New-York tribune., 1886-02-14
BOSTON ALMOST ISOLATED.
THE GREATEST FLOOD KNOWN IN YEARS
LARGE TRACTS OF LAND IN 1HE CITY SUBMERGED
THE RAILROADS USELESS. -~
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. e-ae2ES

from the outside world to-day Not since 1851 has
New-England been afflicted so seriously by flood as
to-day The New-YorR and New England and the Bos-
and Providence trains only just able TO reach the
outlying suburbs 1t understood that the Boston ana
Albany line is not seriously affected and that the New
York trains running. The Fichburg road cannot do
any through bulness and other lines or less
hampered. The rain which reached Boston early
last Thursday morning did not cease until about noon 10
day although comparatively little rain has fallen since
daylight The total precipitation has been over five and
half inches, as measured at the Signal Service
! Office. Few people realized In this neighborhood
until yesterday afternoon that much loss was likely to
no occasoued by the great haw. 1t not until last
night that people in tho Highland District discovered
thta their homes no longer tenabe. Tho sewers
equal the work Of carrying Of all the water
suddenly poured into them. The consequence was that
the sewers being OyertaIed the plates were lifted
by the water that they moved away from their posi-
tions ana the water found It's natural level on the
streets driving those who ved in cellar dwellings, from
their habtatons to the upper stories Many manuiact
oes have been stopped, and considerable damage has
| been Occasioned.
The principal cause for all this trouble in the Ro1bury
District attrbued the that the Old stony Brook
has been confined to too limits. striking proof
OF this be about IL o'clock last night at Elm
wooi-st., where fragile bridge OF timber. eight feet in
width the stream. The rvuet or rather on this
occasion the torrent confined by walls OF stone on
each side but, defying and mortar the water es-
capcd over walls and spread itself wherever there
Several police officers stood guard, waiting
appre foot passengers OF herdangcr In crossing and
momentarly anticipating bursting Of the upper crust
OF timber OF the bridge which was generally thought
to DO kept in position by the sixteen
or eighteen inches OF ice on top. The
water rose rapidly and before midnight between two
and three hundred small stores and dwellings in Rug
glesst the Highlands Hooded in many cases up
to the second-story windows. Some people had gone
aba t, And f,t ouly
their cellars but their kitchens and dinng-rooms in
vaded. The Police Commissioners had anticipated
trouble and large force OF officers was on duty all
night and before o'clock boats were used to remove
families In tho most exposed localities They were
taken in many the station houses and made as
comfortable rs possible. The guardroom Of station
No. 10 looked not unlike Gypsy camp. For in
1t quartered some half dozen
families driven from their home by the rising water
Bright coored quilts scattered over the noor ana
on them groups OF children some asleep and some
wide awake from novelty OF their situation. While
their elders steadily looking on or attempted to
catch maps various uncomfortable positions Coffee
and sandwiches served to those Of tho refugees
who needed such refreshments, and whole the party
did not 10 be an unhappy one Ohcers OF the sta
ton also carried coffee and sandwiches to many families
the upper stories Of houses, and much suffering was
undoubtedly prevented by this action
The GOOD covers an Irregular area OF about hall
square mile % the depth OF from three or four
to Iue whole presents the appear
ance Of small lake which are sailing boats ana RATS
There amusing scenes last night as the poor
people hurrlcdly removed from their homes; some
would push out a table. OF o barrel, box from
window TO tho policemen ln tho boat with tho remark
that the children coIll wait FOR their chance to escape
Thoy would be cared for IN any event, but the house
hold good, msnt be allowed to 20 to destruction unless
promptly cared for the children were pat to the rear
and took their chances There was. OF course.
