Morning journal and courier., 1888-03-22
AFTER THE BLIZZARD FLOOD.

AFTER THE BLIZZARD FL0OB.
Heavy Rain and Violent Winds Seat
tering the Snow and Making Havoc
With PropertY-Much Damage From
the Water.
PALMER, Mass, March 21.-A severe rain
storm, accompanied at intervals by violent
winds, has been prevailing throughout west
ern Massachusetts, since ten o'clock this
morning, resulting in inundating meadows for
miles and badly washing the public thorough
fares in this immediate section. The Quaboag
river has overlooked its banks and the cellars
of the tenement houses on Water street con-
tain several feet of water which continues to
rise rapidly in the river. The huge ice gorge
which has remained in the Quaboag since the
recent freshet is being gradually washed
away, and if the entire gorge is lifted great
damage to property will surely follow. The
temporary trestle bridge near J. 8. Holden &
Co.'s wooden factory over which trains on the
New London Northern railroad run and under
which the Quaboag flows, has been entirely
washed away this afternoon. Passengers
cave been transferred and the last train over
the southern division arrived here shortly
after Eve o'clock this afternoon. At
late hour e-night a report was
received here that the railroad bridge at
South Monson had become unsafe. In con-
sequence the boat train from Palmer to New
London, which was intending to make the
trip to night has been discontinued. On
the northern division of this line the tracks
are washed badly between Palmer and Three
Rivers. No trains will run over either divis-
ion Of that road tonight. The tracks of the
Boston and Albany railroad in the
vicinity of North Wilbrahsm are washed bad
ly and gang of men has been there all the
afternoon repairing the damage. The tracks
of the Ware river railroad have also been
damaged near the tracks of the Palmer
Wire Manufacturing company and all trains
over that road had to run at a
slow rate of speed this afternoon. The eel
lars of many houses on Park street are well
filed with water. Travel is impedsd on the
road leading to Nonson and Springfield. The
dam near the factory of Lindley &c Go. at
North Monson was washed away tonight by
the raging waters. The highway bridge in
that immediate vicinity is also rendered IN
safe, having been moved from its foundation
several feet. Train No. Sc on the Boston
and Albany road is delayed at Niddlefeld to-
night by high water. If the storm contin-
ues until morning fears are entertained that
there will be great destruction of property.
Bridges in Danger.
SPRINGFIELD, March -21-The Middlefeld
bridge, one of the many small spans over the
Westfeld river crossed by the Boston and
Albany railroad west of Springfield, is threat
ed by the high water and ice. Its condition
was such tonight that the western express
due at Boston at 1855 p. m. was delayed two
hours for thorough tests before the bridge
could be crossed.
The ice in the Connecticut river still re-
mains solid from the Holyoke dam to Enfield
Falls. The rise to-day was about foot and
the water now stands five feet above low
water mark.
Two Men Killed in Cyclone.
SAVANNAH, March 21.-A Cyclone struck
Lumber City, Ga, this morning BY. Hol-
land, of the firm of Holland, Strickland &
Co., and W. B. Whiddon, of the firm of
Whiddon & Holland, were killed. Whiddon
resided at Eastman and Holland at Dublin.
The Overflow of stony Brook.
BosToN, March 21.-10 p. m. The fears
that serious damage might result from the
overflow of Stony Brook have been allayed
by the latest reports from that locality. Be-
tween o'clock and o'clock .. m. the water
in the brook fell four inches, and notwith-
standing the large amount of rain that has
fallen since the latter hour, a rise of only
IA inches has thus far been reported. A
further rise of at least twelve inches will be
necessary before serious damage can be done
to the manufactures located along its banks.
Superintendent Perkins of the sewer depart
ment has been at the scene of the threatened
overflow with large force of men nearly all
day and has taken all possible precautions to
prevent such an occurrence. Temporary
dams have been erected and the new connec-
ton recently made with the improved sewer
age system has been utilized to divert the
waters of Stony Brook from their regular
channels. 1t is confidently believed that
these efforts will prove successful in prevent
ing recurrence of the scenes Of two years
ago.