Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-15
THE LATE FLOOD.

Bridges Swept Away-TraveI Bee
 tween Here and Boston Inter-
 ruPted The Rainfall UnPrece-
 dented fA Years.
 NORWICH, Feb. 14.-Bsfore the late heavy rain ceased here the water had reached a point few inches higher than in 1876. The railroad bridge at Jewett City was carried away. Norwich was in darkness last night, the gas and electric light works being sub merged. Over 615 inches of water fell. The damage here is over $50,000. Boats were used in some of the streets instead of wagons. Three thousands cords of wood were swept from the banks of the Quinebaug river, and the dam of the slate mill at Jewetr City, to- gether with three large buildings, were washed away. At Voluntown the mills were threatened with destruction and Westerly, R. l.. lost two mills. The track of the New London Northern railroad as far south as Montville was submerged, and no trains went south or north over the Norwich and Wor- cester railroad. Business was entirely sus- pended. The water was level with the first floor of the Wauregan House, and the tables in the billiard room in the base ment were submerged six or eight feet under the muddy flood. An event anticipated with apprehension by Norwich people occurred. News that the Hopland company's dam at Jewett City had given way was received at o'clock last even ing Everyone divined instantly what was coming and more than five thousand people were soon on the steep river banks waiting for the downcoming freshet. At about o'clock the flood came. A tumultuous surge of muddy water relied around the bending shore from Preston, swept over the track of the Norwich and Worcester railroad and poured a great torrent into Franklin Square For nearly quarter of mile up Franklin street the wave rolled and at 10 o'clock the entire east side from near the Universalist church en East Main street to Main street, and from above Bath street to Laurel Hill, across the river, the freshet rolled in an unbrolen tide. Thousands of citizens under dripping umbrellas stood on the verge of the inundated district watching the encroaching water All the buildings in that section were soon surrounded by the flood. Driftwood came in loads and boxes, barrels baskets tubs, well curbs, etc., were floating about proniscuously.
 Goods of Mess1s Reid 6 Hughes, on the lower floors of their big store on Franklin Square, were damaged $3, 900.
 At Wiilimantic, Norwich, Putnam and other places great damage was done by the foods At Willimantic the iron bridge over Hop river was carried away and the town was flooded
 At Putnam two railroad bridges were swept away and the railroad was washed out for considerable distance Damage $25,- GOO.
 NEW LONDON, Feb. 1.-The floods came yesterday They surprised even the oldest in labitants for volume. About nine inches of rain fell it IS estimated. All the down town cellars are flooded and great gulches were made in the streets.
 BosToN, Feb 14-The rain fall here was or1x r1iy a11 of he leading out of the oity are in bad condition, owing to the washouts and the demolition of bridges. On the New York and New Eng land railroad there are a number of serious washouts which have practically stopped all travel on the line. The only trains run ming are those between this city and Hyde Park. No through trains from either direction have run eTer the road to-day. The boat train and Washing ton special from Boston went through last night in safety, but the Washington express, which left Jersey City at 1915 last night, came over the Springfield division of the New York, New Haven and Hartford and thence to Boston via the Boston and Albany railroad, arriving here at B.: this afternoon. The other New York train due here at 7:15 arrived via the Boston and Albany at half past 12.
 There were bad washouts on even the fine road beds of the railroads between this city and Boston The Shore Line Owl from Bos- ton due here Saturday at 4:30 in the morn ing did not arrive until. 9:15 in the evening owing to a big washout at Kingston on the Stoninington road All the limited trains by the Air Line road from Boston have been temporarily abandoned because of the wash out at Blackstone bridge. All the trains on the New London road from this city were turned back from New London Saturday and made to take the place of local trains back to this city. There was no connection all day with the Stonington road and con sequently no transfer of Boston passengers to trains coming to this city.
 A big washout of both tracks from the road bed at Natick on the Boston and Albany necessitated a cessation of ali travel on that road. Of course that shut off the third ave- nue of connection between this city and the Hub There was also a washout on the Bos- ton and Albany at Palmer.
 None of the express trains went through this city yesterday and the many people who wanted to go east were unable to do so, as the trains could neither reach Boston over the Shore Line, Air Line or Springfield divi- sions, although the tracks of the Consolidat ed road have not been injured at all by the floods. Many people, however, came as far east as this city and either took trains back for New York or remained here until they could get through. The Washington express over the New England road has not been through since Friday.
 The local train made up at Springfield ar rived here at about half-past ten last night. It had one passenger car, which was filled with passengers.