Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-02-25

have oecasioned some damage in flooding
the Lo~lands, but the principal cause was
the giving away Of a eulvert on Stony brook.
This stream swollen By the ineessant rain
and melting snow burst over its banks and
poured a huge volume Of water into this
section Of the city, filing cellars, bursting
in doors and windows and driving families
from their homes, and compelling those who
could no, escape TO occupy more elevated
quarters. and in many cases shutting them
entirely off from the coal and provisions
necessary for use. Many homes were rem
dered untenantable. sometimes by the water
coming in and sometimes, as in the case Of
the Hotel Westminster, BY rendering the
foundation insecure. This latter building, a
large granite structure, at the corner of IRE
mont and Culver, streets, was pronounced
unsafe BY the inspectors Of public buildings
and Immediately vacated. The foundations
Of many Of the buildings in this vicinity are
extremely defective, and much alarm was
felt as in several places portions Of the
stree, collapsed.
II is said that at house on Shawmut
Avenue a woman recently had her din
ing room refurnished and frescoed, and that
now the floating furniture is defacing the
ornamentation. Many other incidents might
be mentioned showing the extent and sud-
denness with which the food came giving
people no time to prepare for its coming.
Nor was the damage confined to dwelling
houses the factory Of the Roxbury Carpet
Co., and that of the Boston Betting Co.. are
both closed, and in the engine rooms the
boilers are under water, and materials and
machinery are much injured by the water; at
the first :he violence Of the current had
broken all the glass from the windows of the
first story. At the Forest Hill station on
the Boston and Providence railroad, calls
wete made from house 10 house on RATS,
window. being used FOR egsess instead o.
doors Near here. ., the corner Of large
lot was seen the sign. mo irespassing on
these grounds the sign was en'irel, super
fluous, for two or three feet Of water COW
cred the entire lot, making trespassing on
foot impossible, or 10 say the leas, Improb-
able Streets would lead of from a main
stree; only to disappear beneath the widen
ing mud-eoIored lake, giving one the i'm
preston that there wer, many well worn
fords in the vicinity.
At the Rugsles street church, no services
were held, as the church was hardly accessi-
bic and the basement full Of dirty water.
This street, on which this church is situated
being about at the center Of the flooded dis
trict, with some others. vas roped of and no
passing through allowed.
Every provision possible has been made
for the comfort Of those rendered destitute
and homeless Of the Isttcr, according to
one estimate there are more than a thous-
and Nor has the flood been limited 10 the
district submerged BY the overflow Of Stony
brook, but at Dorchester, parts Of which are
very low and exposed 70 the natural over
flow from the South bay. were 10 be seen
similar results Of the terrible inundatiou.
Many OF the railro ads have suffered
either by their tracks being flooded or cul-
ver,s and bridges being washed away. Alto
ge,her i, is an experience which Boston has
never before undergone and which one could
hardly believe possible 70 have come 50 sud
denly. and in so short time to have wrought
such damage. Bu, already some far-seelng
opiimsi has advanced the theory, that such a
food could alone clean the streets OF the gar
bage and filth that have collected during the
last two months, and that though the city
has suffered loss from the food il has been
saved the devastation Of pes,ilence which
i. more deadly and les, easily met.
QUELQC'US