The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-01
RESTING PLACES OF THE DEAD EXPOSED
BY tho Flood which Rushed Through
the Town of PIainfieId.
Each Breaking Dam Aided tho Water
In Sweeping Away the Next.
People left Their Houses to be
Caught In the Torrent.

PLAINFIELD, N. j., July 31.-The first
dam to break in this vicinity was at Fult-
vile, five miles Forth. The break occurred
at o'clock. The rush Of the water carried
away and absolutely obllterated two smaller
dams below II. at Seeley's paper mill. causing
loss OF $4,000. The water rushed down TO
Scotch Plains, completely inundating the
village. Cellars were flooded and all the
bridges swept away. The Baptist church
here was badly damaged and the old ceme-
terry surrounding 1t badly washed out,
in many places, exposing the graves. A. ID.
Shepard's place was completely flooded out.
The Derby fur mill lost $4,000 on stock and
machinery. The great body OF water divided.
part forcing Its way for a mile across the
fields, until It reached Cedar Brook, a little
stream running through the eastern portion
Of Plainfeld. The brook became river and
then lake. A portion Of Plainfeld's ehoic-
est residence locality was under water up to
the first stories Of the houses. Every house
hold has losses. The heaviest loser here Is
Job Mole, mayor Of the town, who owns
more than hundred handsome dwellings.
His property Is damaged $4,000. The'prop-
erty Of Leo Daft, electrician, Is badly dam
aged. Il. Bowers loses 5000 In damage to
furniture. James MARITIME lost several yalu-
able cows. The rear foundation Of the Park
avenue Baptist church was washed out, but
the building is safe. 1t Is damaged 5000.
Many rescues were made. People becoming
frightened, attempted to leave their houses
and were caught in the Hood.
The breaking tiers Of dams threatened 70
cut big swath through the business portion
- Ako kOxx a hrna tuh FUn
through that part was bridged over with the
buildings on Somerset street. The space un-
derneatn was not sufficient to carry Off the
water and IL backed up into the street. Som
erset street was six feet under water Mar
tines blacksmith shop and several smaller
buildings were lifted and thrown In a heap
into the middle of the street. French's mill
was undermined and stands suspended over
yawning gap. His carriage factory Is totter-
Ing and may fall Biimm,s Hotel mas us
foundations exposed to the very bottom.
Hiram's carriage factory was badly dam
aged and Ryerson's carriage repository was
damaged $4,000. Among the losses here
are. French Bros. $1,000; l.. Nj. French.
factory, 5000; Bimm's Hotel, 5000. In
Somerset street Is gully 30 feet wide and
20 deep. The gas mains were broken and
the sewers disconnected. The Music Hall
was damaged $4,000. The corner foundation
was washed out and the stage sunk two
feet.
The breaking OF Wilson's dam in Wash
ington valley let down an immense body Of
water to the dam at Watumpka Falls.
Little damage was done until the masonry,
built supplementary to the natural falls, gave
way. When mass OF water 30 feet nigh
leaped against the falls, masonry and rocks
tumbled together, and what was once a
picturesque resort was absolutely gone. Cod
dington's ice houses, barns and mills were
swept away, causing a loss OF $4,000. Of ~
large bridges In ITnion cOuntv 20 are said To
be gone, involving loss to the county OF
more than SAC. 900. No lives were lost and
no serious casualties are reported. The loss
of live stock Is slight. Altogether eight dams
in Plainfeld were washed away. The break
ing Of the New Brooklyn dam, two miles
south, and the one at Cadmus MIL, caused
little serious damage other than washing out
the road