New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-31
SEVERAL DAMS SWEPT AWAY
A FLOOD IN PLAINFIELD.
HAVOC WROUGHT IN MANY PLACES BY RE
CENT RAINS.
TWO GREAT TORRENTS RUSH DOWN FROM THE
HILLToPs-THE LOW PLAIN WASHED BARE
-FOUR PEOPLE THOUGHT TO BE LOST
MANY FINE HOUSES RUINED AND
OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGED
NARROW ESCAPES AND
BRAVE RESCUES.

The dams blocking up the mountain passes back
Of Plainfeld, n j., and its neighboring villages
have been swept from their foundations by
terrific food of water and the low wide-spreading
plain has been swept bare by a sudden, sweeping
tide At least four lives supposed to have
been lost
A tremendous rainstorm broke amid the hilltops
yesterday afternoon, and the air was binding
sheet of water from o'clock until after D.
Torrents came rushing down the mountain SIDE,
and in a rocky gorge known as the Notch, just
back of North Plainfeld, a mass of water rose
behind stalwart dam of masonry, and chafed
and ground it until the top was reached. Ihen
with a rush it bounded over, and the horseshoe
shaped wall of rock crumbled like chalk and fell
in ruins.
DOWN THROUGH THE VALLEY.
The roaring food went rushing down
through the valley, tossing great boulders
in it's way A second dam, forming great Ice
pond for the Coddington firm, was also carried
away and with 1t COddingtons' extensive Ice
houses and stables and a portion of their nVe
stock. The roadway, formed of rocks and crushed
stone was under five feet of water, and was
torn to pieces Several bridges and small build
ngs were crushed like eggshels. The gorge was
swept clean of everything, and the torrent spread
itself OUT in the borough of North Planheld.
The handsome country home Of John T. Wilson,
New-York coal merchant, was covered with
water. and the foundations of his handsome
house were undermined. Seventy-ive other houses
in the neighborhood were flooded, and some of
them were partially ruined, while the wreckaSe
was heaped up in gardens and against trees and
fences The stream coming from the Notch
is known as Stony Brook, and ordinarily is only
four feet in width. 1t takes turn toward Dun
ellen soon after reaching North Plainfield, and
it's damage was confined to this one section, the
region beyond being unpopulated. No lives were
lost here.
SMALL DAMS GIVE WAY.
Soon after the breaking of the Coddngton dam
the Wilson dam, higher up, gave way, and several
smaller dams were swept away. They trans
formed Wetumpka Falls into rushing sea, and the
owner of stonecrusher nearby was left on
small island which, at o'clock, was crumbling
away.
At o'clock the chief dam and two lesser dams
at Feltyille, in the gap back Of Scotch Plains,
were brushed aside by the roaring tide, and
huge wall of water went plunging on toward
Plainfeld Bridges and Outhouses were carried
away and Tiers dam, just to the north OF the
heart of the city, fell and gave full sweep to the
rushing torrent
The food divided, however, and two mighty
streams resulted. One went straight ahead SUBJ
merged the business part of the city, carried Mar
tins blacksmith shop to the middle of Somerset-st,
partly tore down French's carriage factory and
grst mills, twisted Chinese laundry all about,
undermined the large brick block occupied by
Carney Brothers, plumbers, and " The Evening
News" Publishing Company, tore great gap
thirty feet wide and ten feet deep through the
street itself and flooded the entire central section
along the line of Green Brook. People occupying
| tenement-houses at the rear Of French's mills
were rescued in boats.
WORK OF THE SECOND FORK.
The second fork of the food caused even worse
disaster, for its path was through the district
of handsome houses and the more modest homes
in Putnam-ave. Prospective, Park-ave Tenth
ST., Broadway La Grande-ave, and other thorough
fares were in q boiling river, almost sea. The
water the sidewalks was up to a tall mans
neck, and its surface was mass of boiling waves.
Women and children taken from the houses
to higher spots by every conceivable method, and
clothing and shelter were given 10 them by
neghbors Much costly furniture has been utterly
ruined, and several houses have been undermined.
Three men in a boat capsized; two were
rescued the third was carried away. The Park
Avenue Baptist Church is partly under water, and
The inhabitants of the city last night were
nearly all in the streets, There was great ; ex;
citement, and many OF the people were forced
to sit up all night. Telegraphic communications
were cut off.
There were few small washouts on the Cen,
tral Railroad, but these, were remedled. All
trains however were far behind time.
Bound Brook last night was said to be com
pletely under water, nearly to the top of the
railroad embankmentS.
ESCAPE OF FOUR CHILDREN.
At crossroads, known as Prices Corner, below
Wilson's dam four little girls stood on bridge
lust before the dam gave way The water rose
above the planking to their knees, and great
gaps were torn in the roadway on each side of
the stone abuments, but the bridge held fast, and
when the food had gone down they were still
safe clinging to the trembling timbers.
Just before the rush Of water through Somer-
set.st an unknown man disappeared at the rear of
Martins blacksmith shop. lie must have been
caught, in the flood and carried c un-
erset-st through which Green Brook
ordinarily flows His body not found 1t
was rumored that Ii. O. Bowers, coffee importer
of this city, attempted to reach his home in La
Grandeave by boat, that his craft was seen TO cap
size and that he was borne away, struggling
violently. His telephone was useless last night,
and his family were in the second story of their
home and could not be reached, and the facts
were not obtainable.
small dwelling-house just below the Notch,
occupied by a family named Van Naman, was
almost completely demolished. Mr.. and Mrs
Van Naman fled to a hill, now an island, but
their little daughter is missing, and they fear
that she has been drowned.
AT LEAST SEVEN DAMS GONE.
So Tar as known, at least seven dams
carried away. The last one TO go was that
Cadmus's mill below the city, The mill was
reported to be wrecked
The only bridge which withstood the flood
WAS one of iron truss framework, in
Grove-st. but even that was weak.
after the last freShet. just below IL stands the
First Baptist Church, the rear walls of which were
bufTeted by huge billows. Underneath its founda-
tions is q bed of qucksand, which last night was
gradually being washed from beneath the stone
work