no danger Of loss OF hle The RugCes street Baptist
Church over which the Roy. Mr. Soy ymour presdes. which
one OF the mOst fOurishihS churches In Boston, has
suffered considerably A. : a. IA. to-day the water
wa. feet deep In the vcstry, and tho SUB
cellar where the heating apparatus IS, was entirely
under water. The German Baptist Church. IN Vernon
ST. completely at the mercy OF the Hood II Is III the
midst OF the most violent torrent, hoWlnS h"rh"ar'
and the are probably seriously weakened.
not de. The building IL Ot wood, ana II he dcusc
should long continue would doubtless sEc Way under
the rain put upon H. The damage It the works OF the
RoNDury Carpet Company Oh Hampshire aud simmons
sts is heavy. The water Was kopt out Uhih oc4o'"
on Friday afternoon when it suddenly burst IN on the
smmons-st side works were at once shut down
The water four feet deep ON an average IN the
compauys works and seven feet deep N the por-
ton OF the basement occupied by the boilers
and engines. Tho company VIII not be able
to resume within three or four "ccAs
Tho basement OK tne sherwin Grammar school
IN sternsst probably flooded, as u is considerably
below the level OF the water surrouA!nE IT,
The boundaries OF the flood are from Hlmmond.st.
north to Texas-ayc on the south, and from sAaNnGt
ave on the cast TO Trrmoutst. west III going south
from the city proper along Trcmontst the first mani
lostlton OF the turbulent waters is at Cuyert-st
swift river that hid the sidewalks aud
lapped the buildings each side was
pouring 1ro onts at daylight this
morning. Looking up 'uYert ST. the scene was
almost Venetian. Three policemen in a boat were tax
Ing from window the family OF man who mad br"ved
tne danger until them but who dared remain no longer
in face OF The rising water little farther south along
the eastern slic OF Trcmonts the coal holes IN the
sidewalk In front OF line brick business block were
spoutng floods OF water. II WAS novel sight The
pressure " tie swelling dcuso into the building from
the rear forced the water from every outlot IN front
and created enormous artificial springs which
spouted UP from the sidewalks Nearly every building on
the east side OF Tremon;s, from Cuycrts to the Rox
hurry crossng was filed with nearly to the level
OF the Sidewalk streets leading east from TrcmOnts
ropcd Oh
FALL RIVER, Feb - Special, There was no a6ate
mcnt IN the storm last night Rain ie hsGry All E rno
time The VIVID rose to gHe aDout oooeh' IIv iIT
streets were all deserted and business was geheraly
surpeudel The wdshOuts arc OF y serious character
Never In the history Of the Old Colony Railroad Com
pany has much damage been done 10 hc tracks Dy
Storm. Trains unable to run Last night train Of
conductor aud three rakemcn escaped death by Jump
carried With train Seventy OF the cars wrecked
RUSSELL leaves widow ana aud child one OF the wash
outs IN Tue lOdu Dcl - nIuoNy ' ''''
deem several small BRIDGES along the iue hayo been
carried away The road to Boston is also badly damaged
and viii not 1T traffic for two or three day The
steamers between hero aud Ne@-fOrk VIII discontinued
tLer trlps until trains can bo run over the roads.
NoRwIcH Conn.,. Feb - (Spccab.-This city is suffer
ing to-day from tho greatest nood since the disastrous
rEshet on March 90, 1876 when seven lives were lost
and vast amounts pf property damaged The present
fOod s the result OF three days continuous rain ana the
melting of the small amount Of snow and ice The Yam
Tic and Sheucket rivers which unite here ahd FORM the
Thames, fcariully swollen and their currents black
with and covered with cakes OF ice and the wreck
age OF dams and buildings, clash with an angry roar
that can heard all over tho city. business is almost
stopped. Not only Is the river front submerged |
but the neighbOrng business streets are |
nero canals. Franklin Square, IN the heart OF the CITY
aud the centre street car traffic Is lake four feet
deep and ia trayerscd with boats Baths Is naylgabe
neatly to broadway. COpmercest Is arlyer. The Nor
wich ana Worccstcr and New-1ondOn Northern Kan,
L. tal