The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-01
THE NEW JERSEY FLOOD.
Immense Amount Of Damage Caused by
Broken Dams at Plainfeld.

Immense Amount Of Damage Caused by
Broken Dams at Plainfield.
PLAINFIELD, n. j., July 3l.-The first
dam to break in this vicinity was at Felt
vile. five miles north of here. The break
occurred at 4 o'clock. and the rush of water
carried away and absolutely obliterated
two smaller dams below 1t ut Seeley's mill,
causing loss of $20,OOO. The water rushed
on down to Scotch Plain, completely mum
dating the village. Cellars were flooded.
and all the bridges were swept away. The
Baptist Church here is badly damaged, and
the old cemetery surrounding 1t is badly
washed out, in many places exposing the
graves. A. ID. Shepard's place was COM
pletely flooded out. The Derby fur-mill
here lost $4,000 in stock and machinery.
The great body of water divided, part OF
it forcing its way for a mile across the
fields until it reached Cedar brook, little
stream running through the eastern por-
tion of PlaInfeld. The brook became a
river, and then q lake, and portion of
Plainfield's choicest residence locality was
under water up to the first story of the
houses. Every household had it's
losses. The heaviest loser is Job Mole,
the Mayor of the town. who owns more
dences. His property is damaged to the
extent of $4,000. The Park-avenue Baptist
Church was threatened with destruction.
The foundation at the rear was washed out,
but the building is safe. though damaged.
Many gallant rescues were made in this
part of the town of people who, becoming
frightened, attempted to leave their houses
and were caught in the food. Eugene Lane,
assistant fire chief. was swept down the
stream while out in boat assisting others,
but was rescued by means of ropes thrown
to him.
The breaking of Tiers's dam threatened
to cut big swath through, the business
portion of the town. as brook which runs
through that part of the place is bridged
over with buildings on Somerset street The
space underneath was not sufficient to
carry Off the water, and it backed up into
the. street. Somerset street was six feet
under water. Martins blacksmith-shop
and several smaller buildings were lifted
aud thrown i'm a heap into the middle of
the street. Frenchs mill was undermined
and stands suspended over a yawning gap.
His carriage factory is lettering and may
fall. Blimm's Hotel stands with its founda-
tions exposed to the bottom. Hiram's car
riage factory is badly damaged, and Ryer-
sons carriage repository was damaged
$4,000.
In Somerset street there is a gully thirty
are broken and the sewers disconnected.
Music Hall, in which minstrel troupe was
playing. was DANA ged $4,000. A corner of
the foundation is washed ont. and the stage
has sunk two feet. The breaking. of Will
sons dam in Washington valley let down
an immense body of water to the dam at
Watumpka Falls. Little damage was done
until the masonry, which was built sup
Elementary to the natural falls. gave way,
when large mass of water thirty feet high
fairly leaped against the falls. Masonry
and rocks tumbled together. and what was
once picturesque resort is absolutely gone.
Coddington's lce-houses, barns and mills
were swept away. involving loss of $780,
OO0. Stony brook goes through q farmin g
country west of the town, SO that the SUBJ
sequent damage was slight. OF the fifty
two large bridges in Union county, thirty
are said to be gone, involving loss to the
county of more than $4,000. No lives were
lost, and no serious casualties are reported.