the water having entered the gas pipes, and
the electric light works being flooded
People who owned boats must have made
a small fortune during the past few days
Ten dollars head has been the price charged
for half an hours sail. and even at that fig
ure craft have been dangerously loaded
Press correspondents today visited the food
ed district and found that at a point where
the flood last year was so disastrous is situ-
ated now even worse; the water Is fully tw o
feet higher than it was at any time in 1885
Wooden sidewalks are floating, and sections
of them are being used as RATS. Some in
habitants placed forked sticks at the sides of
these RATS tor use as rowlocks, placed a barrel
on the top for a seat. and with roughly -hewn
oars managed to propel themselves along at
fair rate of speed. In many cases the
water rose so high that houses were uninhab-
table and occupants had to remove to the
houses of more fortunate neighbors
Alderman Stevenson. with the presidents
of the national societies, have been out all
the morning trying to make provision for all
those who are in want.
| Railway traffic in the city is entirely sus-
pended, passengers by the Grand Trunk be.
ing landed at St. Henri and conveyed to the
city in buses. The water commenced to
fall at o'clock this morning and by 3 o'clock
had fallen about one foot, changes since then
have been very slight. st. James, st. Antoine
and Notre Dame streets are flooded almost ta
are a vast expanse If water. McGill street
is flooded up to st. Maurice street, and the
water is literally covered with RATS and craft
Of all descriptions loaded down with people.
Nuns on ST. Paul Island, opposite the city
are in a very precarious condition on accoun
of the flood. They are obliged to tax,
refuge in the attic of buildings, and block
ade of ice renders access TO them impossible
This island belongs to ladies' of the congre
CATION of De Notre Dame Villa Marie. On
this island sisters who are fatigued go to res
and repose from their labors. No one j
allowed to land on the island without specia
permission. 1t is situated in a most romant
spot. The city of Montreal offered an enor
nous sum of money for it, wishing to pur
chase it for.a park. but the nuns refused t.
sell it. The nuns hold the island by virtu
of grant from the King of France wheI
Canada was French colony.
The flood appears to be abating, but yer.
slowly, and the city presents much the sam
appearance that it did yesterday. From Mt
Royal away to the southwest across the rive
the village of La Prairie is seen apparentl
: completely surrounded BY water. All dow
! the south shore of the river to st. Lamber
the houses along the bank stand with waite
all around them. All of Point st. Charlie
appears to be under water, and every street i
the lower part of the city running parable
with the line Of vision is a canal. The rive
: is clear of ice from a short distance abov
the bridge west to the rapids, but from tn
! bridge east till the river is lost sight of som
: miles down, there is a complete block Of ice
Nuns Island seems to completely submerged
; only the upper stories of the convent an
tops of trees appearing above water.